Pool was heaven to a swimmer. Water was cool. Flip turns were almost imposable due to ppl crowding the wall. Many people didn't seed themselves well for the swim- several people doing breast stroke and taking up lane space.

Nothing. I realized today that the swim doesn't matter and perhaps I should save myself for the bike. I also think that I over train the swim because I like to swim.

I ran out from the pool to T1. Didn't really have my order down pat. I wasn't prepared for the cold- and I put my sunglasses on first and they fogged up so I couldn't see what I was doing. D'OH!

Perhaps I should practice my T1 before my next race? Um, yeah.

Ok, so I have only logged 134 miles total on my bike. I'm new to biking and it still scares the piss out of me. I need to watch more videos on BT and really learn how to ride. Other wise I'm just an over weight, middle aged, fat kid on two wheels.

This is what was going on in my mind during the bike (in no particular order):
"Old, Fat & Stupid"
"I'm not gonna finish"
"I'm gonna die" (that was the hair pin turn)
"Oh look there's a cow/horse/sheep"
"Thank you MU students for cheering me on"
"I wonder what the cops think of ppl in spandex?"
"I can't believe I'm walking up another hill"
"PACE BOOTY!!!! Wait....can't...keep...up...."
"Wave to the spectators or they will think you are a snob"
"I'M GONNA DIE!!!!! (that was the down hill parts)"
"omgomgomgomg I'm done?!?!?"

I just need to get more time in the saddle. The only way to get better at climbing hills is climbing hills.

I normally run between 16-18 mph in training. I was lucky to push 15mph and slowed down to 8 and 6 on the steep hills. D'OH!

My brain was so numb at this point that there was no thinking....just falling on my ass trying to rack my bike, not tip anyone else's bike over and get my shoes on.

I need to get a game plan in place before I enter T2....but maybe this is how it is? IDK.

Yay. What can I say about my run? I got off the bike, felt ok. Ran past David Tri's and maybe Brut?. Was surprised to see them finished and cooled down and thought "Hmmm, maybe I should get my self in gear here?". Oops. Both calves tightened up so hard that I almost fell over. I wasn't prepared for the sensation. I had to stop and stretch out several times. It wasn't until I could hang off one of the many step up/step downs on the course that I felt ok. I did walk a bit here and there but it just made me more frustrated cause I turned into the fat kid that everyone felt they had to encourage. Ugh. I hated that and I'm still frustrated now as I sit here and type my report.

The final mile was ok- everything was looking up. I was perturbed by the number of people who had on ipods (thought that was against the rules) and really wished I had my War Zone cd to run to. (*cough cough* and Lady GaGa)

Coming into the shoot I again saw David Tris and Brue (or was it bananatoes? Crap I can't remember) and David slapped me a high 5- it was what I needed to finish strong. I let the fast twitch take over and I sprinted through the chute and over the finish line....I think I avoided knocking down several people. UGH! Catch the athlete and get the FRACK out of the way! I am always amazed that slow twitch ppl can just come to a dead stop after a race. If I don't keep moving I'll puke.



I need to run more. I skipped quite a few run days in my training plan and paid for it in tears afterward. No more crying out of frustration. The next time a tri makes me cry it will be because I broke a bone.

I feel kinda bad cause the MU student had to race me down at the back half of the chute to give me my water. Held my hand back like I was getting a baton- she must of known cause a second later I had a water bottle in my hand.

Coming down from a sprint takes some time- I have to keep walking about or I'll freeze up. My poor husband was trying to talk to me but I couldn't talk yet so I kept walking and waving him off. After a 5 min or so cool down (srsly I have no clue, it just felt like a while. I had NO concept of time the entire day) I got my bag o' fud and chomped on an apple.


Gee. Lack of training where it mattered and this extra 30 lbs I'm dragging around.

I also didn't have the soul of a warrior today. I was too worried about this being my first race...and while I enjoyed having my husband at the race to take pics and get stuff from the car, I found myself to be managing not only my first tri but his tri experience. He can watch me again at the end of the season when I have this whole thing down and take fab-u-less pics of me (and get complete strangers to yell my name, cheering for me- thanks honey!) then. Until then I need to focus on my game.


My favorite song to run to is War Zone by Rob Zombie. "In the War Zone I stand alone/ In the War Zone I die alone "

Brut said it best at lunch, "Run your own race". Today was about finding my own way. I was frustrated at my performance but I'm happy that I finished. I thought I would do better but I learned the hard way.

I am looking forward to racing this race next year. Today it won and I just tried to not DNF.

I will say I am frustrated by the timing company- for some reason even though there was only ONE Athena category to register in, the results had me listed as Athena4XL. Quite frustrating on several levels since I have no swim, T1 or bike times AND I finished last in my category. If I was in the regular Athenas I would not have finished last- BOP but not last. The shit was bananas.

Blah. I just ran and now I'm hungry and cranky. Fud now pls!