The swim was broken into three waves, and the women were all in the same wave of about 70. I had a little trouble finding a rhythm, but after that, I did great! I didn't have to do breast stroke at ALL, and I only swallowed water two or three times. I waited for everyone to go, so I was last starting out, but then I managed to pass three people. I did great at siting until the very end when I kept drifting right.

Work on getting into a solid 2-3-2-3 breathing pattern. I breathed on one side for a while, sited, and then switched sides.

Would be faster if I had my shoes on my bike, but I'm not there yet and I don't have triathlon bike shoes.

This is a blazing fast speed for me, but the course was flat with some parts downhill and/or tailwind. I stayed in the drops for most of the ride.

Maybe buy clip-on aerobars.

So many people had finished the race at this point, it was hard to navigate the transition area. I kept having to say excuse me to get through. But the people who then saw me cheered me on.

I was struggling on the run. Legs felt dead and I had to take some walking breaks. I figured there was no way I would be doing a sub-40 minute 5K because my 5K PR is 36 minutes and change. Then the finish line was there and I was absolutely shocked! This may be one of the slowest times of any competitor, but I am absolutely thrilled with my time.

Start out slower. Maybe have a Gu on the run (I forgot it in transition, but had a Gu on the bike because I was hungry).

Eating homemade gluten-free cookies. :)


I just need more experience. Also having a wetsuit would make my swim faster, but I won't buy one until I'm closer to my goal weight.


I later learned that no one else entered as an athena, so if I would have stayed for the awards ceremony, I would have won a medal or something.