Cactus Challenge Triathlon - Olympic - TriathlonOlympic

I had a blast on the swim. It was so much fun! I could go forever with a wetsuit! I got off course at the beggining because I was watching the swimmer in front of me. Once she messed up and got us both off course, I stuck with my own spotting. I did wear blue lense goggles. They were great for the sun but color blocked the orange of the bouys so I could only see their shape and not their color. I'll get some smoke goggles next time.

Stay on my own course and spot for myself. I had a blast!

I love transistions because I get into my own little zone. I used a foot bath which helped after the long run up the hill to transition from the water. My shoes went on perfectly, I grabbed my sunglasses and helmet and was off. My timing chip did get pulled off while getting off my wetsuit, but it was no problem getting back on. Like in the past I didn't use socks.

After the run, I may consider putting on socks at T1 in the future for this length of race.

The first lap was tough because you didn't know what was coming. All of the men that I passed in the water were getting out while I started my second lap and they were hungry to pass me and other people. But once I knew what was coming, the laps seemed to get easier and go faster. I suck at hills because I don't have any to train with, so shifting and climbing was difficult. I had a blast though on the bike and felt like I was going at a great pace for me. Took two gels on the course, lap 2 and lap 4 and felt like they helped.

Find some hills and train on them!

I love transitions because they give me a chance to catch-up. I put on my shoes (no socks), grabbed my number belt, hat and a change of sunglasses which I put on while I was running. Grabbed a water on the way out. The no socks will be a bad decision in about two miles.

Put on socks at some point.

This was tough for me. I felt great going out to the run, no rubber legs (thanks brick days), and had a low heartrate 159. The first part was shaded running along the outside of the park. I was happy. Then you round the corner and they have this stupid, run up a slight grade and back. It's just runners running in a single file with no shade. I still felt okay running down the grade, mile one down. Then back through the shaded area, and I see running making their way to the finish and I think, wow that was quick. But I'm sadly mistaken, the course goes way back into the park and down a hill, then you have to climb this nasty hill at the very end. It was right around mile three that I started to get some nasty blisters and my feet felt like they were on fire. My heart rate was fine though and my body was still able to go. I finished 3.1 and started on the second half. This was ugly! Side cramps, heat, and blisters started to take over. I had to walk twice to take a breath and let the cramps subside. I just kept pushing and saw my goal time of 2:30 go away.

Socks! I think that when you get tired your mind starts to look for reasons to slow down. I tried to ignore them and run through them, but next time I will not give myself a "reason" to slow down. My heart rate never climbed too high so I knew I had it in myself.
I will also train on hills so that I can deal with them better.

Had to get on the road right away to get home. Tried stretch a bit, but couldn't go much else. Will pay for it in the coming days.


Mental tiredness, blisters, heat.


It was a really fun race! Announcer was great, organized with lots of volunteers and cold water and Gatorade. Swim was great. Austin is such an intense Tri-community, it's a little intimating to come into from Kansas, but I learned so much! 3D racing did a very nice job despite the late start; they took care of the situation and kept safety in mind. I had a really nice time and would defiantly do this race again!