probably one of my worst swims but I did enjoy it and had fun. Had some lung issues - I had used my inhaler but a long time before going in. Got really beat up in the melee to the first buoy and went WAY outside - so I made the swim a true olympic distance - you know I always worry about the kayakers getting lonely and all. This swim was no exception. I was WAY outside....that internal GPS still broken.

somehow translate what I am doing in the pool to the open water.

so I run up to transition and the manatee next to me had her bike off the rack, sideways, blocking me from BOTH my bike and gear while she had a tea party - wtf??? did she really think that she was the only one to come out of the water then? sheesh. So I said excuse me and move her bike. She got all uppity - for real?? uhm this is a race....

As usual we were as far from bike in/out as possible.

nada

So I had mechanical issues right away - something was rubbing BIG time - pushing 300 watts in small ring and going no where. Lesson 1: when you rack the night before recheck your bike because somehow everything being ok was no longer. First stopped and loosened one brake. Second stop loosened other brake - no improvement. Then stopped to try and figure it out and a REALLY NICE guy (part of race) came over to help me - somehow my wheel was rubbing on the derraileur. Lost about 5 minutes.

Ok started with WICKED cross winds - to the point that I was scared! I ran 404s I have no clue how the guys with discs did it! I was blown all over....
then we turned and got a tail wind - which I knew would be a headwind later....so I looked at my wattage and used that to determine race pace. Turned again and got the cross wind again. Truly scary. Then another turn tailwind and U turn - so here we go headwind....turned to crosswind, realized that I need a gu, but the crosswind was so intense I could barely get water in - out of my aerobottle!!!!
So next turn into the long headwind section. Pushing 200 watts to go 14 mph....but still passing people...got the gu in and kept going - it sucked. I mean it truly sucked. So I went from terrified in the crosswinds to this major headwind. For the first time in a race I was not enjoying the bike and was ready to be done. Last turn before the park and the crosswinds again. Just tried to push harder figuring if I am moving faster the winds cannot push me as much (yeah right).

check my bike race morning.

I was a bit disappointed by the run as I was really looking forward to the zoo but that was a short bit, and there was no music, which would really have helped through the whole back alley portions of the run course. I had a cramp but ran through it and am pretty sure I negative split the run, though I was so slow that it is a relative term...

yeah we have had this discussion. become a runner? I am sure the 7 pounds gained over 3 weeks of halloween candy did not help things....

got my gear and got out of dodge to pack up and get to airport


getting sick, lack of training, gaining weight, eating candy....


Really impressed with the caliber of the race. Transition was a bit too crowded on the racks - it would have been better to have a few more and space us a bit better though maybe had I not had a fat bitch next to me blocking me out of the swim I would not have cared - though I did pass her like she was standing still....

Looking at my training load going into this race it was as though I had been tapering for 4 weeks, but that was a product of being sick...So this was a true off season race and with that attitude it was fun.