I had a really hard time on the swim - I kind of psyched myself out at the start - 107 of us in the wave - and the course just looked so long. Got in and just had trouble - tried to draft and started out with FOP but not sure what happened - not quite panic but I guess close. Felt like I could not do it so I started breast stroke to reorient - the first bouy seemed so far and it was the shortest leg! Rounded the bouy but could not get a rhythm going -every time I tried I would get hit or something and it just freaked me. Got stung by a jelly fish at some point which probably added to my adrenaline and discomfort.

Somehow I need to get used to this- not sure how I am going to do a swim twice this long at Chicago! This was the first time I was bothered by crowds.

first half of first lap I did not notice that I had somehow shifted into small ring - should have checked that! After that started to move at a more normal pace - but I kept wondering why I was not going faster....figured I was still freaked from swim....then started to do better. My seat pouch undid it self and was hanging down hitting the wheel for lap 2 ( and part of lap 1) I tried to grab it on the fly but could not so just lived with it. Great sounds and just prayed it would not fall off forcing me to stop.

Lots of blocking....where were all the marshals???

uhm make sure my bike is in the right gear to start (doh)

I need to work on mount and dismount. My T2 time was 13th in division and 330 overall....I need to learn to get shoes off on the bike....and get helmet off while running

by the run it was clear to me that I would not be on the podium and I just did not feel like pushing, so I kind of dogged it until the end. I did manage to sort of sprint the finish and smile

have a better day

got water, and orange and then a beer.


the stars, my cycle (woke up unexpectedly with that joy), lacking the umph right now - had fun and treated it like a training day with a chip but my heart was not fully in this race


Registration the day before you had 4 lines to stand in - never seen that - you stood in the first line, showed your ID and USAT card - they told you your number. Next line gave you numbers, next line you showed them bib and they gave you chip. Next line got you Tshirt and swag bag. How stupid a setup. Having volunteered at 2 race registrations this was a first.

Race day you had to go all the way over to where registration was to get body marked, could not bring bike into tent but could not go into transition until marked....rather retarded and disorganized.

Most of the rest of the way had enough volunteers though heard some of the first runners ran too far due to no one there (we had no one there either but at least we noticed the signage...)