I had been scared that the water would be too cold without my wetsuit, which I recently abandoned. Swimming in soCal, the water is so warm, I've been doing without, so bought a racing tri suit. (Was a little shy about not being built like a hardcore triathlete, but I just gave myself a little attitude adjustment and wore it proudly. I actually felt kinda studly in it!) Anyway, was scared that the water in Santa Barbara would be too chilly sans wetsuit.

Checked the water Saturday evening, and it wasn't too cold, so I was not concerned. Plus, GailG gave me comfort and reassurance saying it'd be fine. So, cool: one less thing to stress over. Now, going forward, I know I can handle prob down to 62 degrees without wetsuit.

Water was flat and glossy, no swells, no waves.

Run in: I was in the second row, and wish I were in front, cuz the lady in front of me was kinda slow running out and I was boxed in. But as soon as I was knee deep in, I just dove in between two girls and made my way as everyone else continued running. I figured running was a losing battle and I got moving quick. People quickly came up around me and it was tight, but I just made myself narrow and snaked my way thru, holding my line...which I held VERY straight, right to the buoy, which I nearly swam directly under! (I looked up and saw the damned thing over my head!)

After the buoy, I was able to get into a rhythm. I stayed within myself and thought, longgggg, gliding, strokes...head down, no resistence, just go, go, go. Gained on a few peeps, then turned the last buoy and drafted someone the whole way in. Nice! I never did that before, but since logging races here on BT and having to answer the question, "drafting?" I realized this was a strategy I should employ, so did so here.

I did not kill myself on this swim, but didn't take it easy. Was a decent effort.

Loved not having to contend with the damned wetsuit. Was able to actually run up the whole entire beach (ok, except for the last 10 feet), and just ran in, rinsed feet, socks on shoes on, helmet/glasses on, bike down, sucked a shot of Gu and was outta there. I was hoping for a 2 min transition, but my bike was waaaaayyyyy down the other end of the transition area and it took forever to get there!

For some reason, my bike got held up on the bar and I could NOT shake it down. Irritated me, but it finally came down. Was prob only a few seconds, but when it didn't fall right when I initially pulled it, I started to panic a little...but pulled it together and got outta there.

I was psyched for this ride cuz the hills weren't awful, and the downhills, while short, were pretty speedy.

1/2 mile in, I flatted. Great. For a moment, I had the fleeting thought that it wouldn't be worth it to get off and fix a flat for a 6 mile race, that the time cost over that distance would just kill my overall time. But no sooner did I think that, then I thought, "just do it, you gotta learn to do it sometime...imagine someday you are actually competitive and don't have the experience of knowing how to handle a flat in a race."

So I stopped my watch (cuz I wanted to have my ACTUAL ride time, not the recorded race time which would include the time taken to fix flat), and hopped off to tend to the flat. I recalled Ian Murray's 2 minute tire change (http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=VeeOhkug0yg), and thought I'll give it my best shot.

I have no idea how long it took me, as time kinda stood still in my mind. I guess I'll find out how long it took once I get the actual race time and subtract out my numbers from the race clock numbers.

Anyway, while I was fixing the tire, everyone going by was so nice, calling out "poor you" and "good job" and "keep it up girl", etc.

I wanna guess it took me 8 mins or so to change it. Maybe less, but again, time just stood still and I have no idea what was happening. I just kept picturing Ian keeping his cool and going thru the steps, so that's what I did. I shoved the tube in my back pocket, then stuffed all my tools back in my saddle bag, and jumped back on.

I cranked it up fast and rode as hard as I could, and before too long, I started passing people who had passed me while I was on the side of the road, and they were calling out, "way to make up time!"

I have to say I felt really proud of myself, regardless of what my time might be; and I was happy to be passing people from the wave in front of me--you have no idea what a boost that was, to make me continue to race. I was thinking I'd just phone it in, but then, no, I changed my mind and decided to race.

I sounded like a friggin asthmatic going up the one longerish of the hills, the only time I took it out of the big chain ring, but then once up, man, I am a natural downhiller, and I was cranking down and then around the corner to the home stretch.

Big thanks to Joceylyn (sealiongirl) who cheered me along during my "trial"!!!

All in all, not bad!

Not FLAT! Regardless of what my time says "officially", I hung a good average for a rolling course. Quite pleased with this.

Longggg run down the chute to my transition area, and in the cycling shoes, uh, not so easy. (I've gotta invest in some tri-cycling shoes, so I can get em off early and run in on bare feet.)

Since I had set up my T area and then taken my bike out to ride my trainer before the race, the girl who set up next to me, obviously AFTER I had departed with my bike, actually set up directly behind where my bike was to hang. I felt bad, but at T2, I didn't have time to sort out placing my bike delicately around her stuff, and I just threw it up there and I think it was on top of her bag. Oops. Oh well.

Off with the bike shoes, on with the running shoes, grabbed my number/belt and visor, and I was outta there.

Halfway out of transition, I realized I still had my tube in my back pocket, so pulled it out and tossed it.

I have no idea what my run time was--will have to wait for the splits to find out. BUT I know when I left T2, my watch said 39 mins, and I hit mile 1 at 50; and the second mile I KNOW I ran faster than the first, so I'm HOPING I hit or beat my goal of 11 mins per mile...we shall see. (I forgot to stop my watch when I crossed the finish line, didn't realize it til after I had stopped to get the chip removed, after I meandered thru a thick crowd to the food stand, stood on line, got my food, meandered to the water stand, got my water, meandered to a bench, sat down, ate half an orange, and THEN realized my watch was still going. And it said 1:06 when I stopped it. So I'm pretty confident that I finished roughly around my 59 min goal.)

Non-monumental run. I just hate running so much, I just endure it. Kinda trotted out, and then reminded myself it was only 2 miles and to just pick it up because the suffering would be short-lived. Again, at mile 1, I think I was at 11 mins, so, being happy with that, and being half way home, I tried to pick it up further for the home stretch. Saw a lot of LA Tri folks, plus Joceylyn, on my way back, and that gave me some pep to go even harder.

Then, as I got within eyeshot of the chute, maybe 400 yds or so, I sprinted.

Felt great, was really pleased with myself for finishing after having flatted on the bike leg.

Food, water, walk back to hotel, 40 mins hot tub / pool combo...lovely!


You know...


Why does doing something this hard make me feel so good? Really pleased with this, and have alot of hope for the future, near or far!