This time I started middle outside in hopes to avoid the prior log jam at the first buoy. Buoy management was better this time, but the swim itself never felt good. Too many sloppy swimmers around me I could never get a groove. Despite that, I think my split was decent.

T1 felt slower than it should have, I sat to put on socks. My feet were dirtier than last time and needed more cleansing. it was smooth, just felt slow.

easy mostly flat ride. passed many on my wave, many in prior wave(s), but was also passed by the leading ladies in the wave after mine. I think I must have been the only cheerleader on the course, fine by me, but I'd heard so much about the "All women experience" that I was surprised to not find more support. I felt sluggish on the ride. The course was shorter than I rode in June, maybe by as much as a mile? not sure why they moved the turnaround spot because it was not appealing as offering a wider spot in the road. well, MPH looks good when they lay out a short course!

smooth. park bike. helmet off, hat and number on.

I actually had a run this time! At first I had no legs but then they returned so I ran the whole course (excepting speed walking up the hills). Last time I shuffled the whole run, it was great to have legs... but I never fully trusted them, I think if I wasn't afraid of my prior wooden legs I might have run an even better race. But still, I had a great run and race! And I had a kick to the finish! that was exhilarating.

Oh, I skipped some training... after starting training late due to summer vacations. hopefully I can hold the post-race exhilaration as a carrot to do better on next set of training.