***Lake Michigan whooped my ass last year...I handed hers to her on a silver platter this year.***
After the first minute or so, I was numbed up enough that I couldn't feel the cold as much and I got into a really good rhythm. They'd moved the buoys in for safety purposes, so I TECHNICALLY could have walked the entire thing, but I learned my lesson at High Cliff. I swam the entire distance once I got in above my knees. Got kicked a couple of times by someone to my right doing the breast stroke, but I was actually able to pull ahead of some of the ladies. Got around the last bouy and kept swimming until my hands touched sand. Got up and starting wading my way in, waving at 1TT who was standing on the beach. Kept trying to undo the velcro at the neck of my wetsuit but couldn't grab it because I couldn't feel my hands. Finally managed to get it undone and got the top half of my wetsuit off. Actually managed to jog most of the way up to transition and got smacked in the ass by RTP as he passed me up the beach. Got to hear them call Aidana's name as a finisher of the Women's Only as I got into transition.

Nothing. This was awesome for me. I just need to get faster.

T time is a guesstimate based off what I could glean from my now ruined watch. Made it to my bike and proceeded to attempt to get my wetsuit off. Finally just stepped on the dang thing and managed to get out without falling over (accomplishment because hands and feet were not working). Took forever getting the bike shoes on because the tongues were getting scrunched in the shoe. Davey was at the fence yelling and talking me through it...thanks Dave. Threw the sunglasses on and actually ran with my bike out of transition.

I was a bit disoriented from the cold and my feet and hands were not working properly due to numbness. There isn't really much I could have done about that.

THIS WAS FUN!!! Well, once I got going it was. Got past the mount line and was still a bit clumsy from the cold. Took me a couple seconds to get on the bike and get clipped in and moving. Almost fell once, but managed to catch myself (that was before I even had one shoe clipped in). Made my way up the hill and found my target...another chick with XL4 on her calf. Oh, goody. Let my HR come down after getting up the hill, then proceeded to pass her. A little while later, I hear an "On your left!"...here she comes. I think my comment was 'Oh, great...now I'm going to have to pass you again!', which I did while still on the leg out. We played cat and mouse one or 2 more times. After the turn around, I was ahead, and she passed me saying "I expect you to pass me and beat me!" I figured I could beat her on the bike, but the run was questionable at best. So, I decided I was going to beat her by as much as possible on the bike. I'd been riding in big chain wheel for most of the ride, but going a little easy on the back gears. Cranked it down and just pedaled...passed her up with a "Hi again!" and sailed by. There was another chick ahead of me that I tried hard to get, but she was cranking it and, while I got close, I couldn't get close enough. I THINK I'd seen another XL4 on her calf, which is why I was gunning for her. Came flying down Main Street and turned onto Barker and headed down the hill. Heard a "Slow down, Maggy" from Phil...yelled right back at him...

Would have gone into a higher gear sooner. I might have been able to break 40 minutes...I also slowed down a bit as an ambulance came up behind me. I was well out of the way, so I probably didn't need to do that...

Time is a guesstimate. Got the shoes off much better then putting them on. Threw down the helmet, put on the running shoes, grabbed the visor and race belt and was off.

Nothing

Felt pretty good coming out of transition. Hit the first aid station and walked to drink a water. Did a walk/run combo for the out leg. My calves could tell I'd pushed it on the bike, and they were squawking at me. Told them to shut up. Saw Pam, RTP, Crowny and everyone on their way in as I was making my way out. Good stuff, high-5's, fun, fun. After the 1st mile marker, I started running again with very short little walk breaks. After the turn around, I picked up the run again and kept running. Saw the Athena I'd played with on the bike course and we exchanged high 5s. She wasn't too far behind me on the run, so that kept me going...no more walking. Hit the 2 mile mark feeling pretty good...knew by the time I hit the bike path again that I had less the a mile to go. Just before the last hill, Pam came down to pace with me. Told her there was someone I had to beat behind me. She had me walk up the last hill and reminded me what to do on the down hill. Focus, focus...felt really good. Managed to conjure up a sprint going into the finishing chute with the Donkeys cheering me on. Hello 2nd place Athena!!

Must run more. Must be faster so Aidana doesn't beat me anymore...but I think this is one of my best runs in a tri so far.

Ran around showing off my hardware. Drank some water. Congratulated the Athena behind me when she came in. She thanked me for pushing her on the bike. I thanked her for pushing me on the run. YAY!! Went and got food...yay for oreo cookies! Sat and chatted and ate with the donkeys. Good times!


Run needs MAJOR work! Everything does, but the run is my worst even by far.


There is some general disorganization I've seen with HFP both times I've done this race. I think they need to work on the timing issues, and do a bit better of a job at compiling results to make sure the right people get the right awards. I know that there was an Athena who finished behind me, but they only have 3 of us listed, with me as 3rd (I believe the 1st place Athena actually placed in the top 3 women overall...so it would have bumped down.) I think I will do the sprint again next year...