Have realized lately that I am really not as slow as I think I am although this doesn't show it! I usually start too far back and get caught up in other people. I started wide to the right with 1 or 2 people in front of me. Still seemed to get caught up in a lot of people at first and the first 50 or so had a hard time catching my breath because the water was pretty chilly. Rounded the turn buoy OK but there were 4 of us trying to get around and all ended up fighting each other to get there first. After the turn the swim was fairly uneventful. Had a guy swimming backstroke beside me for a while that could not swim in a straight line and kept hitting me. Toward the end I swam straight into a buoy and got a little wrapped up in it for a second. Was disappointed that at the finish there were no volunteers to help you out. Just a few on the shore advising you to "watch out for those big rocks." Gee, thanks!

Swim a lot more!

First off I ran right by my bike. I was looking for Derek's bike with his Zipp Disc and somehow ran right by it. Backtracked and sat down to get wetsuit off. Suit was stuck on my heels for a minute but I managed to pry it off. The race packet said you had to wear your race number on the bike to so I almost forgot and stopped to throw the race belt on.

I dunno? Move quicker! I used to have fast transitions but I don't know what happened.

Ride was advertised as 14 miles but GPS said 15.3 so I'm going with that. These are roads that we have ridden a million times so it was pretty familiar. Overall the ride was pretty uneventful. Passed a few right out of the gate and then got passed a bit as well. Saw one small pack of drafters but I think the official did too. Haha! I had planned on taking it easy the last 5 min or so to rest legs for the run but I got passed by a guy that I didn't want to be passed by so I kicked it up and killed him on a short climb and never saw him again. Drank most of my aero bottle full of water and about 1/3rd of my Accelerade bottle.

Ride lots more?

Completely forgot to get out of my shoes before coming in! Then, was so busy looking at Kylie and the kids that after I swung my leg over one side I locked up my rear brake to keep from mowing over a volunteer! Then if that wasn't enough, I ran down the row behind mine so I loaded the bike in from the back and then ran around. Socks on for the run and shoes changed no biggie.

Pay a lot more attention!

This is where my race goal comes in. I had hoped for a 17 avg on the bike but I really wanted to run sub 10min miles on the run. I know this sounds ridiculous but I am a SLOW runner! I think I've run a 9:45 pace in a 5k before but never in a tri. Started off feeling good even though my legs were really tight. Kept reminding myself that this is a race and not just a training day because I notoriously treat races like just any other workout. Kept up my 5/1 min run/walk pace and was really feeling good. At the aid station at the halfway point I took a few sips of water and dumped the rest on my head. At this point I think I picked up the pace a little too. Couldn't remember if this was 3 miles or 5k and just about that time two people behind me were discussing the same thing and 1 said that it was 3. That helped a little with the pacing to know that info. Cut my last walk a little short since I could see the finish. Even though I could see it I was not sure how far it actually was so I think I held back a little too much here. Was really happy to see right at a 9:30 pace when I finished though now I think I could have even been a little faster.

Nothing. Just run more!

Grabbed a bottle of water and my little finishers pin. Walked to Kylie's dad to learn that Kylie and the kids had headed home because baby Cana was having a rough time and she had forgotten the pacifier. Waited for Derek to finish and then he and I went back a few hundred yards so we could run in with Sarah for her first tri finish. Looked for food but there was nothing but cut up bananas to be found. After that realization we packed up and went to the house for some good sausage and pancakes for breakfast!


Myself. Just a lack of training but it's coming around.


Was a little less than impressed with this race. The race packet was minimal, no technical shirt, no finishers medal, no post race food (though later I heard someone found some kinda rice/sausage/egg stuff). Would like to see a little more next year. I would do it again though because I train out there a lot so I am familiar with the area. I also heard that when Derek and Sarah left transition there was NO ONE there checking numbers or bikes although there was when I left. That is pretty unacceptable since we rely on the event company to keep our gear safe while we are participating.