I was bummed when I saw the ocean since the waves were big and the tide was coming and was about half way in. I didn't do well at my last Tri with tiny tiny waves...these looked liek the big ones were 3 feet. I could tell people could stand up and touch almost to the first bouy. I got in the back and the right and started to swim..but going into the waves was tough and I'd get mouthfuls of ocean water. I would stand and walk some...and try swimming around the big waves. Once I got the the first bouy..the wave behind up caught up, but it was easier going sideways in the waves...I kept going to the right ..out farther than necessary. I met a nice women who was encouraging and said let's do this together. After the last bouy, was nice to ride with the waves...about half way in most people with me (ie slow swimmers) started walking. I kept going off course to the right. I kept trying to swim and it was better going with the waves and did more kicking to get blood into my legs to help them feel better for the bike. After I stood up fell over a big rock or something and landed on my hands and knees...very graceful! Glad to make it to shore and happy with my time. Last year's time 18:06...was 5:20 faster.

I need to practice ocean swimming with waves. After last year I said I wouldn't do any ocean swims for a long time. Glad I did this one...challenging but I did it.

Did much better on T1 than last year. ...last year 2:56...1:36 faster!! I flopped on the ground...since I was the last rack and whipped off my wetsuit and booties I wore to protect my feet from nasty beach with shells and stuff. Didn't put on socks and have been practicing biking with no socks so felt good. I was 1st in Athenas for T1.

Keep practicing...but happy with my speed. Someday I'll learn to put shoes on bike and jump all that ....maybe next year.

I started in a lower gear and did spinning and had my cadence around 90. In the middle of the second loop I cranked up the hardest gear and started going faster which was my plan. Loop one avg mph was 16.7, loop two avg. mph including loop one was 16.8 and last loop was 17.0...just went under 17.0 at bike exit...dismount area. I passed so many people which I enjoyed. ...probably 30-45 or so...including many guys. I was riding with the fast guys...and the fastest guys were on the run only while I was on my last lap...so much better than last year when they were running and I was on lap 1. No women passed me and I very pleased with that...but about .25 mile from the dismount a women passed me...I worked hard to catch up to her...but we had speed bumps and the road was yucky...I caught up to her almost and was about 5 feet behind her in the dismount...we had a little race going...but this is for fun and I didn't want to fall so I didn't go full out. This was my first race that my bike HR was in the 160's. I felt good to go that speed and being that it was chilly I could go faster and not feel hot like on days when it is 80-90's. My guess is that I came in the MOP for my bike time. I caught many people who were either in a wave ahead of me or my wave but faster swimmers. I enjoyed encouraging people on the course. I found two women probably first timers who I saw a lot and would ask them...are you having fun.....we would briefly chat each time I saw them...and they were having fun....they found me after the race and told me they were always on the lookout for me as the loops went by to see me and share that they were having fun. I saw them probably 6 times or so as we ran and biked on the same course and parts went opposite ways on the same part of the road. Hey last year I was like them...near the end and barely making it so I have a special affection for women like them. I was 9:43 faster than last year...butt kicking time...for me...Gear Goddess and doing the 1/4 Ironman plus buying a road bike...helped a ton!

Perhaps crank it up sooner..maybe 3/4ths the way into the first loop. Keep on riding, do long bike rides and get stronger.

Last year's time 1:45...so I was :58 faster. Everything went well changed shoes, put on socks, took my hat and water bottle and off I went. I was 2/7 on T2

I still could be a bit faster...but overall...If I could do the other parts of a Tri in half the time I did last time...I'd be smoking!!

My legs were a little heavy coming off the bike...but not bad. Right away all those people I passed on the bike were passing me on the run. They kept coming though..so I knew my bike time was good. My super duper goal was to be under 1:30...knew it would be tough..so I kept checking my run time vs total time...and it could be done with a smoking run....(I know I run like a slug so smoking is a relative term I use rather loosly). I measure the distance from the Y to the end while doing the bike warm up to pace myself better. I hadn't seen my husband since T1 and since he was volunteering so I could race for free I wondered where he was. ...ah he was the water boy...at the half way point. He was excited to see me..he knew I was on track to smash my last year's time. I was picking it up a bit last mile when two women like me past me...I was bumming since they looked like Athenas and I thought they could beat me...but they were younger so started earlier than I did...so I tried to stay close to them...within 2 minutes if possible. I was 4:06 faster than last year.

Run faster, lose weight, keep doing intervals so I get faster. Keep on running...probably the most room for improvement here.

I was so excited that I had beat my time from last year by so much. My goal I set up was to beat it by 20 minutes...I secretly hoped I'd come in under 1:30 so I'd beat it by 23 minutes...but I'll take 21 minute and 42 second improvement any day!! I met some BTers and a women doing a Tri soon and gave her some suggestions like coming here to BT and about training. It is fun to help others. Walked around felt good, had ice cream and a bagel. I met the two women I had been encouraging on the bike and run as they had just crossed the finish line...they were excited to see me and thanked me for encouraging them. They had hoped they would see me on the run...we did and they said I made their first Tri fun. Wow...I was blown away that being nice could make such a difference to two newbies. One the way home found I had cut my foot and had a bloody sock...it did hurt last 1 mile of the run.


Being 43, overweight and not athletic until last year for more than 15 years. I'm getting better though.


A little disorganized...only one drink station..but the water boy was great! I like it because it is small. There are two other Tris in MA this weekend so less people and lots of newbies which is great.