St. Anthony's Triathlon - TriathlonOlympic

It was a tough swim for sure. I never felt like I had any kind of rhythm at all. By the time we went off there was 2-3 foot chop and strong current. For some bizzare reasons I had a lot of negative thoughts and fears before and during this swim which has never happened before. I just had this weird feeling I was going to get hurt on the swim perhaps because the lady who died last year was in my age group? I was able to talk myself out of it and really there was almost no contact this year but I think it kind of made me play it a little safe.

The first leg as you got further out the waves started to be a factor. I tried to draft a little but kind of felt like I had clear water most of the time. Started passing other swim waves. Rounded the first buoy well and was feeling good about things. Second leg seemed to take FOREVER. Was trying to concentrate on good form, passing people from other waves. It was pretty choppy and I amost felt sea sick which is VERY unusual for me. Near the second turn I saw Janice and yelled "GO foolproof GO Janice" I didn't think she heard me and I kept going.

The last leg was very congested with slower swimmers from other waves. Almost my whole left arm and hand went numb. I kept trying to pull more from my lats and not my forearm. I had the most contact here and just kept running in to people. The swim exit was congested as well. I felt like I had a good swim but my time sucked. This was a tough swim but certainly not as bad as 2 years ago but far harder than last year or the first year I did the race.
I was really disappointed in my swim time but I guess thay announced after the race that it was long at 1.1 miles...I don't think I beleive either 1.1 miles nor do I believe .93 miles. It was probably 1 mile which would put my pace around 1:45 per 100 which is about what I do. 1.1 miles puts my pace at 1:36 per 100 which I can do over short distances but not typically in open water.








No idea. I swim really well in the pool then can't pull it together in a race. More OWS perhaps. I'm not good at pushing myself super hard I'm more apt to go at a comfortable pace. No idea why I had all those bad thoughts at the beginning of the race.

I had a PRIMO rack spot this year. Right in the middle and about 10 yards from the bike/run exit. I guess since I had such a crappy start time I didn't have to be out in the back 40 like the last 3 years. I don't like to start the bike winded so I walked most of it. Nothing exciting here.

As I get stronger and fitter running transition will be better.

The bike I just kicked ass. I had fun on the bike. I think I executed it as well as I could have. It took me about 5 miles to get settled in get my HR down and my breathing under control. There was wind but nothing horrible. Last year there was no wind at all practically. I remember last year the last 1-2 miles on the bike coming into some wind and not really handling it all that well and it really slowed me down. This year I just pedaled into it and no problems. I passed a lot of people on the turns.

There is a section on the bike course where you go thru a golf course and there are these "speed humps" which are a PITA. Coming thru the golf course there were about 5 of us who were passing each other back and forth and all of a sudden there is a course marshal standing in the middle of the road waving her arms to STOP on the right and 2 fire trucks on the left and she made us stop....it was so stupid because she was stoppping us for someone who had wrecked on the speed hump but he was totally off the road, on the grass and walking his bike away. We totally could have passed but instead had to stop and get off our bikes. I passed Sister Madonna about the half way point and yelled "Go sister" also passed Jackie Yost and yelled "go Jackie" The last mile of the bike me and another girl nearly got run over by a car. The police tried to not let the guy thru but he ignored her and then nearly hit both of us. YIKES!!

I was really not hot on the bike and didn't feel like I was sweating boatloads so I didnt' take the lava salts. My coach had said if its hot take a couple but I really wasn't hot. I definately should have but more on that later. I think I got a little distracted by the car nearly running me down.

Couldn't help that I got stopped by the marshall. Had to slow to not get hit by a car...yep had to do that. I would have taken my electrolytes but I really didn't feel like I needed them. I'm very happy with my bike.

Not much to say. Racked bike, sat down and dried feet off for socks and shoes. I need socks for running. Can't avoid it. I struggled getting my race belt on. Took my inhaler this year so no asthma on the run!!!

be less of a klutz with the race belt.

