Everything felt right on the swim...I started on the left, which was smart, and held a straight line through almost every turn of the 9 buoys. I didn't even go too shallow where some were standing to wade/walk (!) but somehow I was still really slow. I'm just not happy with that swim split and want to improve it. I know I can improve turnover rate with my arms and hip rotation. I did feel like I was swimming too flat or even with a counter-twist at some times, so that was odd.

Master's courses for winter 2008/2009?? Yeah, I really should enroll.

I picked and pre-set the right gear -- yay!

I spent the first 5 miles breaking away from the pack, and the second 5 miles looking for the 10 mile sign. It seemed so far off! The course wasn't familiar until about mile 7 and then it overlapped with the Patriot HalfIron course for a good 10-15 miles. But until that overlap it just felt really long.

I must've seen 15 mile marked just before the Athena Rivalry began between me and another woman. She and I traded leads and leap-frogged each other until about mile 22. I then saw a short little hill and took advantage. It was a beautiful moment!

Nutrition: finished drinking 1-16ox. clif e-lyte apple crisp flavor.

I thought she'd try to reel me in, but no, she dropped and I didn't see her again until she congratulated me at the finish line. I held her off through the run and finished with 1 min, 3 sec lead over the 4th place Athena. With that pass on the bike I would make the "podium"...woohoo!

So fast I don't really remember it!

My goal was to hold the lead and stride out the last mile, which I successfully did. I didn't let any Athenas pass me and feared their approaching every time I heard runner's feet behind me. Only one or two women squeaked by in the first mile or two, but after that it was only the rare/odd guy who'd maybe had a flat on the bike. You know...the guys who are just blazing along compared to the rest of the pack, so it seems like they must've had a mechanical snafu or a really messed up T1/T2.

Nutrition: finished probably 3 dixie cups of water, ate 1 cinn apple hammer gel.

Style points: dumped 3 dixie cups of water over my head and down my back.

Karma credits: said "good race" or "looking strong" to every runner I passed. Resisted the temptation to say NICE LEGS to one really built Clyde, thinking he'd find it objectifying. ;)

Wear new shoes -- my old ones have a marathon + 7 months of training on them. I haven't counted their miles, but they feel like they're going flat. Time to put in the Yankz! or Lock Laces on some new ones.

Got stretched at the Marathon Sports therapy tent and that felt great. I think I even prefer it to massage. My teammate and carpool buddy Beth was on the table nearby, also getting stretched, and I think we both really appreciated it. She was really spent after the race. Lisa, another training buddy, had knee issues, too. I also talked with lil' miss marmadaddy, who also had a rough race. Saw her over at the BT.com tent and heard about the freaky loss of peripheral vision she'd had -- poor girl! It wasn't an easy day for any of us, but I'm grateful that my body cooperated and gave me a good race.


Slow swim I guess, which I intend to work on this winter. Run and bike were both really good for me this race. I can always try to push a higher gear and wear newer shoes, but I think that taking a week off to do day hiking at 7,000 ft asl in Yellowstone actually helped my race a lot. Felt great!


Another great race by Sun Multisport! If they had only had the Registration Check-in better staffed and moving faster, I'd have given then a 5/A+.