My Way or the Tri Way - Aquathlon - Aquathlon

OK this was a 750 meter SWIM not a run.
This race was squirrly because you could do any combination of two or three sports in any order! So everyone started at a start line in transition no matter what you were doing first. You had to run about 200 yds down to the lake - this took me about a minute and a half. In retrospect, I really should have started up in the front - that would have cut some time off not only my running down to the lake, but I also wouldn't have had to maneuver through so many ladies at the start of the swim.

Got down to the water and started swimming with lots of other women - it was way congested! The water was beautiful and I could actually SEE my arms and the people around me! Weird! ;)

Things started to clear out around halfway to the turnaround. I was really enjoying the swim and sighting pretty well. Turned around and had a hard time seeing any boueys or where to go, but just followed the peeps in front of me. Passed a handful of guys who started 7 minutes before me.

Started really kicking it in about halfway back to the shore. Saw the red flags finally and sighted off of those. Pee'd in my wetsuit - aaaaah.

Before I knew it this swim was over - it felt kind of short! I actually dolphined twice up to the shore looking like a bad @ss... popped up and started running up the beach!

Tom's mom was right there and she ran with me up to transition. Took my cap and goggles off before I got to my spot.

Start up front!

Got out of my wetsuit, threw down cap and goggles but was sure not to throw them far. I'd need them later!

Socks, shoes, race belt, sunglasses. Off to run!

Nothing.

This was a 3.5 mile RUN.
Ran out of transition and Nancy (Tom's mom) said "Pace yourself!" - she knew the altitude would get to me.

The run had rolling hills, something I'm not used to. And the altitude of course. I was immediately out of breath, but chugged through. The run course was pretty empty since most of the people were now on the bike course.

Came to the first hill and had to walk up it. Meh. I was absolutely terrified that if I pushed hard, I would black out and need an ambulance ride. I've gotten altitude sick as a kid before and I didn't want to ruin my day so I just took it easy. Probably too easy, but oh well.

Kept running at just over a 10-minute mile pace and walked up a few hills. Didn't pass anyone, and 3 or 4 girls passed me. I didn't know what category they were in, but I'm not sure I cared either :)

Finishing the run, I saw Tom on another part of the course starting his! I was able to get his attention and wave at him - that was cool. Came up the HILL to the finish where nancy took my picture and I ran into transition, still winded. Yaaay coming from Kansas and racing in Colorado!

Live in Colorado so I'm used to the altitude.

Ran up to my stuff, took off shoes and socks and grabbed my swim cap and goggles. THIS WAS CRAZY WEIRD! hahaha I was laughing because it was so different and so much fun!

I wasn't about to get back into my wetsuit so I just ran out of transition and down to the beach. The water was almost empty! I'd have the lake all to myself :)

Nothing

This was a 750 meter SWIM, not a run.
There was one other lady entering the water with me in a green cap (so not in my division), she had put on her wetsuit and was moving really slow. I dove into the (kinda cold!) water and started swimming! OOOH this was awesomely weird to be ending my race with a SWIM! I loved every second of it!

I could see one blue cap in front of me and I passed him or her pretty quickly. I could feel significantly slower without the wetsuit and felt like o was slogging against a current, but I think it was just the lack of wetsuit.

There was no one else in the water! The kayackers were just looking at me, and I was looking at them as I breathed each time. I felt like saying "hi" to them or something LOL!

I really soaked in every minute of this swim - it was so much fun! I didn't want it to end! It was so lovely not having anyone bump into me, but kind of lonely all by myself out there. I finally came up to the finish and again it felt short... dolphined out of the water again and ran up the beach to transition.

There is no place for a T3 here but this race had one! You had to go back into transition after your third segment and then out through another timing mat to run the ~200 yards down to the finish line. I ran up to my stuff to put on my running shoes - no socks - and ended up with a 1:40 T3. Not sure why it took me that long?!

Anyway... ran out and DOWNHILL to the finish line - that was really fun.

Nothing - ending my race with a swim was so unique and SOOOO me. :)

Got my goodie bag, tech shirt, and found Tom and his mom. Ate some good food and waited for the awards ceremony. Tom got 3rd in his age group and I ended up getting 2nd overall female for my division! I was very pleased with this!

I was a little disappointed I didn't get an award for 2nd female overall for the swim-run-swim division... they only gave overall awards for the different divisions other than traditional triathlon. :( But I'm still really happy with my race and had a BLAST doing it!


Altitude.


Events started a few minutes late but that was no big deal. The awards ceremony was really late because people thought the yoga mats at the finish line were giveaways but they were actually awards! So they had to get all of those back and such.

OK This is such an awesome race since you get to choose any order of any two or three of the sports! So unique and fun! Very well run, small race. I recommend!!