Yeah whatever, there is NO WAY this was only 1500m. I looked at all the results and the VAST MAJORITY of folks swam 2:00/100m pace or more. Only a few people swam beneath that. 7/60 total women swam beneath a 2:00/100m pace...no way. Jack from Ironhead can insist it was perfect but not a CHANCE! I actually felt pretty strong throughout. Best sighting and straight swimming I've ever done. My cap kept popping off, and if it weren't for stickler Jack, I would've let it go a long time ago, but I didn't let it pop off till the last couple of buoys. I felt like it was a good swim, but was pissed when I got out and saw the time. Of 200+ people I was 45th OA in the swim, so yeah, it was long. Rant over (till the race report!)


Swim faster. Have a head that doesn't reject swim caps. I felt the swim was good and strong, that was my motto "strong and smooth" and I had good form, only had to kick a couple of hands that wouldn't stop HITTING my feet--not just occassional touch. Anyhow, I'm frustrated at this swim cause I don't really know how I did. Felt good, but time sucks.

Solid transition, 4/60 women and only by a few seconds. Coming out of the swim was tough, literally two dudes had to pull me up cause it was basically a shelf to a 6-7ft drop off. Then, you had to wind your way up a ramp about 200m to transition, and transition was long. I'm VERY happy with this time cause I was in the middle of the long transition. I ran the entire way out of the water, got to my gear, got it all put on quickly and made my way out.

Nothing, did this solid. It was a long transition and my time is pretty good.

Fairly flat course, a few gradual inclines and a few gradual declines. There was good headwind/crosswind about 70% of the time. Wasn't crowded till the last 5 miles or so when we merged with the Sprinters, and by that point it was the slow sprinters (mountain bikes and cruisers). Was by myself most of the time, passed a few women a few men, and got passed by maybe 2 men. Might've pushed it a little hard initially, got my HR down a little, then got back at pushing it. Stayed in aero virtually the whole time, and that was great. The best part of the road was the less windy/somewhat tailwind and smooth road out towards Crawford. I waved at President Bush (just kidding). Tried to keep the cadence b/w 93-96. Took in the right amount of fluid, and one Gu at the beginning and one at the end. Was pissed from the swim time, so I think I pushed to make up for what I thought was a slow swim, but guess was comparative.

Nothing, I think I rode this solid and strong. Did I burn a match or two, hmmm...maybe, but not much of one. It was a good gamble in the end.

2nd fastest women's T2 time. I got off the bike quick and ran it in. Still wasn't sure where I was in relation to the rest of the women's field. I had passed a couple of them, but thought I screwed up the swim. When I ran my bike in with quickness in T2 one of the volunteers yelled "alright, one of our top women" and that made me feel better. Hardly any bikes were back in (I was the 2nd wave) and I got racked quick, helmet off, threw on my shoes, grabbed my Garmin from the bike, the hat, the water bottle and OFF I went through the long transition.

Still a long transition in length, but I did this just right. I love the no socks running deal. Works great for me.

The run started off great, but then we started hitting the hills after 1.5 miles and they were TOUGH. Man alive, for that 2-3 mile stretch it was some tough going. It was an out and back so I started to see the other women. I had 3 ahead of me, I ran one down before we hit the turn around at the top of the hill portion (just to go back and get more) and there weren't any too close, or so I thought, but in the last mile I got re-passed by one. Anyhow, while the hills were a doozy, they were shaded the whole way, and it helped. I might've been able to push a little harder when we got back to the flats...but that might've been a match burned on the bike. But, when I got passed by the one girl, it helped me pick it up. My brother and friend Tanya were towards the end as we climbed up to the suspension bridge. Then, about 50m from the finish I had two people ahead of me--a guy--Oly I think and a sprinter, and I didn't want to get clumped up with them at the finish line and I got a last hard sprint in, it was a good sprint. The crowd cheered--that was nice! ;)

Start of slightly slower and push a little harder on the hills. Otherwise, I did well. Around 3.5 miles I did get a side stitch that stuck with me nearly to the end. Not too horrible. Not sure what it was that caused it...maybe too much fluids, but that's the only thing I can think of it being. Wasn't crazy hot. On a flat course I think I can do sub 8's again. We'll try at Austin in Sept.

Drank lots of water, walked around, talked to friends, got kisses from my dogs and waited till the awards ceremony.


Swimming--must do it faster. But again, it was comparative. Hills got me here too. I want an Oly PR, but I need to do it on an Oly course that is accurate for all disciplines.


Solid race. The Volunteers were really really good. All of the water was super cold, and they were great at being prepared. Major kudos to the volunteers. The course was done really well, marked well, fairly clean (especially the river), and the Waco folks did great. Ironhead does a good race production, but seriously, the pre-race meeting/diatribe by Jack was OVER the top. I've done one other of his races, and it was no where this ridiculous of a pre-race meeting. Took a while for Run-Far to get the results and so the awards ceremony started late. They should probably pick a shaded area for that.

HOWEVER, this was a first time event in something like nearly 20 years, and you wouldn't know it was a first time event.

This is a do again race, hopefully with a correctly distanced swim!