Though it was my first open water swim and I should cut myself a break, I was very disappointed. I panicked after I first put my head underwater because the water was murky, muddy, and generally more disgusting than I ever imagined. (I could not see my hand as I completed a stroke.) I knew that as long as I could maintain steady breathing I would be alright, however, that was impossible while panicking. I swam backstroke for most of the first half of the swim leg.

Before the race began, I was looking the most forward to the swim leg, so that I could show my coaches and myself that my hard training paid off. With no swimming background before March 2004, I feel I progressed most in swimming. Overall, I look back and had a great time, but will never participate in this particular sprint again.

1. Known the terrain prior to the event/

2. Remain focused on the task at hand. Swimming around the buoys and not being distracted by external factors, such as mud, seaweed, bacteria, algae, etc./

3. Instead of focusing on the farthest buoy, I would have made an imaginary straight line to the nearest buoy and then perhaps the distance would not seem so overwhelming. It was not until the last 1/3 of the swim leg that I had calmed down enough to put my training to use.

I wiped as much mud off as I could/
Put on socks, riding shorts, sneakers, glasses, helmet in that order/
Sucked down energy gel/
rode away


Move quicker/
wear contacts during swim/
eat energy gel once on bike

I passed many people on this leg and was only passed twice (once early, once late). I was determined to get ahead because I lost much time on the swim.

Do some sprint intervals once I'm settled

I took too much time to find a leftover energy gel packet of my own from earlier in the race. Next time have some more ready to suck down on the way.

It was difficult to get my legs going after the long, hard bike. I should have practiced that transition more.

Picked up my pace as I have run 8:30 miles before

EAT EAT EAT EAT
STRETCH STRETCH STRETCH
Change clothes
EAT EAT EAT STRETCH EAT


Unfortunately, for the swim leg...fear/
Bike, nothing. This was my best!/
Run, not practicing the bike-run transition (from a muscular perspective)


See SWIM :) I am so glad to have participated in this event prior to my next race in San Diego in July. What a great warm-up. Thanks to Brad Jaeger and The Triathlantic Association for putting on an excellent, well-organized race and for the volunteer exchange policy.