I felt really discombobulated during the swim. People kept running into me and I kept running into people. The wetsuit gave me a lot of buoyancy - but I felt really dizzy and while I didn't panic - I never really felt comfortable. I would swim a couple of strokes and then pop my head up, do a little breath stroke and then do it all over again. I finished the swim by running through the water but got out faster than the 20 minutes I had budgeted.

Next time, I think I will start closer to the front so people have to pass me and I won't run into as many people.

I got held up by other people - but I felt like I took too much time in transition. I felt dizzy and it seemed like it took me forever to get on the bike. I didn't put on sox and that led to a blister on my left foot. Before leaving - I gulped 10 oz of gatorade and a gu.

I really need to practice transitions - they have to be smoother. I think I might go with sox and I might also have my bike shirt on under my wetsuit to save time. Finally - I think I would be faster - if I put everything on before I get on the bike. I tried to put my gloves on and it slowed me down.

I started off slowly on the bike. After mile 5, I felt like I really sped up and found a good pace. I never really pushed it - riding hard for 9 minutes and then taking a break for 1. On the bike, I drank 24 oz of powerade. I probably enjoyed the race too much - talking to people and cheering people on.

Besides getting a new bike, I don't think I would do anything differently.

Did a better job of getting out of tri 2 faster. I stopped long enough to put on sox, grab a gu and my Gatorade. The thing that really slowed me down was trying to get my bike tools and my inner tube out of the pocket of my bike shirt. Literally took over a minute.

Make sure the zipper of my shirt is open.

I felt pretty good as I left tran 2. I had a gu and finished my 20 oz bottle of gatorade as I ran. I was running 9 minutes and then walking for 1 and I walked up the hill before leaving the park. I felt like I had over hydrated because I started to get stomach cramps. I kept running but it really slowed me down. Energy wise - I felt pretty good - but I definitely felt like the heat was sapping my energy. With about 1/2 a mile to go - a woman names Lisa passed me. We chatted briefly and I told her that I was "stopping either because it was a planned break or because you have crushed my spirit" and she called me out and forced me to keep running. It was a quick run towards the finish. I pulled off a pass with 300 yards to go and the woman repassed me with 200 when she saw her family but I kicked it at the end and passed her as we crossed the finish line.

I would drink less coming out of transition and I would do away with the last break and just keep running.

I had water and a muffin.


I was pretty excited about my time. I had planned on taking 2:06 but I finished in 1:46. I feel like I worked hard - but could have pushed harder. I need to spend more time in the pool and running - but I was proud of myself for completing my first tri.