I started off to the left and didn't have any roughness in the crowd, headed straight to the buoy with no swimming off course like I've done lately! I don't know if I was fast but it seemed like I was done before I knew it. This lake was where I'd done my very first triathlon, and the water is "peat" filled so it is like swimming in dark coffee--can't really see anything at all. I felt much more confident than I was three years ago standing on that same shore!

Swim faster, as always! :) Draft.

I had pinned my race number to my tri suit, but I felt it rip while I was stretching in the water before the race, so I knew I had to remedy that in T1, which took a few extra seconds. Otherwise, it was pretty quick. I had forgotten my sunglasses but the woman next to me loaned me her husband's and I loaned her my spare goggles, so that worked out ok!

Perhaps get a race belt.

For the past couple of races, I have noted that I didn't push myself as hard as I could have on the bike. Today I pushed hard and felt great. I passed a ton of women, even lapped a couple! On the first lap I passed the 2 or 3 Athenas that were ahead of me and then focused on reeling in as many others as I could. The course had a lot of turns so that affected the overall speed, and a couple of hills, but nothing too serious. I think my first lap was faster by about 30 seconds or so, but am not sure since the timing mat was quite a ways from the dismount--we had to run the length of the transition area first.

More bike time! I was having fun doing this race as a true sprint, pushing myself to really go fast, knowing it would be over soon!

Yeah, this was fast. I zipped in and out super quick.

Nothing.

On the run, I carried my Garmin to monitor my pace. I was around 7:30 on the flats, so that helped with the overall time. Lots of uphill on the course but I focused on keeping my cadence high and my shoulders back, and that helped me consistently pass other runners. I was only passed by one woman the entire run. Again, I was racing this as a sprint, pushing myself pretty darn hard the whole time. We were so lucky to have cool, overcast weather for this tri--it really helped with staying cool and fast.

Faster faster faster! Lose this pesky 25 pounds and then I'll be a true force to be reckoned with. More than now, if you can even believe that is possible. I know. :)

Hung around and drank water, ate some stuff, chatted with other racers, cheered on finishers. Maybe I stretched my legs for about 6 seconds.


Gravity!


Considering that I didn't know I was doing this race until yesterday...I am very happy with it!! It is definitely a PR for a sprint-distance. The race I did here in 2007 only had a 12 mile bike ride, and today's was 14, and my times are the same. Figure it out, I kicked it! It was really fun to go out hard and give it my all. Once again, BuDu racing put on a fantastic event. Next race, rock n roll half marathon on Saturday!!