I am happy that I didn't get kicked or punched or dunked on the swim. Started to the outside in a direct line with the buoy. Passed a few people, was passed by a few. Tried to draft people but just am no good at staying in their bubbles.

Learn to draft properly!

Rookie mistake here. Timing chip came off in the wetsuit. I didn't notice it until I was a couple of miles into the bike. Oh well...but annoying that I made that mistake.

Use my own timing chip band which stays on better than the one that was provided.

I felt like crap for the whole ride. Somehow I had managed to swallow a gallon of lake water and my stomach was cramping the entire time. I tried to eat my gel and drink my electrolyte but it was gagging me. I managed to choke down at least half of it, but my body didn't like it at all. This has never happened to me on the bike before, I was wondering if it were possible to vomit and keep riding! It was hard to focus on pushing hard because I was in pain. I still had a faster split than last year.

Good note--I still managed to pass a bunch of ladies, though! After the race one woman told me that she was impressed that I'd passed her like she was standing still.

Figure out the stomach issue!!! Push harder.

Took a few extra seconds to dig the timing chip out of the wetsuit and put it on, grabbed my race belt and Garmin and hit the road. Unfortunately I made another mistake and forgot to grab my visor! It was hot and sunny and it would have been nice....but I knew it wouldn't make or break my run.

Sun protection!

Stomach cramps still, the WHOLE time. I just worked on keeping my cadence fast, knowing it would keep me a good pace and I would be able to finish sooner and end the pain! I dumped water on my head at all the water stops, drank a little bit, although stomach still complained.

At about 5 miles, Sister Madonna Buder was running outward bound and hollered at me, "You look beautiful!". Now, that is something special, and it really helped me pick up the pace at the end, as my 5th mile had slowed down, since it was getting hotter and hotter.

Overall I am really pleased with my run time, as I kept a really good pace, all under 9 minute miles.

Figure out the stomach thing.

Drank tons of water, ate orange slices, sat and tried to relax stomach. Finally started feeling better. Accepted my First Place Athena trophy. :)


Stomach cramps!!!!


Lots of cheerleaders out on the run course made it fun, they had all made up different cheers about running. Very cute.

When I was about two miles into the run, a woman was heading in and told me I was the 12th woman and that she was in a relay so she didn't count....throughout the run I passed two women, which put me in the TOP TEN! Yay!!!

I'm summing this up to say that yes, my performance this year was a little bit better than last year, even though the clock doesn't say so....due to the swim distance change....imagine if I'd had a healthy digestive system. Well, there's always next year!