Women's Triathlon - TriathlonSprint

The swim has become my nemesis this season. I've gotten worse as the season has progressed and I was feeling kinda messed up with the TI stuff so my expectation was low. Although, getting into the water and feeling how nice it was and getting a few relaxed strokes in had me feeling a little more positive.

There were three waves based on AG and I was in the second. Pretty big crowd for my start—maybe 85 women. I got right in the mix as I really wanted not to be last coming out of the water. Last sprint of the season, deep down inside I really wanted to tear this up. Had to muscle through some women to find a space to swim in. Got through the line and found some space to swim in. Felt pretty good. Buoys were on my right (which I hate) Had a hard time getting over to the line. Was trying not to swim to far away from the buoys but it was tough as they started us far from them and you really had to concentrate on swimming kind of diagonally to get over to them. Did some bilateral breathing when I had enough space to feel comfortable with it. Reached the last buoy. Big crowd. Swam through, over the bunch that was hanging out there. Feeling good about how I managed the turn and more positive overall about the swim as now its half done. Drafted a bit on a set of feet. Too slow. Blew by and swam like hell to gitrdone! Beach finally. Should have swam a couple more strokes before getting up. Big crowd on the sand. Heard lots of folks cheering my name!! I love that!

I could have been faster if I had gotten a little closer to the buoy line on the way out. Should have been more focused on this right from the start. Otherwise, feel good that I was able to get in some bilateral breathing and got through the swim better than expected.

No times given for the T1. It must be rolled into bike time. But, I was in T1 for a ridiculously long time! For some reason it never occurred to me to get my wet suit down to my waste on the run up to TA. So I arrive at my bike fully wetsuited and then stand there like I have no idea what to do next. Next I remember, I am down on the ground trying to get the fkn thing off. Oh yeah! Its time to get on the bike you dumb arse!! I see the competition taking off without me. Geez! Hurry up!!

Everything!! Engage brain!!

Third overall on the bike! Okay, I'll take it. I passed a ton of other women on the bike. Was passed by no one. Only regret is I couldn't catch the fastest women! This is where I made up for lots of time. 88th coming out of the water and 3rd on the bike. I took back a lot of places.

Go a little harder and be first on the bike! I prob could have had I been more engaged…?

No time given for T2. Had trouble getting my bike back in the rack. Was in the big ring and so putting the back wheel in the box-like rack wasn't working. Had to flip the bike and put in the front wheel. DOH! My pathetic transitions cost me a few places I'm sure!

Not sure on this one. Just need to be more mentally engaged.

The run was an off-road trail run. Big goal here was to not get hurt. Turned my ankle just slightly about 30 seconds in. Feel a little muscle soreness there today. The run was actually kinda fun. Lots of up and down. You had to really focus on where you were putting your foot down. Hung with one women for the first few minutes, then passed her. Passed a few other women and was passed by maybe two others. On leaving T2, I knew I was in top 20 thanks to Kelly who was volunteering so I tried to maintain a good pace and stay in top 20 racers. I focused on eating up as many runners as I could, but there were a few "real runnners" who blew by me. This was a good run for me. Not my fastest, but it was a challenging course and I think I ran it well. There were no mile markers and we were really out in the woods. Quiet except for the other runners. Nice.

Nothing.

Celebration at the finish with lots of friends and congrats for a bunch of women who completed the training and their first tri!


Nothing. I think I went as fast as I could on this day given I had low motivation to complete one more sprint this late in the season and in the middle of my marathon training.


This was a great inaugural event by Hartford Marathon Foundation. I did this race to support the event and to be there to support all the women doing their first race or capping their first season of racing triathlon. So many inspiring stories. We had several women from many AGs place in the race yesterday including the 60/64. Which is just so cool!