I started in the 2nd row close to the bouy. The first 300 yards or so seemed a bit difficult but finally got in the rhythm. I tried just to get comfortable and swim my own race. There were plenty of people passing me but I was okay with that. I started to draft off a girl that I swam next too the entire first 750 then pushed it once I passed the last turn. I was glad to get out of the water and happy with a 3 minute improvement from the US Open.

Need to work more on my stroke technique and with slamming my hand in the water.

Slid my wetsuit off my arms as I ran through transition to get to my bike. Got the suit off with a little bit of trouble, grabbed my sunglasses, put helmet on and took of with my bike. My bike was in the sand so my feet were covered with sand and I considered wiping them off but decided not too. As I was running barefoot with my bike, my Garmin fell out of my bento box, so I stopped, put my bike against the fence, went back and grabbed it and spent time putting it on my wrist.

Have my Garmin mounted in my bike before the race (figure out how it will fit with my arrow bottle too)

I did not think I would like the 4 loops but I loved it! The first loop I lost my Garmin off my wrist band. I had to stop, clip out and run back about 15 yards with my bike and grab it. I was not happy at all. Then I tried to eat my Cliff Bar and it slipped out of my hand. UGH! The 2nd loop I saw Jen and we rode together for awhile which was fun. Then I saw Todd and yelled to him and saw Blane on the third loop. The last loop I drafted off a GURU and was sad when the bike was over. I loved the course and enjoyed the ride. This was a 12 minute improvement over US Open!

Figure out the Garmin thing.

Did not get both my feet out my shoes in time so I had one shoe on and one off as I ran with my bike through transition. Kind of funny! Took off my helmet, put my running shoes on, put hat and race belt on and grabbed a sip of water, and took off.

Get other foot out of bike shoe earlier on the bike. Wasted time getting the other shoe off and hard to run lopsided.

I began the run feeling great and by the first 1/2 mile that feeling was long gone! I turned the corner and saw a hill and thought "oh no, I am through". I played those games in my head to just get this finished. It was very motivating though to see my parents and my kiddos on the loop- that helped me try to push it more. My cousins and aunt were there as well supporting us. I got to see them 4 times and one of those times Amanda handed me some water from the station. The heat was miserable and at each water station I grabbed water and threw it on my head and drank gatorade twice.

Train more in the heat!

Ran back to Embassy Suites to find my parents and the kiddos cheering the runners on. Got big hugs! Saw Jen, Buehler, and then when Todd went by I ran to the finish line to meet him.


Heat - train more in the warm weather


This was a top notch race! I loved the swim, bike and run course. There were plenty of volunteers and the water stations were positioned very well. I missed the mile markers though and did not see any bike support. Will do it again next year! Loved it!