I don't particularly like the swimming on top of one another that goes on at a tri, so I hold back a little. The downside of that, is that I am faster than the rest of those that hold back. I also started out to the left side and well, now I know that I swim to the left cos I got a bit off course. I had a hard time getting a deep breath during this as well. I eventually got my breath and the rhythm kicked in for the 2nd half of the swim, otherwise I would have been faster.

The buoys and kayakers and boats out on the course were easily visible. The sun's reflection off the cars and tents on land made it easy to site where to go to.

Start on the right side, a little further up in the pack.

I didn't dawdle and I was right near the bike exit anyway. I took my time making sure I had everything - dried off my feet and wiped the dirt off too. Took a puff of the inhaler and got out.

I could have jogged to transition but I prefer to walk. Slather on the sunblock!!

I'm just slow...Not much else to say about it for me. It wasn't a terribly challenging course, but it was hard with the heat and wind factored in. Those first 28 miles were tough...the last 20 were tiring for me. I wish there was one more aid station on the bike cos I could have used some water to drench myself with. I grabbed water at each aid station to drink and drench, and had my AV with me, so I was good. Didn't feel dehydrated at all.

At this point, I just need to get a lot more saddle time in and improve on the hills and my pace overall. Need bike strength and stamina - EVERYONE flew past me.

I have a 5 min T2 because I was HOT and POOPED! I walked from my area to the start, so I took my time, said Hi to Spacey and Jeff, got some water and told them both that it was going to be a LONG 13 miles. One of the aid station workers reminded me, with a smile, "13 point ONE" - yes, thank you. I know... :)

Put on sunblock.

I would have liked to run more of the course but my stomach was giving me problems unfortunately. I carried a water bottle with me which made an enormous difference to my overall performance. I would refill it at each aid station and just dump it on my head (under my hat), my arms, legs, in my shirt and have some sips. This was key. The heat affected my first 5 miles or so, I ran less than a mile of each (really the miles were longer on this course than they are at home!), which annoyed me but I didn't let it get me down. I was getting used to the heat, my legs felt good, physically I felt fine EXCEPT for my stomach which made it very uncomfortable to run. :( I ran as much as I could and did run almost all of the final 3 miles.

Not have an icky tummy. Fewer gels overall...more solids on the bike. Or something...

A dip in the lake.


The heat and my stomach on the run.


Pasta dinner the night before was the best that I have ever had at any sort of race event. That was the consensus amongst about 10 of us. :) But the POST-race food, well, all I could eat were some dinner rolls. There was NOTHING veggie friendly. The pasta had pepperoni in it and there was chicken too. The veggie burger option was nixed cos the grill broke just as I walked up to it. So, I didn't eat for a while post-race, but again, the hunger just wasn't there for me pretty much all day. Weird, considering how much I love to eat!

I would definitely do this race again because I want to improve my time on the bike and the swim I should have done closer to 35 minutes. I'll come back next year and do this one again. Debating about the Mightyman 1/2 in Montauk in October...