Made sure to get my wetsuit up, up, up. Makes a huge difference in being able to breathe properly. Got a good warm up in as well, which also makes a difference.

I started off towards the back, as per usual. I have no desire to be in the washing machine for a few extra seconds off my time! About 100m in, I breathed to my left at the same time as the woman beside me kicked, and I took in a lungful of water. I had a brief moment of panic, but told myself to just relax and take it easy, breathe...got through it ok.

As per usual, didn't get comfortable until around the first buoy, but once past that, was fine. Settled into a nice smooth rhythm. (Looking at my splits, first 600m 10:58. Rest of race was 12:30 to 13:15 per 600m. Surely there is a happy medium!) The only issue was the sun came up over the trees as I was on the second side of the triangle, and I had to remember to close my eyes when breathing to the right, or I couldn't catch the buoy when I went to sight. Oh, man, sighting. I swim relatively straight, and I am quite good at sighting. But when you see a bunch of people moving off to your right, you start to wonder if they are all on the right track, and it is you that is off! I was going in a straight line from corner buoy to corner buoy, and I think they were actually going corner-intermediate-corner, which was less than straight. I ended up with 4.07km, so I think I was pretty on track.

On the third side of the first loop, I had someone on my feet. I tried speeding up and kicking--still there. They kept toe tapping me, so then I tried to slow right down in the hopes that they would go by--nope, they just stayed. Fine, I'll haul your ass around you lazy SOB!
Of course, at this point, I am wishing I only signed up for the 2km, but I knew that the second loop would be much easier, it always is. I was still feeling really comfortable, I still had my drafter, all was well!

On the second side, I was really trying to focus on my pull, finishing my stroke. I'm not sure it made a huge difference, but it gave me something to think about :)

Last leg, yep, the drafter is still there. Well, you are going to work now, my friend. I picked it up what I could. I was feeling fatigued, but wanted to finish strong. Still seeing a few people off course...Came into the finishing chute--and I got up to soon. Running in water is way more difficult than swimming!! Oh well, crossed the mat, and was met with high fives from S and V. They both had good races as well!

I need to continue learning to push myself a little more. I am happy with the effort, but suspect I have more to give. I also need to get better at pacing.

Not much, just grabbed some food.


Me. :)


Second time doing this race, and I will do it again. Well put on.