Swimming is BY FAR my limiter. I had swum 300YARDS a few times in training....and only immediately leading up to the event. I was completely gassed about 200-225M in....and had to resort to side stroking. I got passed by 2 people in the pool. I passed no one.

One person who passed me passed several others. The other passed only me.

I HAVE to train more and build endurance. no way around this. This is a HUGE concern of mine. I'm going to have to get better at swimming.

From the mental haze I was in - from being so gassed on the swim, I think my T1 was OK. Everything went pretty smoothly. I passed the guy who was directly behind me (that passed me in the pool)...if only temoprarily (he got me on the bike).

Honestly, if I come out of the water in a better state, I "might" have picked up a precious few seconds. But, I'm not displeased with my T1 time.

I had 2 hiccups on the bike course. #1 - I slowed down at the spot where we were to turn into the T-area on lap 1, because I saw someone turning in. I think a sign would help in this spot (TURN RIGHT ONLY ON 4th LAP). But, it's my responsibility to know the course. #2 - When I turned in on the last lap, a race official told me to keep going straight....lol. I told him it was the end of my 4th lap, and he said..."Oh..OK". Funny, now.

Just know the course, better. I actually bested my projected time by a mph or so.

I only did 2 bricks before the race. I ran through this in my head a few times. And, I can't imagine it going much better. I was pleased, here.

Not one thing.

During my bricks, I realized I run faster than I think I do, coming off the bike. I relied on that. I was right on the edge of blowing up, and the best thing I did all day was dial it down at the right times. Having never run a tri (or ANY race), I would have been happy with anything under 30min., going in. To say I was ecstatic to see an "8" number first (in my minutes/mi.) would be an understatement.

I had to stand by the road at the turnaround to let cyclists pass. I probably (in reality) stood there for 6-7seconds. Nothing I could do.

Beer


My swimming - PERIOD.


Perfect learning experience. It taught me things I know (need to work on swimming) and 1 thing I didn't....I CAN run better than I thought. I'll get better at both and hopefully can do this race in 2011, faster, with less effort.