Couldn't push my way to the water's edge for the start, so I was in the 2nd row. Had to finagle my way over/around some swimmers for the first 200yd, but after that felt great. Got back into a great rhythm, spotted the buoys and rounded them as tightly as I could. We caught the waves before us pretty quickly but I didn't crash into anyone almost at all; snuck past them very nimbly and aggressively (without hurting them though). Very happy with this swim.

Get out in front at the start instead of being in the second row back.

Try sitting down to take off the suit.

A better bike leg than the past 2 years, though much room for improvement. I think I've become more confident and learned to push harder, especially up hills and to keep a faster cadence. Didn't use aerobars; still learning to feel comfortable and the hills/bumps/passing cyclists made me more cautious.

Feel more comfortable in aerobars, keep training hills and work on developing my leg strength and flexibility.

I hadn't run in 3 weeks because of my IT band injury. I didn't know what to expect when I began the run or how well my knee would hold up in terms of pain. I started off a bit more gingerly, since the PT said 1)going fast and 2)hills would aggravate it. Kept my knees from knocking together and focused on my form. After mile 1, I felt better than I thought, so I picked it up a little. Downhills made it twinge and dull pain, but I was able to bring it in maybe going 75%.

I wish so much I could have given this run my all. I felt more than prepared to run this leg of the race until the injury 3 weeks ago and couldn't wait, since I had been focusing mostly on running all winter. I would be smarter during the off-season and stretch and strengthen more instead of overtrain. Lesson very much learned.

Iced my IT band, walked around and met up with my parents and boyfriend.


IT band injury


Very nice race. Lots of locals from the town who seemed to know one another. Pretty, leafy neighborhood with rolling hills for the bike, but nothing too steep or challenging. Run had some decent short hills. Lake was clean with lots of lifeguards.