Ok, imagine all the beautiful pictures of the Gulf of Mexico...beautiful, clear tourquoise water, sand bars visable from your condo balcony....WELL throw all those images out the window. Yellow flags were flying and quickly were changed to RED after we got out of the water. As soon as the gun went off everyone but me charged into the water. I held back a little on purpose but more out of fear. I finally made it in and the water was immediately over my head and the current was knocking my feet out from under me. I dove into the first wave and held on the my mask, was knocked back on a 4-1 ratio my whole way out. I felt like a flourescent bobber in "The Perfect Storm", that's how the waves felt to me. Women were turning back right and left, I contemplated it 2x but kept going, why I really don't know. I finally made it to the first bouy and then the long swim to the next one. WELL, I really don't think I ever SWAM. Let's put it this way, I never was horizontal. I basically treaded water and did as many 'strokes' as I could. I have a crick in my neck from straining to see what was coming at me next. I was the last swimmer for a long time but finally caught up to the lady in front of me and then passed two more. I was with the last group of 4 that came out of the water. Made it to the last bouy and by this time it had moved about 100yd away from the starting point. Made the turn and hoped to be home free. WEll I fought the current the whole way back in and the waves would take me for a little while then suck me back out. I finally made it a few feet from shore, but still couldn't stand up and was getting knocked down with only 2 feet to go. Made it to the beach and WALKED all the way back to the boardwalk. The race director was checking on me.

I was waaaaay out of my league and shouldn't have attempted such a feat. My tongue was so parched from the salt water it felt like a pickle! Very nauseated and that night in bed felt like I was still moving in the water, much like I had been on a boat all day.

The transition area was empty....well practically! Legs were shakey. I had exerted way more energy than i had planned. I was out there over 45 minutes. I don't have my splits, but as soon as they are posted I will add them.

transition was good...BUT i would have done a better job getting the sand off. I didn't wear socks which was great for me, but on the run it rubbed a little raw spot on the top of my foot

Great bike!! The most fun I've ever had on the bike. I was proud of my attitude after such a terrible swim. I worked hard to keep my pace above 15 miles an hour on the way out and that was difficult at times considering the wind. BUT boy did it make up for it on the way back. I never dropped below 21 on the way back and sometimes got up to 26 mph.

nothing

I should have washed more sand off...or put on socks. Helment off grabbed my visor, ripped bike shoes off and slipped into running shoes.

Legs were strong...no cramps, nothing like the feeling from my last duathlon. Sure they were dead legs at first or it felt like I was moving in slow motion, but I was pleased with my performance

nothing

Lane was waiting on me at the finish line and he helped me get the timing chip off, the little girl was rushing me, ha! I smiled for the camera and drank some gatorade.

Nice quant post race party. Free beer, etc, burgers, grilled chicken breasts, slaw and potato salad. We found a good table outside and I ate some chicken while Lane drank a beer. I couldn't stomach one yet. We waited for all the awards to be given out and were just chatting away and then they start calling out things that were vaguely familar to me and low and behold I won 4th in my age group. Apparently there were only 4 of us!! I was the first on on the podium and the announcer asked me what I thought of the swim and handed me the microphone. I told him I felt like a Tsunami victim and he said that he had 'relief' over by the kegs. ha!


a horrible swim