In my two previous races, I wigged and rolled over on my back. My goal was to freestyle the whole thing. I NEED TO LEARN TO SIGHT! I did fifty storkes, and when I came up for the first sight, I was nowhere near anyone else, and the lifeguard was on my right. I also need to wear my contacts in the water; when I started sighting, I couldn't focus right away, so I ended up sidestroking to sight, which was not good. Other than the sighting, though, I did freestyle the whole way.

I have been making huge speed gains in the pool, so this was a little frustrating. However, they are two different animals.


Swim a straight line!

Work a little harder - I was last, and still had plenty of energy. I also need to pay more attention to my body position, or use my wetsuit - my hips were dragging.

The time was incorporated with the swim time. I skipped gloves, which was a good idea.

I just (as in Wednesday) got clipless pedals and spent a good 3/4 of this course trying to get one foot in. I love riding with them, but I still don't have the getting-in motion down cold. So that slowed me down a lot. Plus, the people lapping me were passing without warning me, which made me really nervous about weaving while clipping in.

I am still getting hill fitness - I shifted through my small chain-ring for the whole course - cut my speed, but it's what I need to do right now.

Learn to clip in!

Again, time incorporated with run time. I asked to stop if it was okay for me to do the run, since a lot of people were finished by then.

I was so distracted on the bike that I didn't drink at all, so I bonked. I ended up walking and running the whole thing with a water bottle in my hand. I am actually surprised this time is so low - I was expecting forty minutes.

Drink on the bike! Running should never give me a problem; if it does, I didn't fuel properly.

Watched them roll up the mat after I finished!


Lack of skill and poor hydration.


I really like this race - small, friendly, no frills. I will be back.