The first 1/3 of the swim went well, but then I think I got off course because there was no one to my right. Made it back on track eventually and got run over by the fast swimmers in the waves that started after me.

Got a little grossed out because near the end of the course there were some plants that were within arms reach. I kind of spazzed a little and tried to speed up, but that just threw me off.

Better job sighting.

Wow! My last timed T1 was up around 7:00! I managed to jog all the way from the lake to the transition area. Put helmet on my head before bending down to get wetsuit off and shoes on. Learned this at my tri club - definitely helped with that light-headed feeling after the swim. I put my gloves on while walking with my bike to the bike mount line.

Next up - try no socks.

Overall, I'm happy with the improvement.

Headwinds. I felt like I wasn't going anywhere. Kind of a mind game for me too - since my wave was early I just got passed by biker after biker.

I'm glad I practiced the course twice. Bailey Hill didn't scare me and I had a good feeling for what to expect overall.

Had my Camelbak with Cytomax and a bike bottle with water. Ended up tossing the bottle to a police officer (hopefully that's legal!) to throw away for me - around 1/2 way through, I found I wasn't using it and I thought ditching "all that extra weight" would help me up Bailey Hill. Ha ha ha.

Aerobars, ride lots, stay in my own race - don't let everyone else get to me. No bottle to begin with? I like the accessibility of the Camelbak... Unless I get aerobars and one of those bottles with the straws...?

Gah! One of my neighbors left a towel over my bike rack (not a hang your saddle rack, a put your tire in between two poles rack). My bike ended up falling over. Other than that, it was pretty good. Bike shoes & Camelbak off quickly, running shoes on ok. Took my hat and number with me and put it on as I was running out of the transition area.

Move the towel out of the way before racking bike!

Mile 4 was horrible. I started getting really, really hungry. Otherwise, okay. The sun came out and it started getting pretty hot.

I felt like I had a giant blister right in the middle of my right foot. Turns out there's nothing there! I'm thinking that maybe it's because I use mtn bike shoes w/mtn bike SPD pedals? I've heard of "hot spots" from the small surface area. I didn't feel it in the ride. Outside of my right foot got sore too - maybe from my bike shoes being too tight (update - still hurts on Wednesday after race!) Hmm...sounds like a medical reason to upgrade to road shoes & pedals to me.

Put a Gu in my pocket.

Eat, eat, drink, walk, strech. Eat.


The usual. Should train more, it was really windy, I couldn't eat solid food before the event... All complaints that would sound like whining.


Volunteers and police were great. Pizza as post-race food was unexpected, but pretty good.