Starting in corrals and as I don't consider myself a great swimmer I stayed back and tried to get in the water on the outside, swimming besides the field - turned out I was faster than a lot of other girls and that gave me a hard time passing them. And it got tougher after the second buoy, where sprint and half iron swimmers came together. Most of the half iron swimmers that were left in the water had a hard time and were very slow and tended to hold onto other swimmers.

Next time I hope I'll have more confidence in my swimming and position myself better, it's easier to get passed that to pass.
I also think I can still go harder

Plan was to improve T1 - and it worked. Didn't bother drying off - I was hoping to get a cool breeze out of it. Getting in shoes got better and not putting on gloves was a good idea.

Position shoes in a better angle and maybe get some shoes that have one velcro strap instead of three. Have to try and see whether riding without socks is an option - they take FOREVER to put on, even rolled down...

The map they had given out was so completely off - it wasn't even funny anymore. The hills were at completely different spots and therefore the planning was well - off. Good that they had lots of volunteers guiding the way. The roads were partially in great and partially in horrific condition. Coming down that last long hill was freaking awesome and a good chance for someone reckless ( me ) to pass some people or better to fly by some people who didn't wanna go down the hill with 37 mph :) Took it easy on the last 1.5 miles to stretched out and loosen my calves for the run ( which actually worked)

Ride the course before the race if possible , that would have let me take the course harder and push more. I was always waiting for that horrible hill that they had predicted but that didn't come, so I saved my energy for nothing.

Happy with those new pre-tied elastic laces! and putting some body glide in the shoe was such a great idea, helped tons getting in.
A bit of a problem racking the bike were the aerobars that sticked up higher than the rack and so I had to lean the bike sideways under the rack to hang it up. Rest worked great

Paying attention to how much room there is for the aerobars and maybe set up the transition area so that I arrive from the front of the rack and not the back and can just push the bike in backwards

Having stretched out the calves on the last 1.5 miles of the bike leg helped surprisingly a LOT. It was a "give it a try" during race never done that in training before, but my calves felt like I hadn't ridden before.
Of course my shin and my knees bothered me and let me know they weren't happy about the run part - what else is new?
Kept it up and tried to remember "pain is temporary - regret forever" and so I went on. Gave myself another minute to stretch the calves and walk a few steps around 0.75 mile and at the aid station! Gotta love those ice-water-rags!! The way back was all downhill, except for the one steep hill entering the last 0.5 mile. So no mercy and no excuses and keep those feet moving!

Run faster :)) Well a little faster, and don't take the walk breaks. Saw the girl that won my age group pass me and thought about sticking with her and pushing harder, but then decided she was to fast and sticked with my pace - MISTAKE!!!! Next time go for it.
Need to work on breathing - oh and next time, trying to not start the finish-sprint half a mile from the finish line - my lungs won't do that!

Maaassssaaaaaage!!!!!!!! So awesome, after taking a few steps in the shade got in line for the massage and that felt great, then some cheering and a jump in the water with some fun-swimming and cool down. Oh all of that after the award ceremony :)))


my left should which is still week from the tendonitis - have to work on that, need to build up that muscle to take stress off the right shoulder and arm during the swim and put more power in the strokes.

Bike gotta work harder on the hills, getting better at hills is my chance to beat others on the bike legs, as I am not really fast on the flats but better than most on the hills.

Run - the biggest problem is the mental blockade to simply not wanna go harder, not wanna feel the pain. Hope to be able to get that out of the way, by intentionally planning painful workouts and train getting over that inner wall!


It was a great race that I would do again at any time! Yes it's hot, yes it's a hilly course BUT

great organization!
great number of volunteers!
great music and atmosphere!
Tons of people cheering!
Great expo!
A chance to see some pros live!
Great after event atmosphere, people stick around!
Great facility - no lack of porto potties and even real and clean bathrooms!
Awesome trophies!

And afterall, I have been so scared to start at this race because everybody told me how super tough this race is and that it might not have been the smartest choice for ones 2nd triathlon ever, but really the sprint course is not that challenging and if you have trained and prepared yourself for the race it is a fun race that is not too challenging! I can highly recommend it!