I started off in the front, which sometimes is a little bit of a gamble for me as I'm not the speediest swimmer. But as we got going, I broke away from the pack and somehow I was the FOP for this swim--obviously by my swim times--but apparently the big swimmers didn't come out. our wave as 10-34 and seriously, the only people that beat me out were the 2 from my AG and 2 from 20-24. WEIRD. I don't think it was a long course as my swim has been lacking lately (focused on marathon training and too many trips out of town). I felt okay and was sighting quite well for me actually. The last stretch I had a bit of a hard time seeing the buoys so I just shot for the flags, and I think that may have helped me vs. others cause if you actually followed the buoys you would've had to dog leg right from the last buoy to the exit. I didn't cut the course, just went straighter I think. In the last half I started feeling a little bit of discomfort in my stomach. Don't think it really effected the swimming--but didn't bode well.

Swim more. Seriously--I've just been lacking it here. I think this is the highest I've ever "placed" in a swim which is quite odd.

It was quite the long run from the swim exit to the transition area. I think my swim was probably a few seconds sooner as you got to a point where you had to get up in the water cause of the ground, but still had to try to run out of the water and across the mat. Anyhow, ran all the way to transition, found my spot without problem, but fumbled a bit with my shoes and goggles, which is unusual. Finally got it all on and kept going. Was 2/31 in my AG though, so not so bad. I pride myself on fast transitions and this one could've been probably 5-10secs faster. The gal that beat me was the one who took 1st AG and was 3rd overall female, so I'll take it I guess.

Not fumble with the glasses and shoes. I really need to learn how to get my feet into the shoes on the bike.

So, it's been a bit since I've done a sprint tri, and so trying to figure out pacing was a little bit different. I pushed hard, but not as hard on some of the rollers as I should've pushed. I was trying to figure out where my competition was. I passed one lady who was 40 something, and the only explanation for that was that she was in the open wave, and that was it, I think. Besides that, it was passing men the whole time, and then at about mile 13 I finally caught up to the gal that ended up getting 2nd in the AG. I passed her, then she passed me in the last bit, and then we pretty much dismounted at the same time at the bike in area. I feel like I really should've been faster, but it's the rollers that caught me. My lack of outside riding, and in general riding lately with some interval training, meant that I wasn't in the best "go fast" bike shape. I did have fun with this though and hammered the best I could....but one of the hindrances was that the gut issues seemed to be getting worse. WTH? All I had that day was b'fast cereal that is normal to me, coffee that is normal to me, and a GU before the swim (about 15 mins) which is normal. I was only drinking water on the bike, and not too much. Drank a little less than 1 full aero bottle while riding. So, wasn't to thrilled about it--but I could manage it fine on the bike. Fun bike, in general. Roads weren't too bad--a few bumpy spots, but not the big rocky Texas Chipseal I was expecting. Oh, and I really love my race wheels--they make the ride SO MUCH smoother...I can't help but wonder how carbon race wheels AND a nice carbon bike will feel!

Ride more--again--been marathon focused and out of town a lot. So, I haven't had much riding. Need more outdoor riding too, otherwise, it was a fun bike. I think, without tummy troubles and in my more peek shape that this should've been a 21.5mph/22mph ride for me. I'm capable of that I think. There was some wind out there that we caught, head/tail/cross, but it wasn't as bad as I sort of expected it to be out there.
I was 1/31 here--so that makes me happy too.

Now this is the type of Transition I like! Got my feet out of the shoes, got off the bike, ran in, racked it, got my shoes on and just grabbed everything else and headed out on the run. You don't have to put your hat/race belt/Garmin on in transition! Fastest in the AG by 5 secs, and it gave me 10 secs on the gal I ran into transition with that was in my AG.

Nothing, I did this very well.

So, this is where I should've been able to kick it even more, and I did alright for the first mile, until I was caught by the one gal in my AG group just a bit before mile 1. I tried to stay with her, but I couldn't and what sucks is it was not my legs, it was my dumb gut. I didn't know what was going on and I just hoped I didn't have to stop. The rest of the run was about the same- I so wanted to kick it in hard, but I just couldn't. Didn't need calories or anything, it's just 3 miles. Got hot on one turn when we weren't in the wind, and the last bit was pretty windy, but it wasn't as hot.

Gut issues did me in. Not pacing. Not fluids. Not heat. Not wind. Stupid gut. I should've been able to stay with or overtake or not let the gal that took 2nd catch me in the first place. Ah well. Control what you can control--though I won't eat that cereal for breakfast again.

4/31 in AG.

I did sprint it in, and thankfully was finally done, but nearly doubled over from the pain I was having. I had to find a curb to sit down and just sit there and try to recover. For at least the next 2 hours it felt like that. I stood up and walked around and it got worse, then better, then worse. Just tried to talk to people and watch friends in...actually had to sit on the grass to do that--not cause my legs hurt--heck, I hardly felt the race but I was just hurting in my belly. Drank some water. Found Hilde after she finished, and we went ahead and grabbed our gear and headed to put it up, back for awards, and then time to go home.


Lack of training in the swim and bike and bad gut problems, and probably 10-15lbs I don't need.

Overall, for the way I felt, lack of training, etc. I did decently. Definitely have to train more to up my game. Definitely do prefer Olys and higher, but a sprint is fun to do as well. Finished in the FOP and can't complain. Do miss the 25-29 age group though! Would've won that AG by 7 minutes! Haha! But for USAT, I've hit 30...it's going to be a really competitive next 15 years! :) Should make me better!


Very well run race. Timely, well marked course, and good organization. This was one of the best small races I've been to around here. Good venue as well. Would've maybe liked a 5k vs. 3 mile, but that's not really a complaint. I won't be here for future races, but I do recommend it to others.