Can we say HTFU about this part of the race? Right from the start I was not in a good rhythm. Dizzy and nauseated from the get go. Combination of nerves, poor breakfast and the cold water with current. By the first 500 meters a lady in front of me swam out to a dock and got out. I realized it was pretty shallow there so I stood up and had another HTFU chat with myself, settled my breathing and swam to the turn bouy.
Shortly after the first turn my left calf started to cramp up. I rested on a kayak for a few seconds and tried to continue on. It was not a pretty swim. More like anything to keep forward motion in the water.
Rest again...now my right calf has joined the cramp action so I'm doing whatever I can to flex the feet and stretch them out while trying to move forward.
Finally make it to the next turn bouy. I have been passed by everyone in the wave behind me from the first turn. There are 2 other women from my wave in the lake with me. Darn it, I am going to swim this course. If any part of the swim went okay it would be the final 500 meters. Sighting was better and the kayaker was giving me some verbal cues to help me direct in.

I have a wetsuit for surfing. First thing I have already done is order a real wetsuit! I would also get neoprene booties. The neprene cap saved my a$$ in more ways than one, had my head gotten that cold I might not have been able to finish. Ear plugs so the equillibrium wouldn't be thrown off with the cold and current!

***There isn't a rating low enough for the swim! I want a rating for DISMAL or ABYSSMAL!!

I remained dizzy for a bit, should have taken another couple minutes in transition to regain balance.

Learn to jump on the bike with my shoes attached to the bike...

It took me about 3 or 4 miles out on the bike to have balance and control back. I was shaky and couldn't open my gu in aero which was causing me to weave a bit and I got a few nasty comments from other riders.
Loop 1 was pretty good, loop 2 was great. I passed about 6 ladies on the second loop which made me really happy. Got to 19 mph for the majority of the ride. Is it possible that my bike split is less than the swim split?

I need to fine a bottle that attaches to the frame and the flexible tube goes up the downtube on the bike to come up at the bars. That would have been less of an obstacle than trying to get my gu open around the aero bottle.

Again pretty uneventful.

I am okay with this run given the heat and the foot issues I was having. Not thrilled but okay with it....

I ordered Newton's a month ago, where the F*kk are they??

Volunteers handed me ice water and cut the timing chip off. I walked over to transition and grabbed my gear.



A dismal swim in freezing water for which I was not prepared properly for.


I felt there could have been more drink stops for the run course, especially given the early season heat.
Brunswick stew...a local favorite food was the post race meal. I was feeling nauseas again when I finished so that didn't appeal to me.
I didn't hang around at all. We headed to a friend's house on the lake where I showered then found a place for lunch.