I had my earplugs in for the race. I tested them in the waves before making sure I could hear the hooter. And I could. So I wore them.

Anna and Greer from my club were in the same wave. GOOOOOO VISION!!!!

We're off and it was the most BIFFO I'd experienced in a swim to date. That being said I gave as good as I got. An elbow to the head. FUN! I'm glad we vision girls spread out a bit. :)

The biff continued until the first buoy and then the ladies to the left and right of me who were wedging me in suddenly veered away. WOOO! i had space to myself.

I sighted well and used the Boats in the canal as a guide.

Rounding the last buoy before the U turn I could feel a bit of pull from the canal. Wasn't strong enough to slow us down though. The group had thinned out to a line at this stage.

I caught "scody Girl's" tail. She had started beside me and I was determined to beat her into transition so I put some more effort into my pull coming into the exit.

I'm not sneezing at a 16th position! That was a GREAT swim today. I did everything right!

Nothing. I did everything within my capacity and really did swim at race pace. I couldn't have done any better in the water if I had tried.

Tim included with BIKE
I came out of the water and felt pretty good actually. The vision crew were taking photos and I was trying to pull a pose for james - but ended up blowing a kiss - That photo I'm sending to Tim ha ha ha.
Overtook someone on the run into the bike.
Spotted Greer in transition, yelled some encouragement as I clipped up my helmet, unracked my bike and took off. Looked at my watch and had only been in there 45seconds -1:00 by the time I got on the bike. WTF! Bloody FLYING transition...
Spot my parents as i run to the mount line. They were cheering me on! I waved as I ran out.
No flying leap... This girl can't jump. I don't think I'll have it down pact before noosa...

Probably learn how to jump. Can't get the freaking leg over the back tyre and jump at the same time

So I'm on the bike and freaking stuffing around with my shoes - Greer goes flying past me! I get in my shoes and I'm off. I yell out to Shandell who's marshalling at the first corner... But this distracts me from the first hill. Shit. i forgot all about that one.
Took the hill in totally the wrong gear, changed down gears and stood up to try and keep cadence above 70.
Over the hill. Ha ha ha.
Now this wasn't like the enticers at all. In the enticers I could overtake almost the entire field. not at this level. It was all pretty much equal.
I somehow get to greer before the first corner.
Onto the main straight near the ormiston train station. Redland "city" council need to resurface the road. it was no where near as smooth as this time last year.
On the main straight I could smell burning rubber. Was it me? Are my brakes rubbing? Is there something wrong with my tyres?? After 20seconds the smell dissappeared...
Take my first drink on the first lap of the flats and open a gu on the way back. Downed half.
After the hot dog turn (got up out of the saddle to get speed back up before getting back into aero bars) I could smell the burnt rubber smell again. I looked to my right and there's a burnt out car. Wave of relief floods me as I realise it's not my bike! Then I shake my head... bogans...
1st turn round the roundabout. Spot my parents. They're fantastic cheering me on! Looked at my clock and cadence - 95 and 0:09:45 - So far so good! i'm on target.
Settled into the second lap and did much better on the hill.
Another drink before the turn around and blitzed back again.
Last lap - kept getting caught between girls on mountain bikes in front and guys with disc wheels coming up behind. AAAAARGH!!! Frustrating!!!
I was still on my time though when I got back to the start...
Only thing was i forgot to undo my shoes as i came into dismount. D'OH! No skating today. Stop get off and freaking trot in my cleats!

REMEMBER -
The hill
Undo my freaking shoes on the last straight...

Time included with bike.
So I'm trotting along. All is going good. I get to my stuff and rack my bike only to knock my left knee with my fork as i lifted the bike onto the rack. OUCH!!!
Didn't worry to much about it at the time - but i'm bruised there now.
Flung the helmet off, ripped the shoes on and took off. Was faster than I thought. (OLD SHOES today with SILK STRAPPING TAPE over the worn material aroung the heel to stop blisters)
Saw the vision guys as I ran down the shoot and clicked my watch on the timing mats

Be a little more careful racking my precious bike...

So I'm out on the run and my left leg feels twingy. So I slow it down - take it easy. "NOOSA is more important" I tell myself as I feel what feels like a brick velcroed to my right calf/shin impact on each footstrike.
I kept looking over my shoulder - Greer was going to catch me soon... I knew it! She is the better runner!
At the first turnaround my leg felt remarkably better... So I lifted my legs a bit higher and ran with a little more OOMPH on the way back.
HI-FIVED Nat as she went out onto her second lap... and hi fived Greer as I went out onto mine...
Opened the gu I'd stuffed under my bra strap and downed half before the first water stand. Downed some water and tipped the rest over my head... The heat of the morning sun was starting to burn and my right arm was starting to feel it.
As I rounded the turn around for the last time I started to increase my pace. Hadn't stopped looking for Greer though... She was further back... Could I actually be making time here?? On the run?? What the??
I know my heart rate was up as I came back to the finish. I stumbled over the line - ha ha ha... caught my breath as someone took off my timer but at least I didn't feel totally dead.
My body wanted to give that run more, I can feel it! I just need to get my right leg to carry it there...

Nothing much. I'm glad I wore the old run shoes and not the new ones! My pace was Maddy paced so I wasn't wrecked but I wasn't "Emma snowsill" either. I am happy with it. A middle of the pack run is freaking fantastic for me! Considering in the enticers I'd have an OK swim, a top 5 ride and a bottom of the table run - This is a REALLY good result.

Stretching, gatorade, water, watermelon...LOTS of walking LOTS of catching up with people I know from highschool.


My right leg. he he he. But at least when I settled into a rythum it went okay. I guess the next goal at this distance would be to finish this distance in under an hour. But at least I wiped almost 15mins off my LAST time at this distance. Hee hee hee.


To be quite honest - I almost classified this as TOO EASY - I'm sure Coach Cath would be onto that like a shot. In a way - it was almost too easy. I know the course well, I know most of the volunteers on first name basis due to the fact I grew up in the area, and even though I picked a more challenging category and distance it wasn't that much of a stretch from the longer enticers. I'm a MOP'er now! and in this race I was consistant in my positions, there wasn't a big descripancy.

USM put on a great show as always. And VISION had a great day as a team!!! We achieved a LOT!