I hadn't been in a pool in over a year. Luckily, the pond temperature was actually higher than the air temperature, and the fact that I didn't have a wetsuit (but we really were the only two who didn't) was actually a benefit...I didn't have to wrangle it off. I thought I could just swim the same way I normally do in a pool, and at one point I crashed into a low area with a bunch of lilly pads and totally freaked out. Someone in a kayak was coming for me, but I just kicked off and kept going...I know! I'm lost! I spent some time swimming backstroke, too, since I just couldn't breathe.

I definitely need to do more open water swimming, or at least learn how to sight. I should get over the fact that triathlon swimming is just NOTHING like real competitive swimming.

I have never done this before. I was still shaking from the swim because of the adrenaline, and I didn't realize how hard it would be to change clothes here. I had wanted to put a shirt on, but I decided not to because I was still soaking wet. I had also wanted to put socks on, but I couldn't get my numb fingers to work, so I just stuck my feet in and left.

Be more organized about transitions...but it was my first, and I learned a lot.

I wish I had had the forethought to bring sunglasses, or realized that I wasn't confident enough on my bike yet to be able to wrangle a water bottle out of the cage on the frame. I had a half liter with me, but I didn't drink a tablespoon of it the entire race. The longest ride I had ever done with this new bike had been 25 miles the week before, and this one sucked. I was not at all prepared for it and it showed, but considering my lack of training, not half bad.

Ride a bike once in awhile. Bring the right gear and figure out how to drink while riding.

Again, not sure what I was doing. I had to put socks on, and I couldn't run in just the sports bra and swim suit top and bike shorts (Argh, tummy). I put on a cotton t-shirt, and soon realized why triathletes don't wear cotton...sticky, chafey, doesn't dry, billowy, and annoying. I did eat some shot blocks on the way out, which may or may not have helped me.

Not have to tie shoes and have more appropriate triathlon gear.

This felt awful. It was the longest consecutive run I have ever done in my life, and I hated every second of it. I wish I had thought to bring an iPod so at least I could have thought about anything other than my own pain and failure to get oxygen.

Train a brick. My first Olympic tri was not the ideal place to see how it felt to run after a 25 mile bike ride. Get back in decent running shape.

Wandered around and ate some oranges, drank the water I should have had during the race.


I didn't train for this at all. I just wanted to see if I was capable of finishing this.


Hey, I'm glad I did it. My plan was to finish in 3 hours, and those extra few minutes were all in my transitions. Weirdly, I can't wait for the next one.