The swim continues to be my worst event - just a struggle to survive! Since I tend to pull to the left when I swim, I began in the back right to avoid swimming too far off course again. Stayed on course better this time, but got too work on swimming while getting bumped, kicked, etc. With all the contact I was unable to get into a good rhytmn, which screwed up the whole swim.

More open water swim practice - otherwise I don't know. How do you get better at swimming with people all over you?

I was exhauseted coming out of the water so unable to run up the boat ramp to the transition area. On the bright side - near last out of the water means it was easy to find my bike in transition. Decided that since I had a good little run to the bike mount line that I would start with the shoes clipped in and try a flying mount (practiced several times, but never tried in race before). Got one foot on one shoe and then the other shoe fell off the bike - had to stop and get it.

Continue to work on the swim - improving the swim will improve my entire race.

So with a bad swim and a poor transition, it has to get better from here - doesn't it? Start the bike with a steep downhill, which I took a little too fast for comfort as there is a sharp right turn at the bottom. Following the turn there is a steep hill - can't get any momentum going up the hill as you have to slow down for the turn. I shifted into the lower gear and gutted out the hill even though it looked like the people pushing their bikes up the hill had a good idea. After that settled into the new aero bars and peddled best I could. I passed more people than passed me. I was pleased with my ranking, but surprised my speed was so slow as the hills were not really that bad after the first big one. Ran out of drink with about 3 miles to go so was really thirsty heading into the run.

Need to practice more swim to bike bricks. Being completely exhausted from the swim, it takes too long to get my legs underneath me on the bike.

After the debacle with the shoe falling off in T1, decided to leave the shoes on and just clog through the transition. No problem switching shoes and heading out.

Not too much - actually pleased with T2.

Tough start to the run, following the sidewalks through the college. Saw a lot of people walking and so the mental battle began - my legs said it was ok to walk while my determination kept us running. Passed more people on the run while not getting passed at all. Walked through the drink stations taking both a sports drink and water at each station, which helped with the heat.

Not much - overall good run.

Walked around to cool off while getting a hot dog and hamburger to eat.


The SWIM! Don't need to come out of the water faster as much as I need to come out without being completely wiped out.


The point-to-point nature of the race makes the logistics more difficult, but overall it was a good race that I will do again next year.