Great Place Amazing Race Triathlon - TriathlonSprint

The swim was right into the sun, so that was tough. No real contact at all, was supposed to be a 300m swim, but was really a 400m. I truly wasn't "into" it during the swim and my legs felt pretty heavy towards the end. I knew I wouldn't be first out of the water for the ladies. Passed several guys from the guys wave 3 minutes ahead. Just never really "got into" it.

Be more warmed up...maybe should've gotten in to swim. Was just sort of in la-la land!

This was nice and quick--helps it was a small transition area in general.

Nothing.

Immediately out of T1 was a .8 mile straight uphill--hardest part of the course no doubt. Not only were my quads/hammies already tight before the race and in the swim, but this kicked them hard. Got up it though and passed plenty up the hill, once I got going, for the first really 5-5.5 miles my legs just were screaming and I was thinking this was going to be a bad day. I did pass several people and a friend had told me coming out of T2 that I had 6 in my age group ahead of me by 2 minutes. I picked off each one before the turn around, but my legs were screaming and my speeds were not what they should've been. Just couldn't get warmed up. FINALLY, something kicked in around the 1/2 way point and my legs loosened up. It helped significantly that it was more "uphill" on the way out, and less on the way in. The very last thing, of course, before T2 was a big downhill and you had to brake quite a bit so as not to fly through transition and into the lake!! I did get out of my shoes though, and I knew I had a pretty good overall women's lead at this point. Decent dismount and into T2. Drank only about a 1/2 aero bottle of GU2O. Was a closed route.

Not have legs that felt all contracted and tight on the bike. I FLEW the second half, but just couldn't get it going enough the first half. 2nd half helped make up lots of ground though and loosen my legs up.

Got off the bike and got it racked, even though they weren't normal racks--kind of your normal bike racks...so I took an extra second here, but got helmet off, Newtons on, grabbed hat and belt and took off running! Small transition area again.

Nothing besides learning the flying dismount. Executed this very well...

Took off a little fast, but caught it, just tried to get the legs stretched out and maintain a good pace. Rolling hills pushed me, and for the first 1.5+ miles to the turn around I kept a decent pace, but had a little left. Hit the turn around and turned it on a little more, saw where the next gal was and knew I had to keep up a solid pace and not drop at all or she'd catch me. She would later tell me she thought for sure she would catch me on the run cause she had told herself that surely I couldn't be as strong on the run as the bike! ;) But, she was there, and not too far behind were a couple of other gals, so I just pushed it pretty hard. Could tell the course would be long, but really pushed the last .5 mile. Took some water at one point, but it was warm, and I really didn't need it. Saw the finish line, my doggies barking with my folks, and ran it on in to win!

Nothing, did this really well I think. I love my Newtons.

1st place woman overall. 5th total place overall.
Grabbed something to drink, chatted with #2 lady overall. Then I got mic'd up and interviewed by the Ft. Hood Sentinel and the Ft. Hood PBS station. Then just cheered others on in and waited for the awards ceremony. Got a really nice plaque/clock thing and a gift certificate for a free pair of New Balances from the PX. I don't wear NB, but my brother does, so I think I'll get them for him. Talked to some other racers, helped advertise BT some to them. 2 of the MP Bike patrol guys from my unit were supporting out there, so I talked with them, and they came to the awards ceremony. They then told me that they would never come to PT again cause they're scared! ;) Haha!


I had two horrible nights of sleep and a lot of other life excitement this week that I wouldn't trade for anything. My legs were tight and overall energy were zapped a bit from it all. This was for fun, race hard, but have fun and support the installations initiatives to have races like this. Top guy was at 1:04 something, and I think with a better swim and better 1st half of the bike, I might've been 1st overall.


I came into this race with low expectations. It was the first tri that Ft. Hood had worked to put on, and they have limited budget, resources, personnel, etc. It was open only to military members (active or retired), their families, and civilians that work on post (I think on that last one)--military ID Card holders basically. It wasn't USAT sanctioned either. A little over 100 signed up, 86 raced and finished. It was marked well, staffed well, and I am really impressed at what a small staff, with other duties, put together for this race. BIG kudos to MWR for this one. I wish Longhorn and the Army 10-miler/Bike TT on Ft. Hood weren't the same day so I could support it as well.