After the water, we ran up the beach, through a hotel parking lot, across a road, and into T1 (450m ish). The total official time for my swim leg + runup was 16:55. I know I was out of the water by 11:00, at the back of the front of the pack. The run up the beach took me maybe 2:30 or more, because I was going slow (my photo shows me walking as people I swam past are running past me. Doh), but picking my way across that asphalt took FOREVER! OUCH.

Practice running on asphalt barefoot?? The swim was awesome, so much better than expected, I can't believe I got out in the first wave of people.

My T1 time was lumped in with bike time so this is just an estimate based on glances at my watch. I took my time in T1, drying off, etc, deliberately did not rush.

Take T1 seriously, try to get thru it a lot faster.

It stormed the night before and was still drizzling at the start of the race so the course was pretty slick. I took it really easy (like, almost dead stop) on the corners because I'm still not that good at bike handling and I wasn't taking any chances. Kept a comfortable cadence, really did not push at all till the last lap and 1/2 and even then I wasn't pushing too much. Very conservative ride.

Pushed harder from the beginning. I really need to learn to corner better/faster.

Obviously took my time in T2 as well, getting my shoes & helmet off, running shoes on, chatting with the SO, generally taking it very easy. Again, like in T1, this was totally deliberate, I was not taking this race fast at all.

Get my gear changed out and go!

The run went great, again I didn't push (or, didn't feel like I was pushing). Not being familiar with the area, it was really nice to be running the same course as we biked so I had a good idea where I was at all times. This is a PB for the 5k!

Not a single thing.

Walked over to transition area and gathered up my stuff, chatted, walked to the hotel (across the street) and showered. Got back in time for the awards to be handed out, was fun cheering for everybody.


Well, this was my first race so general insecurity about what to do and when. I made the conscious choice to treat this race as just another training day so as to not injure myself or rush through anything and miss something -- a DQ because of a stupid error would've broken my heart. Obviously, next time I'll take T1 & T2 seriously. I'll push on the bike a little more because I know I have plenty left over for the run.


Everything was perfect as far as a first race experience was concerned. There were plenty of volunteers to make things go smoothly, the weather was cool (but not cold) and the same for the water. Strong current for a fast swim, good flat course that's exactly like where I train.