I don't breath on the left, so I just sighted to the front every few strokes to stay on course. I was worried about all the bodies, so I decided to make wide turns. I probably added many extra yards on the wide turns, but I felt good about my swim. The water was cold and clear, saw some fishies. I didn't feel tired at all. I hardly did any kicking. That Total Immersion works!

I was faster than those in my heat, so in hindsight I don't think that I needed to go wide around the buoys. If I new that there were going to be mostly breast strokers in my heat, I would of gone to the front and hugged the buoys. I also need to practice bi lateral breathing. No worries for next time.

I ran to T1, sat down on the grass to dry my feet, put on socks and shoes. I use yankz laces, so it didn't take long. Got up, put on bike gloves, helmet and sunglasses. Husband came in as I was pulling out my bike, he was having trouble removing his ear plugs. Good thing I was still there to pull them out. LOL! Drank some water.



I would of practiced standing while putting on my socks and shoes. Maybe put my gloves on while on the bike.

When I ran out of T1, I stopped to get on the bike, I had already set my gears to the lowest so I would have an easy time getting out to the road. That first driveway hill was difficult for me, but I made it to the top, then it was a nice gentle downhill for a while. I picked up speed, glanced at my computer which read 25 MPH, yay! Then the road leveled out for about a mile, I fell into a rythym at 18MPH, then I heard a loud, "LEFT", it was my husband dropping me behind. I wathced him disapear over the hill. A hill?!?!? oh no. I slowly made my way up that hill. Then the next and next...... My legs were shot.

On the way to T2 there was a terrible traffic jam on the road. The cars were stopped with their engines turned off. People were getting out of their cars. I was worried that someone would open their car door right in front of me, after all we were riding along side on the bike path. I started to worry that someone in the event got hurt. No, it turn out that it was a car to car accident (hope everyone is ok) and no one in the event was involved. The police made us slow down and we came to a crawling halt to through the wreckage. I watched for broken glass. Hey, I was lucky, my husband along with others up ahead of me had to actually get off their bikes and walk around the wrecks. I got past the accident and the road was free which made for easy passing. I wasn't going very fast, but there were a lot MTN bikes in the event so it seemed like I was fast.

NOTE: I don't use clipless pedals (yet), I use power grips and some good sturdy shoes that I've been training with. I forgot to pack those shoes. So I had to use my running shoes for the bike. I had practiced a bike ride with my running shoes so I knew that my toes and feet would go numb after about 5 miles. I had to remove my left foot from the grips on a down hill to shake out, then I had a hard time getting my foot back in the grips before the next hill. Panic. But I managed somehow.

Train on hills, do some hill training and practice riding some hills. Don't forget my bike shoes.

I couldn't run with the bike in T2. My legs were shot. I entered the area and was shocked! There were bikes all over the place. I couldn't find a spot for my bike. Remember, I had placed my run gear near the exit, but all the bikes covering everything made it hard for me to find them. I started to panic. I can't find my stuff! Then I remembered that it was on top of a bright green blanket (husband's idea). Then I remembered that it was in the first row. Aha! I see my stuff. Yay.

I would clearly mark my area in T2, but I don't think it would stop anyone from dumping their bike on top of my area. I guess that's the breaks when you have to different T zones.

It was a fun run, but since I shot my legs on the bike, I struggled on the 2 short hills and had to walk up. It definitly ate up time. I am not a fast runner, heck, I am not a runner at all. I'm more of a jogger so I know that my times are not competitive, but I was happy with my results.

Practice running hills. Practice jogging faster, so it will resemble running.

I forgot to warm down and stretch. I crossed the finish line, where my husband was waiting for me with open arms. They gave me my medal and T-shirt.(photos soon) I was so happy that I forgot to take care of myself. I ate an orange and a fig newton, drank some water, but that's about it. We had to get back on our bikes and ride 3 miles back to T1 to pick up our gear. I guess that could of been my cool down.

Note: I didn't have breathing problems until the 3 mile ride back to T1, then I realized I left my enhaler there. I must keep my enhaler with me during the next event.


Sore legs.


I had so much fun during the event, even though I struggled at times, I didn't let it get me down. I was happy to just finish. The rest of day, I basked in that feeling. The next day when I was able to see the actual results, I was elated that my times were way better than I thought they were. I guess I did push myself more than I thought I had.