We started three minutes behind the men. Which was enough to have open swimming water for half of the course, but it was crowded the rest of the time. I tried to avoid the crowds, and went a little off course. I ended up cutting my feet on some coral, but didn't realize it until the race was over.

Not be afraid about getting into the crowd.

Pretty smooth, I think.

Nothing.

I think that I did okay. It's a two loop course, so there's lots of people watching to be done. I was leap frogging with a couple of people, which always makes things amusing. Then, I would start watching other participants and getting distracted. I was having fun throughout all of the bike. But, I was forgetting to push myself. So, my thought process went something like this: push, push, push...damn, that guy's passing me again...push, push, push...yeah, I passed him again...wow, look at that lady, she's my grandma's age...I hope that I'm still active by that time...that guy has a camel back with him...I wonder if it's chafing...crap, passed by the same person...again...push push push...this water tastes funny...push, push, push...remember to say thanks to that volunteer...push...that person does not look like they're having much fun...hmmmm, I wonder what my face looks like...laugh...push, push...I don't want to drink any more funny tasting water...crap, getting passed again." Yeah, you get the picture.

Focus?

I had a hard time balancing to get my shoes on, but I don't think that it mattered in the long run. I looked at my watch, and was somewhere near 40 minutes. I realized then that it was more than possible to beat my last year's time if I ran quickly.

Balance more.

This run was great for me. It was kind of an out and back course, so I got to focus on the other runners. The run went by quickly. I think it's my fastest 5K. I felt like I was going much slower. It's a nice course, and I kept telling myself, "you're a runner, you're a runner..." In hindsight, I could have pushed it a little more, but I didn't know that at the time. I ran with a guy for most of the second half. We were both encouraging each other...which is always nice. I did my best to sprint to the finish. I beat my last year's time by 6 minutes :). I was really proud.

Talked. Grinned. Ate. The usual.