Terrible swim. I could not catch my breath and my HR was racing. I wasn't scared or afraid of drowning or anything, I just couldn't calm down. I think it was the distance - it just looked SO FAR and I was terrifed that I'd blow up and then have nothing left for the bike and the run. I think I basically hit that 'wall' and never broke through it. Or, at least, not until I rounded the last bouy. At that point, I told myself that it was to be 100% freestyle until the end, and I did it. And it did get easier. If only I'd done it sooner!

Lot's, lots more open water swimming practice so that I get used to what these distances look like! More races so that I can learn to calm down. And I should have forced myself to do more freestyle from the beginning so that I could find a rhythm.

The transitions were long (distance) and very muddy/slippery. Coming out of the water, there was really no way to actually run without the danger of wiping out. My husband said he saw many people fall in the mud! My wetsuit got a little stuck on my feet, but it think that was mostly my own inexperience at removal. I still need a new helmet - this one takes to long to put on! Socks went on great as did shoes and I did take a moment to put on lip balm.

Get a new helmet - practice wetsuit removal (when it's wet!) and learn to mount my bike a little faster (though I was better this time than last time).

I was able to mount my bike much faster this time than the last time, so that's good. Got going and immediately started reminding myself that this was the fun part, so lets rock it. I think I did. I stayed in the drops and in my top three gears the whole way. I didn't really hammer until after the turn around because I didn't know the course and I didn't have a computer to tell me how far I'd gone. I figured that I'd take it easy, keep a good pace and then let-er-rip after the turn. I was playing tag with another woman (also in my age group) but when we rounded the turn and she commented about it, I said "yeah, but you run faster than me so it's time for me to go" and I dropped her. ;-) I knew I had to make a good time on the bike to be compettive since I knew my run time would suck. I was right.

Next time I need to take a bike computer. I'm pretty sure I had more in my tank that I could have expended on the first half had I known where I was in terms of the whole course.

I accidentally ran past my rack and had to back track a bit, so that cost me a little time. All in all, this was a good transition. The run with the bike was kind of long, but I was pleased to have my road shoes on as they gave me traction in the mud that the barefoot people did not have!

Next time I need to pay attention to where my rack is located!

I am slow. It's unfortunate because I felt like my run was actually pretty good and pretty well managed - but yet I placed lower overall on the run than I did on my sucky swim! I wanted to run faster, but it was getting kind of hot and my feet were starting to ache. I basically just kept an eye on my HR and used that to gauge my effort. As much as I don't like my time, I was pleased with my performance before I saw the time, so I can't really complain. I'm not a runner...so this will take time to improve.

I don't know that there was anything that I'd do differently. I kept a steady pace (no walking!), I managed to leave just enough for a little sprint at the end, and I didn't say "ugh, I hate this" in my head but once! ;-)

Walked around a little - enjoyed the sunshine and snacked. I packed up my stuff and then my husband and I waited around for the results...just in case. I'm glad we did! I placed second in the Master's Athena category! Go me!

(not bad for my 2nd ever tri and my first OWS)


A lack of experience was my greatest limitation.