I like to start in the middle or forward section of the back. A normal start, where I like to wait about 6-10 seconds or so until the field is somewhat scattered so there are is at least a body length available in between the swimmer in front of me and I can dive in. Wetsuit was perfect for the water temp, but my feet were a little cold still. Never felt like I could find my own "space" during the swim, and if I wasn't zig-zagging all over the place, someone else was doing it in front or on the side of me. I suppose this is normal in my events so far though. Managed to pace myself well, and maintained bilateral breathing throughout. Normally in open water, I don't breathe the way I train in the pool, so I can say that I'm finally putting it all together.
The visibility was great - one of the cleanest lakes in the U.S.

I wasn't sighting "water polo" style for some reason, I would stop, sight, then breast stroke propel myself back into swimming freestyle. Hmmmm.....I haven't seen THAT since my first open water swim. I noticed doing that at least 3 times, don't know why I began doing it again. Note to self: sight while swimming forward!

Although my legs decided to cooperate with me when I wanted to run from the time the water was waist high to my bike, I've come to believe that I need to actually practice T1s. This over 4 minute stuff has got to stop. I haven't gotten the courage to shorten my wetsuit legs by cutting them, and am still getting my feet caught in them. My shirt: first time this same top I've been wearing got tangled up while trying to get it on. I did take the time to towel off all the stuff off my feet that I caught running in the sand, dirt and grass because I don't like anything in my socks other than my feet! I ride in my running shoes and clips.

Still haven't quite figured what's best for me after 5 events.

Biking is by far my weakest discipline, especially among hills. That first big hill took alot out of me, but I managed to stay on the bike. I was completely breathless reaching the top, had to use my smallest gear and my RPE was definitely a 10, maybe even higher if that's possible. I later joked - but was serious - about thinking of just pushing the bike up. I then heard a personal account that at least one person was sighted doing it. (Probably a good strategy if it saved your legs for the rest of the ride!) I spun out at the top of it to get the lactic acid flushed out of my legs. The steep downhills hardly made up for the rest of the "rolling hills", and I definitetly had to work hard on this entire course. I got passed many times, but didn't come in DFL on this segment. Was lucky I didn't have any bike issues. I saw a Lakes Region Cyclery van stopped to help out at least 2 cyclists, heard one story (TriMom's!), and other people fixing their bikes on the side. I must not ride hard enough!

I know I've improved my leg strength and cycling endurance this year, but am still impatient at my improvement level. I am definitely going to make the jump to bike shoes and clipless next season, hopefully this will show an improvement. I did slip out of my pedal cage once on the ride, which wasn't fun. Time for an upgrade!

I haven't gotten the courage to jump off a moving bike and trusting that my legs won't fail on me when I try to start to run through T2 so soon. So for me, it's stop at dismount line, leg check...ok, run! I was feeling a little crazy today and decided that I was going to mimick what I'd seen on TV. I ran with my bike, and pushed it holding onto the seat. I normally hold the seat and handlebars while I run. I trusted gyroscopic precession or some other sort of mystical physics would allow me to guide the bike with small tilts while I was running. It worked. I know, I'm a tiger - go ahead and say it! I thought my coolness went up at least 1 point after such a demoralizing bike ride.
I ride with my running shoes and clips, so the T2 was a little quicker for me.

I had gotten into the habit of running at least 5 minutes after coming off a cycling training event - whether it's from a spinning class, rides on my bike or the hotel stationary/recumbents, and I think it's helped me. I wanted to do sub 9:30's for the 10K....might have been able to do it on a flat course, but the rolling hills here were challenging.
I got passed by a guy who was run-walking, and thought I'd catch up to him 2x. NOT! Saw a guy running barefoot, and another carrying his left shoe.
At the mile 6 marker with only .2 miles left to go, I normally like to pick it up and try to sprint in for the hell of it. I can normally speak when running, but I went breathless. I had just passed one guy and I could hear someone approaching for the last 3/4 mile, then a woman spectating yelled, "Go girl! You got 2 men on your tail!" I love spectators, they are so motivating! (Did I mention those guys were well beyond AARP qualified?)

I need to move to NH where it's beautiful with plenty of hills to train on!

Saw TriMom217 on run out-and-back and she told me about her bike fiasco. She looked great, in good spirits still, and I told her to hurry on back so we could CHOW DOWN! After running, I hurried to get my camera out of my bag, and cheered the rest of the athletes in...hopefully in enough time to catch TriMom217 go through the chute.


UH....HILLS. :)


Endorfun and the race director Keith Jordan has put on the best races I've been to, which were 2 out of 5. Great post race feast, awards ceremony, raffle prizes (computrainer!), race venues, choice vendors, organization, volunteers, etc. I would highly recommend his races. We get good goodie bags too...this one had a drawstring backpack from Triathlon Bag . com.