Drank lots of water Friday. The night before I had bruchetta and macaroni and cheese. Yummy! Went to bed by 10pm. Woke up at 4:30. Had a long drive to get there (1 hour and 45 minutes). Ate two breakfast bars and had one bottle of water about 2 hours before the anticipated race start. Tried not to let my legs get restless. The fog coming into Athens was really a pretty site. Picked up my packet, put air in my tires, got my transition area ready. Picked up chip, got marked, put on sunscreen. Was ready to go.

Stretched a little, but mainly conversed with friends.

The swim was delayed 45 minutes or so due to fog on the bike course. The anticipation just about killed me.

I think I was a little too preoccupied with slowing anyone else down and weather or not I seeded myself correctly. I was pretty close to what my time would have been if I hadn't had to stop at the end of the lane to let others pass. I saw so many people swimming in the middle of the lanes and didn't want to cause anyone to collide.

Not skin my knee when I jump into the pool. Ouch! Try to relax and just enjoy it. Try to focus on my stroke and making it efficient.

Found my area pretty easily. I liked the way the transition area was organized. Honestly I wasn't in too much of a hurry, I was really just worried that I would forget something.

Not step into the water that I rinsed my feet in with my dry socks. I think I may just try and sit to put on my shoes next time. I'm thinking that trying to balance on one foot probably takes longer

I had passed a few people and was about to pass a few more when I popped my chain on one on of the overpasses. I wasn't able to recover without getting off my bike and fixing it :-( The hills weren't all that bad I felt pretty calm on them. I kept feeling like something was wrong with my tires while I was riding. After the race I discovered that my little bag that held all my supports equip. was apparently dragging on my tire. Stupid Tara. I wonder how much time that cost me :-(

Not pop my chain and learn to drink while I am on my bike, I'm still struggling with balance issues. Ensure that support bag is securely attached to my bike.

Grabbed a drink of water after I got off my bike.

Missed picking up the goo that I had planned on eating on my run :-(

Transition into the run wasn't so bad as I thought it was going to be. Although I realized I had forgotten my goo right after I started. Dang. Then I started to hear this clicking sound. Figured out it was my laces. So annoying, but I delt with it while I ran. The run was nice. I got passed by a few, but passed a few others as well. At the half way point they had a water station. I was really thirsty so I stopped and walked while I drank almost all the water in the cup. Continued on my run. Had a small cramp in my side from too much water, but it didn't phase me too much. I was able to run through it and finished pretty easily. I was pretty happy with my run. I really think my running is improving seeing as how I was able to run the same pace as my last 5k race in Dec., even after all the biking and swimming.

Tuck in my speed laces so they don't click the whole run and annoy me. Not drink so much water at the turn around.

Did a little stretching and enjoyed a baked potato. Drank some Gatorade and water. Cheered in some of the other TNTers.

Looks like my weakest link was my bike. Don't know how much to contribute to popping my chain and my bag dragging on my tire.

It was a nice race. I was just excited that I completed my initial goal of just doing a triathlon. I didn't go full out at any point because really I was trying to run all this at a pace that I could do my quarter ironman in. I felt good after the bike, I do feel like I could have done it again. The swimming, had I been able to get into my zone and out of my head I think would have been fine to do 3 times. The run i am a little worried about, if only because it will be after the others. However I kept a pace that I do think I could have kept for another 3 miles or so. So considering that this was my first tri and I didn't go all out, I'm really happy with the way everything turned out. I want to do the Irongirl in July. I think I will have recovered enough to really see what I can do if I push myself a little more :-D. Before my race I had tried to estimate my time, so I guessed around 1 hour 45 minutes. I was right on, 1 hour 44 minutes and 57 seconds! I'm a TRIATHLETE!!!

Race Reports Modeled with Permission from
Endurancecoach's Triathlon Post Race Analysis Sheet.