This was a good swim for me! I made myself hangback a bit and avoid the human blender activity, but I feel like I spent more time trying to pass people that I could have avoided if I started more aggressively. I watched a video on Tarzan Swimming, maybe I will try some of that next time. I hate the first 200m getting kicked in the face and sucking in half the lake! After that it was smooth sailing and great bilateral breathing. But I certainly didn't push myself- was worried about the impending 4 mile run....

more aggressive start and a longer warmup swim.

I love my suit- it slips off so easy! Had to rip off some of the bandage from my toe as it didn't stay through the swim. No idea what i was doing in transition for FOUR minutes though! I was talking to some lady for a bit and making a joke, but even though i was not in "race mode" today, 4 minutes is too long! lol.

I did not run the whole way from the swim to the transition area, I think next race I will really focus on cutting down my transition times.

went well, considering my general out-of-shapeness! Except one part where a cop at an intersection turned his back to me and totally forgot to tell us where to go. I know me and at least one other guy started to head up the wrong street before they started yelling at us. grrrr. Sometimes I hate being such a BOP rider! The hills were not too killer, and i rocked on the downhill parts :)

grow an extra set of thighs. bike bike bike bike bike and maybe bike some more :)

again, no clue what I was doing for almost 3 minutes. this time i recall talking to some lady who was missing her relay bike team member- she thought maybe he fell- i told her i didn't see anyone fallen. i drank a bunch of water. I had to re-lace my shoes to compensate for the crooked bandaged up toes.

maybe not be so chatty? :)

This was my first 4mile run in a race and only my 3rd time running in my new orthotics. feet felt good even with the banged up toes (stopped once to re-lace again). Wow i felt like i was running slow. everyone and their mother passed me. i laughed and smiled and people were nice as I plodded along. I usually run a 12min mile pace for my 3mile races, so i tried to go slower to save effort for the 4th mile- turns out i didn't need to. I wish i had gone a TAD faster though and had a finish time UNDER 2:00hrs, lol

I will say this, as a slower triathlete and back of the pack runner, it TOTALLY sucks to see people packed up and heading back to their cars to go home when you're still on the course. What sucks even more is when they don't have the decency to get off the sidewalk or at least make an effort to get out of your way. The last half mile I was stuck dodging atheletes and all their gear as they meandered back to the cars, most not even acknowledging me. Oh well, maybe this is incentive to do better next time.

omg i was starving and I think i ate everything in sight! I was so happy they still had food (the last race ran out by the time i finished). I ate bananas, watermelon, danishes, pretzels, gatorade (there were also cinnamon buns, granola bars and fruit cups!) Three Cheers to the FIRM Racing team for the food, quantity and quality!


My 27lb steel road bike? My mangled toes? My nauseated stomach?
(ok fine, it was probably just me not being in great shape yet!)