Huge rookie mistake (good for a laugh)

Well, today was actually my second race, but I am defintely still a tri-rookie. After reading all of the embarassing stories on here I have to add mine. No nudity fortunately, but I can't think of much else that would have been worse.

The swim was in a river and started from Point A and went to Point B. As a result Point B was the transition area and we were told pre-race: "here is a bag, put the shoes you wear to Point A in it and we will bring it to Point B for you."  Following BT advice I bring only 1 pair of shoes, my racing shoes. Not thinking too much of it I set up transition and head to Point A for the start of the race with my running shoes and bag. I get my wetsuit on, place my shoes in the bag, throw it on the pile of other bags (which all contain flip-flops interestingly).

I arrive to T1 and my shoes aren't there. Not knowing what to do I decide "the hell with it" and just keep going. I do the bike (14.5 mi) and swim (2.8 mi) barefoot, getting a ton of funny comments and looks along the way. By the end I looked like the Hunchback of Notre Dame as I stubbed my toe so much it was covered in blood, my ITB decided to act up to I was limping, and no back-support from my shoes left me hunched over in pain. Just imagine Igor from from Mel Brooks' Frankenstein completing a triathlon and you have a good mental picture of how I looked and felt.

Turns out the "shoe return" was just for a second pair of shoes so people wouldn't have to get to Point A barefoot having set up their running shoes at Point B. Oh well, live and learn.