Aflac Iron Girl Women's Triathlon - TriathlonSprint

This was my first open water swim. I definitely did not like it. I ended up being in the middle towards the back of the group. This was not a good place for me to be speed-wise. I could hardly even swim because the racers all stayed in a huge clump and I was stuck in the middle. I alternated between doggy paddling and breast stroke because there was no room to even attempt free-style. I was very disappointed because my 500 freestyle has been awesome lately. It was hard to break out of everyone else, but I did get some open space the last 100-200 yards and was able to freestyle and get some speed.

There was nothing I could do to change the circumstances except line up earlier so that I am in front of everyone else!

I am so disappointed with this T1 time :( To get from the swim to transition was probably close to .25 mile up a very steep hill and through a long chute. I did not run the hill because I didn't want to wear myself out of the bike (in retrospect, so glad I did that! I saw way too many women walking their bikes or stopped resting only a mile into the bike). T1 time really robbed me of a better overall time.

Move my butt faster!

This was a difficult, but rewarding course. The hills were many and close together, but I am so proud of my time and my performance. Biking is usually my worst and I generally hate it. But all the hard work I've put in over the last months, getting up early to bike 18-20 miles and using the hills program on the stationary bike definitely paid off big time. I felt strong despite the big hills and I only walked on two very steep ones. I did much, much better than I expected! The only downside was that the last few miles had heavy car traffic that made the course difficult. I was unable to pass other bikers at many points. The car traffic getting onto Lake Lanier Island was at a stand-still at several spots with the cars completely hogging the road. The drivers were pretty unhappy about the bike traffic. I could not pass them and had to wait until they started moving again. I know that having to maintain a slower pace, stay behind slower bikers, and completely stop a few times because of stopped cars added minutes to my time.

Nothing!

Not a horrible time, but could have been much better!

I should have run my bike through the chutes instead of walking the whole time.

Good run - but could have been better. I stopped to walk a few times on the hills. At this point, I was really feeling tired and ready to be done. I am proud that I ran all of the course except the two hills going out though. There were plenty of aid stations and I made sure to take lots of water not only for drinking but to dump all over myself. Dumping a cup of water or ice down my shirt seriously helps to restore energy!

I really need better training for the run.

Lots of walking, lots of drinking, celebrating with my family!


With the swim it was my positioning in the group, with the bike it was the car traffic at the end, with the run it was need for better training.


I loved this race and had so much fun! The only suggestion I would give is to do a better job with clearing the roads inside the park. The cars blocking the roads inside Lake Lanier Island to prevent bikers from passing them was inexcusable during a race. There should have been better car traffic management.