Born to Tri - TriathlonSprint

Swam out to the swim start (~100 yards). Kept it easy and smooth. Found some feet to draft off of at the start of the race. It spread out as the swim continued and couldn't draft much later. The swim went really fast and I felt good. Turned right at the bouy and had solid navigation. Kept swimming until I was in really shallow water.
Swim had to be short because the time includes run up beach and into the TA.

Nothing. Great swim and 1st in my AG by 1:06

Decided to take wetsuit off at my TA versus on the beach. Got a little stuck on my left foot, but not awful. Benefit of taking it off in the TA is that most of the sand was then on the wetsuit and I didn't have to squirt it off with the water bottle. Because I got blisters last race, I rolled my socks on.


Nothing. Solid T1 for me.
2nd in my AG
6th OA

First loop was weirdly lonely. I didn't see a lot of people. Sunny (1st in my AG and woman who came in 2nd in AG 2 weeks ago) passed me at the end of the first lap. Probably the best thing that could have happened. I picked up my pace. I knew I couldn't re-pass her, but she was my carrot and I kept her within my sight for nearly the rest of the race. Saw Brad out there (once on the bike and again when he was running). The bike went by really fast. The course was interesting because of the turns, but the road conditions were awful at the turns. They also didn't have volunteers at some intersections. At one, there was a traffic light and no volunteer...really scary. Took a GU at the beginning of the last loop.
Course was advertised as 13.5, but was short by 2+ miles.

Push the pace from the beginning.

Perfect T2 for me. Not sure I could shave any time off here.
Visor, race belt and running shoes on. Also ran with my water bottle.

1st in AG and 7th OA.

Got into a good rhythm from the start. Was able to maintain a consistent pace. Sipped water and dripped some over my head to keep cool. Saw Sunny on the first OAB and counted the women in between and knew I was still in the top 3 in my AG. I hit the turn around in Ocean Grove and the volunteer said I was the 10th woman. I couldn't believe it! I ran through the casino and the shade felt great. Heard Karen and Brad cheering and I started the last OAB. It was longer than I thought which was a little discouraging. Saw Sunny again and knew I couldn't catch her. After the turn around and running back through the convention center, it was a straight shot to the finish line. I picked up the pace and finished strong.

Nothing at all.

PR for my 5k...stand alone or in a tri.

They had icy towels at the finish which was awesome. Packed up our stuff and loaded the car. We hung out at the finish line for the awards. I was pretty sure I was either 2nd or 3rd in my AG, but they didn't have me down as top 3. The RD said they didn't have the total times...not sure how they even were able to get the AG awards without total times. He told me to check the results and if I placed, they'd mail me the medal. Really nice about it, but kind of annoying the situation happened in the first place.


They had great breakfast burritos. Probably the best I've ever had.
Also got to meet Charlie (and his wife), from Tim and Laura's mentor group. Looks like he had a solid race!


Nothing.


A great local race I'd do again.
Pros: nice shirts, organized and on time race morning, fun course and very spectator friendly, breakfast burritos

Cons: unorganized awards ceremony with wrong info, unsafe bike course with a lack of volunteers at some intersections, poor road conditions at some corners, bike course was short, while they had mile markers on the run, the one was facing the wrong way and I didn't see the other.

Overall, a great race that I'd do again!