Nothing like getting passed by over 100 people in you age group :( The run is so hard for me to have everyone passing me....esp big fat people. I wish I could wear blinders like race horses. I kept repeating to myself "run your own race run your own race run your own race" I feel like I pretty much gave it the best I could on that day with what my body would give me. I could have maybe walked about 30-60 seconds less but it would not have significantly changed the outcome. I picked it up the last 1/4 mile and ran in strong. Its funny becuse 6.2 miles just doesn't seem long at all and it went by quickly despite my crappy time.


I did bring my inhaler on the run. I RAN out of transition and down the road. Was feeling pretty OK, but I could sense that my HR started to elevate quickly and my breathing was getting tight. I used my inhaler and walked a little til that feeling went away. The first mile was about getting that GONE. I used my inhaler 3 times in the first 3 miles then I didn't need it. I was sub 11 minute miles the first 2 miles. My left ITB at my hip was pretty sore but really my feet were in a bad way and it was totally my own fault because I had walked around barefoot on concrete and pavement at M&M. Balls of my feet still hurt. I felt like I had a rock in my shoe. DUH. It was worth it to do the race with my dad tho :) A the turn I knew I would have to reverse split big time to break 3 hours and I knew my body was not going to respond. I wish I could will my body to go faster, it just won't. SO may times at the end of runs I try to pick it up and I FEEL like I am going fast and my iPod+ tells me I am quite slow. Doesn't matter how much I tell my legs to go fast they apprently have a mind of their own. The last 2 miles my calfs were cramping. Did a gel about 2 miles in to the run. I started with an accelerade but I just didn't want to carry it. Used the water and gatorade on the course. It was HOT BTW.

Saw lots of people on the course. Tampa gang at the run exit/finish, saw Mike, Irene, Lynne, Janice, Mimi and Amy on the run. I had a slight chance of breaking 3 hours but alas it was not my day.

Take electrolytes at the end of the bike, not walk so much the days leading up to the race, not walk barefoot on pavement the day before the race. Do more bricks and more runs on tired legs. HEAT HEAT HEAT.

I was breathing pretty hard. Got the glorious ice cold towel and some fluids. Found my family who had staked out a primo spot in the shade. Got some beer and talked with my friend Erin. Saw Bill Ulbircht (president of St. Anthony's I know him because he used to be head of my hospital) and chatted abut a lot of stuff. Me: "Bill do ya think they could possibly start the LADIES early sometime?" He was non commital of course. I just think its unfair that the guys get the cooler temperatures and good water every year and the women get the heat of the day and waves. He told me that this race sold out in 35 minutes this year. Next year they are planning a sprint on saturday with an ocean swim to unload both Meek and Mighty and the Oly...you heard it here first!!!

We went to find the BTers...found them and lost my family....saw my friend Susan and talked for a while. Got my stuff out of transition and went back to B&B. GAME OVER.


Waves, current, crazy course marshal, crazy drivers, sore feet, sore hip, sore ankle, cramps, HEAT!! I am probably capable of a 27 minute swim, the bike I lost maybe a minute between having to stop for the marshall and nearly getting run down by the car. I can run better but I walked too much AGAIN in the days leading up to the race and the barefoot thing was stupid of me but that stuff was TOTALLY worth not going sub 3 to get to do the tri with my dad :)


This is a good race as always and I had a great weekend with my family. My dad had a great time on Sunday specatating and was asking yesterday "did you book rooms for next year"? I don't think he will be racing again tho. I am curious to know how he feels about it all in a few days after his friends come over and oooo and aaahhh over his medal and trophy :)

I have been thinking about my reactions to my race. I PRed by 7 minutes and initially I was happy with the result. I did my very best and PRed. I want to go sub 3 but I knew it would be a stretch to shave off 12 + minutes. I'm disappointed with my swim and run but I really did my best. I was fine with everything until I looked up everyones results. There are some people who must belittle others to make themselves feel good and I just know they looked at my time and were thinking "haha I kicked her ass" When people treat me like that it makes me feel bad about my results and efforts. I am happy for people who do well and meet their goals as long as they don't have to throw it in my face with that type of attitude especially when you are comparing apples to oranges. I need to eliminate these people from my life and realize it is their problem not mine and not be pulled into this toxic-ness. From now on I am embracing my inner slowness, doing each workout and race to the best of my ability and if you need to make me feel bad about myself to make yourself feel good about your own performance I feel sorry for you.