I realized about 5 minutes before race start that I never did eat. I had a shake early, but had planned to eat a bar and gel before start.

I felt tremendously slow on the swim. Had a really hard time getting my breathing the first 5-10 min, made it to the first turn, and just didn't care to be out there. I think I was getting a bit hypothermic. Started playing mental doubt games, then I got passed by yet another person, and decided I would finish before her! The chop had picked up out in the lake, and I was swallowing a lot of water. I have GOT to figure this out before IMFL!

When I finally made it to shore, I told the fam, "This is why I prefer marathons! Swimming sucks!"

Not drink the lake, and maybe EAT before the race!!

Nothing special. It was a LONG walk from the swim out to transition. I grabbed a gatorade, and walked a bit, then started running to get the bike.

Nothing

For me, I did very well! My belly was VERY bloated coming out of the water, but I took Coach Freddie's advice, and eventually it "passed"! LOL! I swear it was a rocket booster a few times!!

I made it up all the hills, which I was proud of. On every uphill, I chanted, "I can do all things, thru Christ who strengthens me". He got me up them all! I didn't crash coming thru the wet/sandy corners, which I was proud of! At mile 20, I started thinking about a patient who passed away on Thursday. He had battled cancer, and was such an inspiration to me the 4 weeks I had the honor to take care of him. He told me Wednesday he wanted to see my "winner's picture", and I know he was watching from heaven!

I took my first dose of Spiz at mile 5, second at mile 15, and the rest just before the bike finish. Worked AWESOME!

I passed lots of people on the bike. Being in the last wave, and being really slow swimming gave me lots of people to pick off. That was kinda fun.

Ride hills more. LMAO!! That's even funny to me!!

I had to pee like a racehorse, so I tried to get shoes on and pee in transition...not very effective, but it helped some.

find a potty

The run was a hillier course than I remember, but it was good. I ran out of transition and felt ok. My left lower leg was really hurting, so I'd walk a bit. I found a port a potty just past mile 1 marker. I spent 4:36 in there. AHHHHHH!! Much better! Then, I realized I hadn't brought or taken a gel in transition. AGH!

Got passed by a few people, but got into a groove around mile 3. By mile 4 I was feeling really good and ran the rest of the way at a nice pace. The fam was at the finish chute and I could hear my kids screaming "Run, mommy, Run." WOOOOOO!!

Run faster?

Grabbed a water, some BBQ and went pee again. Waited for awards.


This was an Olympic distance PR for me by 6 minutes, and it's a much more difficult course than St. Anthony's. I was pleased overall, but I know I could have done better. I was thrilled to receive a plaque for 5th overall Athena!! YEAH ME! There were lots of TriGators and Tri Army peeps there, and they took most of the awards. GO GATORS!


This is an awesome race! Well organized, and well put together!