I started to the far left of the buoys because I pull right. Most folks were bunched dead center. SO I really stayed out of any traffic up until I reached the first turn buoy. As I was rounding the buoy, I had a mini-panic. I suddenly felt like I couldn't breathe and that something was pushing on my chest. I'm sure it was just the pressure of the wetsuit and I told myslef to calm down and let the wetsuit do its job and make my swim easier. I got off rhythm breathing during this section. I went from 3 stroke breathing to every stroke right. Tried to get back into 3 stroke breathing and just focus on reaching the next turn buoy. Made it to the turn and then had to sight (before this I was swimming with my eyes closed to calm down only sighting every 8 strokes) more because I had caught the back end of the wave ahead of me. Had to pick holes to swim through, kind of like bumper cars, but at least it got my mind off of breathing.

More OWS practice with and without a wetsuit. This race was my first OWS of the year. It was also a PR for this course. I thank the wetsuit for that!

I got the wetsuit down to my waist as I was running up the beach. Had to really wriggle, squirm and step on the sucker to get it off. This is slower than my usual T1, but not bad at all for the first time with a full wetsuit. Got into traffic at the mount line and started riding without being clipped in. Speedplay pedals are awesome and I was able to clip in without losing momentum.

Practice peeling off the wetsuit more.

This felt good. I was having fun cat and mousing a guy on the hills. I felt like I was moving during the second half of the course so I am very puzzled why I was almost 2 minutes slower on the bike this year vs. last year. I felt better, passed a lot of people, the weather was good, I don't know? I am running a 12/27 cassette on the rear while last year I raced an 11/23. That shouldn't make that big of a difference, especially on a hilly course. I did get caught behind a slow guy on the approach to T2. This is a narrow driveway that is coned off and it is almost impossible to pass. I don't think that took almost 2 minutes though.

I'm not really sure. I stayed aero except on the hill at mile 3 and some of the tighter corners, never stood up in the saddle to climb. And I felt really good and had a lot of fun. Kind of dumbfounded by this split.

I was on third rack from the bike finish, so it was easy to find and very quick and easy T2.

Nothing

I started the run feeling great, but it is downhill at this point. I was smiling and happy and enjoying myself. Then one of my friends in another age group comes around me at the first mile marker. This isn't too unusual except for the fact that this is early in the run. It usually takes her to the 2, 2.5 mile mark to get me. This was my first real indication that something was off on my bike. I trudged up the hill, trying to take short quick steps and pump my arms. Made it to the top gasping and recovered on the flat across the lake. I tried to kick in into gear here and I passed a few folks on the downhill. As I turned off campus back onto the main highway, I saw my friend that had passed me at mile 1, walking ahead. So I used her as a carrot to try to pick up my pace. I could feel my HR climbing and my breathing becoming gapy because this part was uphill again. I could literally feel my legs slowing down. I tried to keep pushing, but by this time my friend's walk break was over and she was flying!! I turned toward the YMCA and the finish line when another woman came around me. I tried to race her to the finish, but I was no match for her finishing kick.

RUN FASTER. I am so frustrated with running, I could just spit. I run and run and run. My pace has stayed the same. I can run the same pace for much longer distances, but I can't seem to kick it up a notch in speed.

2 mile run (yes this is correct) out and back on the opposite side of the road as the race course.


Heat, freaking out a bit in the lake, and my inability to push myself harder on the run.


I can't comment on the post race activities, because after my cool down run, I left to go to my daughter's dance recital an hour away from the race that started at noon. This course is always challenging. It is short, hilly and mentally a humdinger. I believe I can achieve a 1:10 on this course. That is what I was gunning for. So that is why I am disappointed with my 1:13 even though I placed 2nd in my age group and 21st overall. The female winner, btw, is a professional triathlete from Austria who finished 9th overall at IMAZ this year. This is a deep-fielded race. I am just disappointed that I did not perform to my potential during it.