The swim was jump in feet first, swim down, under lane line, back and forth until the seventh lane and then just down. The water was busy with people coming and going down the lane. The girl in front of me passed several folks, and one guy let me pass him at the wall. The next guy should've let me pass, but he didn't. I tried to draft on his feet some, but really wanted to pass him. Too much movement didn't allow for it in the lane, but he wouldn't let me at the wall either. I tried to pass as soon as we both pushed off the last lane with no one coming at us, but then he cut right in front of me and blocked me going into the ladder. I never saw the ladder and figured he was getting up it anyhow, so I just swam to the end of the lane and exited there. He did apologize at the rack--oh well, he was new too.

I know I lost some form and didn't need to breath every stroke. But, overall, without the guy in front of me slowing me down, I would've hit my target 5:30 I think. This was fine, no major things I could've done differently.

HOLY FREEZING COW! I cannot explain what being dripping wet and hitting a wall of 28-30 degree temps feels like except for stinging, freezing cold. The run from the pool to transition was rough gravel/asphalt, ow ow ow. Found my rack without problem--yay for landmarks and bright towel. I took some time to dry off, and I put everything on fairly well and quickly except for I started to put on my ghetto sock knee warmers and decided not too. I also forgot to put on the full fingered gloves (not bike gloves, wouldn't have made too much of a difference) as well. I got to the mount line and couldn't do it quick cause I haven't practiced it much. But brr...so cold, tried to get feet dry before they were in socks, but there was only so much I could consider I was dripping wet.

Have in mind exactly what I needed to put on for the weather. But, that's learning. It was so cold too that I needed to take time to dry off well. Do differently, well--GO FASTER!

This bike kicked my butt more than I would've imagined. Major pieces of it for me were:
a.) chip seal--haven't ridden it much, and in the cold it was physically painful. I tried to get into aero in it some, but it was such new and rough chip seal, ugh. I was going SO SLOW on it that I literally stopped, unclipped, and checked my tires cause I thought I MUST have a flat..thank God I didn't cause that would've destroyed me.
b.) Hills- I wasn't prepared for the long gradual climbs, especially on the chip seal and with frozen legs. My hammies/quads felt so frozen--knee warmers wouldn't have done it, they were just frozen. I couldn't get momentum up them. I also just need more T.I.T.S. and specific hill training (thank God Lonestar is flat).
I did take advantage of downhills pretty well, and I did pass some folks and got passed by some folks. First time riding like this in a race, I did say on your left so people knew I was coming up, but never heard it when I was passed--I don't know, maybe I just didn't hear it, or maybe it isn't as important as people say. I would rather be safe than sorry. I did take good advantage of the downhills cause I knew I HAD to make up time there. About 2/3rds of the way through I had emptied my aero bottle and reached for my water bottle behind me...nothing. When I made the very first turn just after the mount line I heard a kid say, "You dropped something" but I didn't drop anything, must've been someone else behind me. Umm, no, must've been me. In fact, it wasn't that my bottle launched, no HALF THE HOLDER FELL OFF with it...thankfully I had the aero bottle or I would've been in the hurt box.

I had to do some major mental battle here too as I started to get really down and disappointed with how the bike was going cause I was sucking...but once I reminded myself that I was more than capable to finish this and that I was a first timer with more running under her belt than biking, the good side of the mind won and I just pushed on to get to the run.

Wear gloves, wear pants maybe, more hill training, more terrain familiarity (not that I want to train on chip seal though). GO FASTER. But, for cycling for only 3 months really, and most of that time devoted to good marathon training, I simply need more training in this...first time racing, learned lots. Also should've had my GU more accessible to take a little before the end of the bike and prior to run...it was in the pocket of the jacket, and no dexterity meant I wasn't getting it out.

I WAS SO FROZEN. I racked my bike fine, but my fingers couldn't feel anything right. It took me a LONG time to just get my helmet off because I couldn't fill the clip at all because my fingers were frozen. I tried to take it off without unclipping, but I obviously put it on right and couldn't do that. Finally got it off. Got my shoes on fine. My torso was warmed up at this point and dry and it had warmed up more outside (was probably upper 30's, haha) so I took the jacket off and just had my BT Tri Top. I had trouble getting the Garmin off the "quick release" and onto the strap--this cost me time. Plus, I put it on before I took the jacket off, so I had to take it off to take the jacket off and then put it back on. Right before I took off running Aaron (JeepFleeb--who was fast and already done) said hi, and I said hi, glad to meet you, gotta run! Haha, and off I went.

Not be frozen--seriously, this caused me trouble as I couldn't feel my hands and had no dexterity and it slowed me down. I also don't want to use the Garmin quick release anymore. Garmin for run only, or on my wrist during the ride. I'm going to get a different bike computer. Been having trouble with my cadence sensor for the Garmin anyhow--get speed, but no RPM.

Took my GU as I ran to the start. My feet were solid blocks of ice and my hamstrings/quads were pretty solid too..I felt like I was going slow, and couldn't get my Garmin going right to see pace, so I just pushed it as hard as I could, it was only a 5K anyhow. Finally I got the Garmin to wear I could see pace, and I was running sub-7 min mile pacing! Guess I was running just fine. I passed lots of folks and was not passed by anyone. Tried to drink water at the water stations, but I just couldn't get it in and did not want to spill it on myself and cause cold. I was comfortable with just the tri top though. At about 2/3rds through the run I felt my feet somewhat normal again. I slowed some as I had gone out too fast, but didn't know it. I thought I was going to slip or loose footing in the wet grass leading to the finish, but I didn't...and finally I was triathlete.

Have a GU on the bike, not running towards the run. Know my pace better and not start out as hard. I'd rather finish harder. Still, after how hard I felt like I had to work on the bike, I'm really happy with this 5K time.

Chip off, walked around a bit. Found some water. Went back to put on some warm clothes. Aaron came over and we chit chatted--that's when I found the water bottle rack broken, not just the bottle gone! Met Andy from BT as well, and ate a Cliff Bar. I then made it to the finish just in time to see Bonny finish. Then I just waited around for everyone to finish and do the awards ceremony. I really didn't think I placed as I couldn't tell girls/guys names on the immediate print offs. They had baked potatos, so I ate one of those with Aaron, Bonny, Clint, and Gina. It was really great to meet these folks. Then I sat with one of the other girls that had been seeded/racked right next to me. We were same age group, first tri, etc. Her Mother-in-Law was the one that went up and told Jack he had missed the 25-29 age group. I got 2nd in my AG, but that's only because the overall female winner was in my age group, so no duplicating awards meant I got 2nd and not 3rd. I was pretty surprised and happy of course. Then I did a 3+ hour drive to Houston. I did suck down lots of water and caffiene in that time frame.


Cold-Chip Seal-Newbie mistakes-not enough time in the saddle.


I thought it was well run. The Cain Center folks had things nicely done and plenty of food for us, that was really nice. The race in general was well done, but I don't think I like dealing with that much chip seal for a sprint...do it again--I don't know, it was fun, but we'll see how close I live to Athens come next year. I might want to just to get revenge on it from the cold and bike this year, we'll see! Bottom line is--I'm a TRIATHLETE now thanks to this race, so it will ALWAYS have a place in my athlete heart. :) Haha! Glad to cut my teeth on this one, and with all the different trials that went with such a cold race, it can only get better! Bring on the Lonestar 1/4 Iron!