St. Anthonys Tri - TriathlonOlympic

The swim is probably my natural best event. (besides shopping)I placed myself towards the front in the middle and let all the really eager beavers go first. I got kicked a lot. I had trouble with my wetsuit choking me so I just undid the velcro at the top and I was fine. I kept trying to pass these 2 girls who were in front of me but when I swerved one way they would go the same way. I finally decided I was going to have to just be content with drafting behind them but I was frustrated because I kept swimming into them and I wanted to go faster. At the 4th bouy I looked up and saw the 5th bouy was a little more to the left and they were going straight and FINALLY I passed them and a bunch of other people.

Across the top of the course it was total heaven. The current was behind me and I was sailing and starting to pass people from other waves.The last leg was into the current and a little tougher. I was still passing people from other waves, but now the wave behind us started to catch up. Got stuck behind someone else who was being pissy about letting me by. The current was strongest on this leg and I just focused on the balloons marking the swim exit. I was figuring I'd probably do the swim in about 30 minutes and I was right.

1)Learn to be more aggressive about swimming over people.
2)I have trouble pacing myself in open water because its hard to know how far you have gone
3)Be more aggressive with my pace. I have swum 1500 meters in 26:22 so I know I can go faster. The whole people in my way thing slowed me down the most. Not sure how to fix that.

It was quite far between the swim exit and my bike. Did much better getting my wetsuit off this time than my last race. I just sat on the ground and pulled the thing off. Washed off my feet, put my socks, helmet and glasses on and ran out.

The only thing I can do differently is to learn to run faster. Did the best I could.

The bike was FUN. I love the bike. I did the shoes on the bike thing with elastics for the first time in a race and it was fine getting on the bike like that. Easier for me than clipping in, but I had practiced that a lot at home. Got about 3 miles in and realized on of the elastics never broke and I was still tethered. I don't think that affected anything.

It was quite windy by this time. Seems like every time there was a little hill we had wind in our face too. One section I was cruising at 27MPH for about 2 miles and it was a great feeling. The course had tons of turns. I almost went over on a turn because there was a cross wind and it tried to take my little Roo out from under me. After that I braked and came out of Aero for the turns.

Found a girl I know who was also doing the race and we basically rode about 3/4s of the bike together. I kept trying to encourage her because she wasn't feeling well. Speed HUMPS in the golf course area were a challenge. Got a water which I only drank a little of at the turn and ate about 3/4 of a gel. Got out of my shoes right before the cobbles stone entrance to transition and rode with my feet on top without difficulty.

Practice more hills. I get plenty of practice in the wind. Be more aggressive. I really enjoyed the bike.

Once again long way to my transition area. I tried running with my bike, but decided I was better off walking it. Helmet off, shoes on, race belt on, sweat band, little water bottle, Gu and off I go.

Not much. I felt I was better off walking with my bike than running and being totally out of breath to start the run.

PITIFUL

I came out of T2 and was like "YEAH my hip doesn't hurt" But unfortunately my stomach was cramping. I was trying to finish all my gatorade on the end of the bike so I guess that was a bad move. Made it to the first water station fine and was using my own water bottle. Into mile 2 my hip started cramping. Got to the second water station and thru out my bottle and took a cup of water. The people on the route were SOOO nice and were hosing us down and had their own water stations and were cheering everyone.

My legs felt like crap. My ankle starts hurting (I've had 5 ankle surgeries) my knee starts hurting (3 surgeries) my hamstring is hurting my calves are cramping. FINALLY the turn around. I had been looking for MIke but I must have missed him. By this time I was hurting pretty bad and was focused on just putting one foot in front of the other. Then I started feeling the blisters that were developing on my feet.

I took water at every station but had a lot of trouble drinking out of a cup while running. I probably should have taken Gatorade but I didn't want to be wearing it and I knew I would be covered in the stuff. FINALLY the bridge and I knew I had about 1.25 miles left THANK GOD. I felt like 2000 people passed me on the run.

Took water at the last station. I was in a bad way. The last 1/2 mile was horrible. I was in a lot of pain. I tried to walk but my legs felt like rubber bands and I was dizzy and nauseous and in general felt awful so I figured I better run again. I was dry. A friend who came to watch the race saw me and started yelling at me to keep going and that I was nearly done. She tried to run with me but she had jeans on and couldn't manage it. (She said I looked pretty bad) Peopple around the course were all cheering me on. I walked the cross walks and then ran. FINALLY the finish.

They had a big vat of ice water soaked towels and gave me one HEAVEN. The timing chip guy asked if I needed help and I told him he better take it off because if I bent down I would fall down. Got Gatorade and water.



1)Not be injured.
2)Get shoes that don't give my blisters.
3)RUN FASTER.
4)Do better with nutrition and hydration

I really felt like crap. All I wanted to do was lay down. Drank the water and gatorade in about 10 seconds and felt better. Found the BT keg courtesey of DJ Ortho (THANK YOU) I was pretty dazed I am told. Went to get and ice pack for my hip. Drank lots of beer which was surprizing good after the race. Ate some pizza and chips. Felt human again.




1)injury
2)can't train the run like I need to secondary to injury
3)need to practice swimming over people
4)need to train more hills on the bike
5)Need to learn how to pace myself better in open water


It was a great race extremely well organized. We had a great time as a BT group. Highly reccomend it.