Once again, I had the panic breathing. I ran in and I don't know if it was just me, but the guys in my group were pretty gangster. I caught elbows, was pushed off of and swam over. 1st half I ended up dead last...and I still couldn't settle down my breathing...right before rounding the far buoy, I was asked if I was ok. I guess I looked like I was floundering...I rounded the far buoy and i calmed and got my strokes back. 1..2..3..breathe...1..2..3..breathe. I gained. I saw a group of purple caps and it was my goal to pass them- like hell I was going to be last!!! I drafted off the passing yellow and sure enough I succeeded. I even passed a white cap! I felt proud. Exiting the swim I did the disorientation walk and noticed my looney mom in the crowd madly going at it with the cowbell...i got a chuckle and trotted to T1 as I half stripped.

pre-swim more to clam me down more. Practice more distance suit swims. Harden up and throw elbows of my own and swim to compete not swim to complete.

i spent a little time in T to get my legs back from the swim. Shoes went of without a foot washoff. Run to mount went well...i was T'ed close to bike exit.

Flying mounted ok...and I was off...I started off in shakey shape, as I was still adjusting from the swim, which took a lot out of me. I immediately consumed my 1 bottle of Accelerade. Felt good to hydrate.I picked up pace and was hitting a good 23mph in the flats and passed many. I decided that with the iffy run coming up that I would take training bud, Harold's advice and just get it on the bike. So I sprinted the downhills and blasted the climbs. On one downhill I was hitting about 34mph and nailed a bump. This bump ejected all my hydration and in a panic attempt to catch the bottle mid air...I dislodged all my gels and they also slid off the road behind me. Sunk, I powered on and just thought to myself that i had just placed a noose around my neck.I had no hydration (finally nabbed a bottle on the handout) and all my power/ recovery gels for the bike and run were now gone. I decided this was it. The bike is the only thing that is going to carry me through this race as I absolutely sucked at the swim and the run is probably going to kill me now. So I just got on it. Standing sprint climbs passing many in the ups and downs. At one point i actually drifted my 2nd to last turn. Came in too hot and the rear broke loose in the sand; good thing I'm used to this sort of action from my car racing days and countered through it. I came to dismount with feet out of shoes and poorly ejected off my bike and into my trot into T. Some guy was fumbling things at T entrance and infuriated me as he blocked my entrance and messed up my forward motion.

store nutrition differently.secure my electrolytes better/ maybe aeromount bottle

I couldnt find my Tspot!!! I was lost..normally i lok for my carolina blue adidas bag...it was no where! I walked towards the rack which i thought was mine and i couldnt see it...I was in too big of hurry to go check the post numbers, i guess. i ran with bike to the next row looking for my bag...nope...ran back and a Tworker yelled out "what number?!" and I responded 341!!! and this guy in front of my yelled "right here man" he was sitting on the ground basically all in front of my stuff and puttin on shoes and stuff...ugh...loss of time, something i didnt need. I brake racked the bike and unrolled my "condom-rolled" socks on and slipped the shoes on. I had no more nutition so i just grabbed the rest of the water off my bike and ran out.

pay more attn to rack numbers instead of dependin on my bog sighting.

ugh! I exited T2 with a spirit of no other. I had spent a lot on the swim and giving it all i had on the bike. I was done. No nutrition, my spirit was down. I knew I had a feat ahead of me. I began a nice 9 min pace attacking like I normally do. I made my 1st turn and my calf knotted, literally..i yelped like a little dog getting spanked. I pulled off the side and thumbed it out best I could...enough to continue at least..I've never leg knotted before, so this was a first! So i approached my 1st hill. it wasnt much of a hill but enough to feel that I had no energy to attack it! My spirit was there to get it done, my mind was stepping into it like it should, but my legs, quads to be exact had nothing left. no kick, no push.I slowed to a trot and then to a walk...God this is going to be hell. I shuffled trying to get a strategy...what do i do here? so i sped walked the hills. I was basically goin the same speed trying to run it, so i decided to speed walk them.It wasnt the fastest of things but was my only option. I hit the first water station, i did it, yes...i drank the Heed *shiver* lots of it. and water. I needed electros so it was my only option. And honestly, I felt that the Heed didn't give me any kick. I continued this process of shuffling up hills and sprinting down them and chuggin Heed the whole way...Around Mile 3/4 I'm tapped on the shoulder as Ginger goes flying by to win her AG...damn her...lol. (No good job, it was actually uplifting to recognize someone I knew near me). I trot to mile 5 and i hear the announcer. I think to myself well...you did the best you could and kept my composure and chugged to the finish flex striding for the camera man and giving a meh look at my on-looking parents as i crossed the finish.

Have reserve nutrition. Throw out these saucony racers I've had for 2 seasons. wear my knee brace.

light stretching. water and a flat pepsi.


nutrition. swim prep.


The run can be questionable...it was damn hilly for a run. i live in a hilly area and practice in hills so, I'm not just whining. BIke was great...the hills int he end really made it challenging.