ME: okay, have to b**** a bit - my lap counter can kiss my shiny metal a**! at my first tri last year, i was over 2 mins per 100 yards, but after that: perch lake 1m 43s, st. croix 1m 40s, tri-u-mah 1m 49s (that was just a month ago). average lap time this season in practice: 1m 58s. no WAY i was 2m 20s in this race. no way. no how. i was trusting and didn't count my own. luckily, it didn't make a difference w/ my overall placement, since it was by total milage, and the swim, had my actual laps been counted, would have only amounted to maybe another 1/4 miles.

MOM: kicked butt! she did .6 miles.

kicked my lap counter in the a**! no, really. i swam well. wouldn't have done anything differently.

the 5 minute transition actually went very well, to my surprise.

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ME: these spin bikes were nutty. it wasn't so much your ability to bike as it was your ability to control the flywheel. i could get that baby up to 25+ mph pretty easily, but i couldn't maintain it without feeling like my knees would be ruined for life. the flywheel had a mind of its own. i wanted to get 10 miles in, but i'm happy with 9. top milage for the race was 11.13.

MOM: said it was easier than expected. she did 8.1 miles!

practice on this particular spin bike before race day

again, went well. legs felt a bit like jelly from the ridiculously high cadence, but otherwise it was okay.

ME: felt really great on the run. was a bit scared, since we were told we were not allowed to hold onto the treadmill at all. kelly will remember how i almost wiped out at tri-u-mah and then held on to the thing for dear life. well, wasn't an option here...i just had to make sure i didn't trip. somehow, i did it (my 4th time on a treadmill!). i was hoping to do <9 min miles (just because i finally realize its possible). am quite happy with just a hair above 9. hr maxed at 189 at the very end when i cranked the treadmill up for a 'strong finish'.

MOM: she ran for part of it, and walked most. 2.12 miles! go mom!!!!

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MASSAGE!!!!! free massage after the race. our cheerleaders showed up after we were already done, so we saw them briefly (long enough for them to take our picture together!). took a shower, got dressed, headed to the bike shop i used to work at to get new aero bars and CELESTE pedals, then went to the great lakes aquarium with the girls. my mom took her dog on a walk and then took a nap. i TRIED to take a nap, but e woke me up (grumble). vietnamese food and a beer for dinner!


unfamiliarity with the bike. otherwise, i felt like i did well.


this race was fun, mainly because i was racing with my mom! she was the oldest participant (at age 64), which i think was awesome. she did really well and we're all very proud of her. two gripes: we weren't on machines next to each other. we asked, but were told 'no' by one of the staff. after the race, another staff person said they easily could have switched us. gripe two: my lap counter had his clicker up his a**. and surprise, the guy who wouldn't put us next to each other, and the guy counting my laps...SAME GUY! grumble. now that's off my chest anyway. had a great time. my mom was just glowing. race organizers listen up: free post-race massages are WAY better than lip balm or pens or free packets of Gu!!!!!!