It was a wave start. There were 3 waves and I was in the first one. Right after the start, not 100yds from the start, a girl fell up ahead alittle. She was already up and acknowledged she was OK. She was pulling up her pants and off she went (I guess). No! Her pants were not pulled down to her ankles or anything just twisted around alittle bit. I thought "Damn! That has got to suck!" I saw her late after I had made the turnaround and she was headed in that direction. She had a big ole bloody right knee. I had the same thought again about how deflating it must be to have that happen so early in a race. It is great that she motored on and I hope she finished and enjoyed her accomplishment.

I felt like I did good. I kept telling myself there was plenty of racing left. Don't leave it all on the first run. I tried not to slow up on the hills and just keep an even (feeling) pace going. Felt good.

Maybe push a little harder. Didn't want to risk injury so close to my first Tri.

It was OK. I didn't feel super rushed or anything. Just took care of things and headed out.

I did notice a rack or two that had collapsed; bikes and gear scattered. Once again that same thought, "That has got to S*&^!"

Nothing.

Did I mention hills? Some short and steeper and some longer and not so steep. It was a good course although NOT closed to traffic. The law enforcement did a good job of keeping the road open for us. I learned a few things on the bike. I knew it before but it kinda hit home that I need some cycling work. I need to be faster. I dropped a water bottle because my hand was so cold I couldn't really tell I wasn't holding it tight enough. I also lost 1 glove and 1 cleat cover. Both of those items fell out of my jersey pocket because my number belt was too high and they never made it to the bottom of the pocket! Bummer.

Be sure items in jersey pocket get to the bottom!

I had thought I would slip out of my shoes before I got to the "line" to dismount but I was on it before I knew it. I just hopped off my bike shoes and all and slid on in the racking area. I get to my rack and there you have it....the rack has fallen and gear and bikes are just laying around. I lean mine up against a telephone pole and procede to dig my gear out from under someone else's bike. I try to stretch my hamstrings alittle while tying my shoes. It would have been easier if I could feel my fingers. I think on the third try I got them both tied. WoooHooo, off to the next run......

Pick a sturdier rack!

I thought the run was good. I seemed like I wasn't passed that many times and actually passed a couple.

Push harder sooner!

Jumped in the lake and swam a few thousand yards....doh! no, that is in a couple of weeks. The lake did look inviting though.
I milled around around a little bit, had some gatorade, water, krispy kreme doughnut, a cookie, granola bar, and then decided to start collecting my stuff. This is when I discovered that the zipper on my backpack had broken. No way to keep it closed. That's ok, It had served it's time. Good thing I got a tri bag last November!
Don't think I got any hardware so I didn't hang around the 55 minutes until that portion started.


Good race. There was only one drink station on each leg of the run portion.
I will do it again.