Boulder Stroke & Stride - Biathlon (swim/run)

Swim could've been much better. I had a bad start and couldn't really catch my breath for the rest of it. Ended up doing a lot of side stroke, a little bit of breast stroke, and some time on my back. There was some free mixed in there too though! I think the adrenaline just got to me. I was really frustrated in the water, but after seeing my time I'm not too upset. I've been averaging about 19:35 for 800m's in the pool, so this wasn't too much off from my pool times. I think I might have started too far up in the pack (didn't mean to, got stuck there) and didn't realize how fast I was swimming when I started.

I need to work on focus and finding my own pace in the water. I know I can do better than this and save energy in the process if I find my pace rather than sprinting after others who are faster than me. Not sure how to actually do this though....in the pool it's just me so I pick my pace based on how I feel. I definitely didn't realize at the time that I was going so much faster than my regular pace.

I almost left for the run with my goggles on my head!!! Thank goodness I tried to put my hat on first! :) I have no idea what a "good" time is for transition....don't really care too much either. I wanted to make sure my shoes were on comfortably since I'm still getting used to my orthotics. Also, I took my time getting from the water to my stuff and up to the run start....I didn't run b/c I wanted to save my legs for the actual run. I'm glad I did b/c they were hurtin bad by the end!

Not start to leave w/my goggles still on my head! :) Truly though, wouldn't change much...just so glad to have had a chance to practice a transition. One less thing to stress about come race day.

I'm in the 12's!!!! On a 5k!!! That's almost the exact same pace as my RECORD 2 mile run....and that was a stand alone run...this is after swimming a half mile! I just can't say enough how happy I am with this time! I used my new interval timer watch and did 2min. walking 1 min. running...until I got to where the finish line was in sight and then I ran the last 2:18 straight. So total I ran 15:18 of this....way longer than any of my training runs, and for the most part it felt really good!

It was especially cool b/c it was in the same place as the tri I watched last month, and on my way back I recognized the spot where I had been standing cheering on runners and telling them that they were almost there. Felt so good to see that spot and know I had almost made it....and then right around the corner was my new favorite 5 letter word: FINISH!

Learn how to talk and run at the same time so I could say something back to the ppl that encouraged me! Almost every time someone said something to me I was so out of breath or my mouth was so dry that I couldn't make any words come out. One guy actually slowed way down as he passed me to make sure I was ok.

Wandered around aimlessly for a while....Saw Cathy (COgirl)...always good to see a familiar face! Got a massage!! :) My first one ever (I've never been a big fan of strangers touching me so I've shyed away) and wow it felt good! I asked what she could do for my shins and she worked miracles! Between that and ice my shins feel no worse for the wear.


Lack of experience mostly. I've got a lot to learn but I'll get there.


So much fun!!!! I had a great time! The more I think about it the happier I am about it! The whole way I switched between thinking "what the heck am I doing out here?" and "omg I'm really out here doing this! how cool!"

My only complaints about the race are 1.) They gave "my" water bottle to someone else....the announcer said "next person across the finish line wins a water bottle" just seconds before I crossed, but he had his back turned when I crossed and gave it to the person behind me. Hmph. 2.) They ran out of water at the finish line! Not cool! I was soooooo thirsty. They offered me water from the melted ice that was in a trash can....I took a bit cus I really did need a drink but it looked pretty gross.