Well, last year it was advertised as .8 mile but was only .8k, so I assumed it would be the same this year. No way, this was .8 mile at least. It was one long swim! But it may have been my best swim ever - my goggles didn't leak, and I could see people the whole way. I actually got to follow bubbles! I felt very relaxed the whole swim. Wow for me.

Oh, and due to the water temp, they did not allow wetsuits. Fine by me, but you should have heard the whining that went on! I think flotation aids (wetsuits) are sort of joke anyhow.

Stay away from crooked swimmer guy. I was passing him and then he would turn into me. So I would have to turn. After about 3 times of that, I stopped and switched to his other side. Same thing! Unfortunately we were about the same speed. I went very wide of him and things were hunky dory for a while. But towards the end I was next to him again and he kept swerving into me. I know I was swimming straight so it was him! I chatted with him later, and he admitted he cannot swim straight.

This race doesn't time transitions. I did remember to click my watch for this transition. I took the time to put on a head sweatband, and I think that was a good decision. Often I get sweat in the eyes which makes it difficult to see. No problem with that this time.

I had no competition in this race, so I didn't push as hard this year. The course was wet - it rained the whole second lap, so the roots were treacherous. I ran most of the first technical section. And I walked up part of the hill. I know I passed one woman on the bike portion and 2 men. But the woman must have been part of relay team, since overall I was the last woman. I wasn't as wiped out at the end of the bike leg like I was last year - I didn't push as hard and it wasn't as hot as last year.

Better hill climber - I think I could have made up more time there.

I felt good. I wasn't pushing especially hard. I don't think this course was a full 4 miles 'tho others felt it was. I have never been this fast on a trail run before.

Last year, the water stations were dry by the time I got there, so this year, I carried a little gel flask filled with 8 oz. of water. It kept falling off my belt until I left it with a race volunteer, and the water stations had plenty of water, and it was raining. So I didn't need the extra water this year.

The kids were right there at the finish and wanting me. No time for Mom to rest.


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They ran a kids triathlon afterwards. It was much longer than last year and more and older kids participated. My 9-year old son won! He was 4th out of the water and passed 2 running up the hill to the transition area. He pass an older boy on the uphill portion of the bike ride, but lost him on the downhill. On the run, I saw him walking up a hill so I thought he was pooping out. They went behind a building and when they popped out the otherside, he was in first. He had a strong fast run to the finish.

Daughter was 3rd out of the water, and was neck and neck with an older girl through the bike portion. But the older girl dropped her on the run. She finished 4th overall and was the 2nd girl.

So proud of them!!