Harvest Moon Long Course Triathlon - Triathlon

The swim started well, even though I hadn’t swam in 2 weeks and hadn’t been in the open water since Steamboat, I felt calm. Half way to the first buoy a girl next to me began to have a panic attack. I stopped and talked to her, swam with her for a bit, stopped and talked some more until a kayak came by to help her. The rest of my swim was uneventful. I felt good, I was calm. Even swimming into the wind chop on the way back I didn’t feel anxious. My final swim time was 59:49, better than I had expected.

Rushed my transition set-up so took my time in T-1 making sure I didn't forget anything.

Tough 4 loop course, very hilly. First race on the new tri bike. Took it easy on the first loop and increased intensity with each loop . My back would spasm when I was in the aero position but was fine when I sat up on the horns. But my seat was painfully uncomfortable when I sat up. So I alternated back and forth. By the fourth loop, everything hurt and I was beginning to feel fatigued overall. Ate and drank well. Could have drank one more bottle of Tailwind.

Need more time on the new bike to get more comfortable in the aero position and higher cadence

Exhausted coming off of the bike. Legs felt like rubber, back hurt.

. Heading out on the run I felt like I had nothing left. Near tears, it was again the support of my coach and my friends that put one foot in front of the other. I paced myself well heading out, eating and drinking often and was surprisingly pain free, just very tired. I wanted to make the turn around with enough time to spare that worst case I could walk the last half and finish. I didn’t quite make the time I wanted, but did well. The run back was a huge mental struggle. This is my training route and I know every hill of the course, know exactly how far it is around the reservoir. I knew I had time and I lost all motivation, so very tired! The support of the fellow athletes and the amazing volunteers at the aid stations helped push me through. Seeing my coach ride out to meet me a mile from the finish was the last push I needed. If she could sacrifice an entire Sunday to watch me struggle, the least I could do was shuffle the last mile in a running type motion. My final run time was 3:03, only 3 minutes over my target time.

Need to stay motivated

Completely exhausted at the finish. Couldn't eat. Sore, stiff and tired


Struggled with respiratory illness all season. Stressful month leading up to this race; Mu's cancer diagnosis, Joe's uncle's death. No motivation to train for the last month.


Tough race but incredibly well run! Lots of volunteers, plenty of aid stations well stocked, even ice on the run!