Iron Girl Columbia Women's Triathlon - TriathlonSprint

Well I thought when I was swimming that I had a great swim. I felt strong and stayed with the group. I didn't see a lot of people from the wave behind me pass and I didn't see any people from 2 waves pass me. That is all new territory for me.

I saw quite a few things out there as well like one women with a snorkel doing the breastroke. I also nailed some poor women in the butt but then realized it was her crotch b/c she was doing the back stroke.

All in all I can't complain, I haven't been in the water this year. I felt great and was happy out there swimming. I stayed on course and sighted very well even though I was in a the orange cap group and the turn buoys were orange.

I need to learn to love swimming. Next year! This is the reason I stay out of the top 10/20 in big races.

Long run to the transition area. I had to try and dry off my glasses and my feet but everything was soaked from the downpour before the race started. Messed with my watch then was blocked from getting out of my lane. I tried a detour and ended up having to duck under a very large tree with branches. Not my best transition but I came out and up the steep hill w/o being out of breath.

Be bolder to say excuse me to get out and have my watch turned on and set to bike before the race starts. boo hiss on me!

It's funny how memories stick in your head. I did this race 3 years ago on a relay team. I did the bike leg and had a miserable time. I also remember the course being SO hard. There was this one hill that almost made me fall over.

So up the hill and out onto the road. I took a few min to get my legs into a rhythm then started to hammer away. I passed a ton of ladies on the bike - easily a 100 if not more from start to finish. The roads were wet and I was still a nervous nelly on my tri bike. Never got into aero, braked and sat up on the many downhills. But I flew up the hills - something I had not done before.

Believe it or not I think my commuter miles have helped especially since I ride up some big hills every time I ride home.

When I came around the turn to that "big hill" I geared down and focused on form. Before I knew it I was at the top and thinking was that it. Wow how things have changed.

All in all a great bike. I was thrilled to crack one hour. I pushed w/o cooking my legs. I lost time again in the downhills and the flats w/o being in aero. I did a great job with my gearing and broke 1 hr. plus I was 3 mph faster than my last race on this course and 1 mph faster than Columbia last year.

Just think if I had trained on the bike, humm!

Hummm - I have no idea what the hell I was doing. The hill back into transition is steep and it was wet. I know that I tippy toed down athe hill and then had to move around slower traffic but 4 min - really?

no clue b/c I don't know where the time went.

AWESOME!!!!!! Holy cow - I was floored when i saw my run split. This is a beast of a run and I flew (at least for me.) I didn't have good data myself so I had to wait for the race splits. This may be fastest 5k pace and on this course that is amazing.

I do know that I ran through the water stations and grabbed a cup for a sip and never slowed down. I did maintain a decent pace up the many long hills. I did have a pretty fast turnover so I guess I really did run that fast.

Nothing except sprout wings.

Walked around and got some food. I chatted with another mom who was flying solo like myself. She was very nice.


The swim is my achilles heel. I was 9th in my AG out of 278 on the run and 24th on the bike but the 188th in the swim killed my overall chances.

I lost my tri training mojo this year. I retreated to the road and enjoyed the running but struggled all year with the motivation to get to the pool and on my bike. I had an extremely disappointing finish to last year's season and I never recoverd until these past 2 weeks.

I had a great time at Luray and Irongirl. I put in solid performances based on overall fitness and experience. For that I am pround of myself and I think I found my mojo. I am looking forward to the JFK50 then a break and then I'm fixing my swim. Because next year, I have some unfinished tri business!!!!!


It's funny I'm not a big fan or feel the need to race in women's only tris. But this is a great race and provides wonderful support for so many causes. There were a lot of heart warming stories of survival, battling terrible odds and perseverance. And if these races give women the confidence to get out there and compete in a triathlon then purpose served.

I felt very fortunate to be me and have the ability to race. The Columbia group does a great job putting on a race. I want to come back.