So, as I said the bouy had come lose prior to the start of the race. There were 5 waves, that went off every 4 minutes. After the first wave was rounding the first bouy the bouy let lose again so they stopped sending the waves in. Finally, they decided that a lifeguard on a surfboard would be the first bouy. She was directly into the sun and you couldn't even really see where she was until you got out past the first surf break line.

I started swimming early and dove under the waves. This went much, much better than the last race. Unfortunately, I still did the "priss swim". I kept my head out of the water the whole darn time!! Please know that swimming with my face in the water is no problem for me. I was scared to put my face in because the height of the waves. After passing the first bouy, I could not see the second one over the waves...I ended up going much further than I needed to. When I rounded the second bouy I again began to question my sanity, or at least the need for a freshwater swim! I got back through the surf, and was able to ride the waves better this time.

I was shocked to see that I was not the last person out of the swim!! There were a couple of guys that I saw that had to hang on the lifeguards "big red thinggie". These were guys that were really in shape. I would have hated to have been in the water without being able to swim well. In the end everyone made it out safe.

I wore a new shirt for the race this time and I was concerned about how it would be in the swim. It was loose fit but I was able to tuck it in my shorts tight for the swim. I felt like I needed a shirt with pockets on the bike and run, so this was the best option I could find. I thought it might be a problem on the swim but it did great.

I guess that I would need to practice in bigger surf, but I'm not so sure I want to. I felt reasonably safe with the lifeguards right out there but I know I wouldn't go out there under those conditions if the lifeguard was on the beach.

Spent about 5 sec in the run through freshwater shower to get the sand off my feet. Everything went smooth getting into my bike shoes...it still makes me lasugh that I think I am the only person on the planet with clipless pedals on a comfort bike!! LOL

Nothing, other than continue to race and get smoother and faster with transitions!

The bike course is totally flat and very shaded. I have to say that I didn't get my heart rate up on the bike. I went as fast and hard as my quads would allow...they are just so weak! I did 2 gels on the bike and drank some Heed, and a full bottle of water. I had one guy pass me on the bike, at the turn around I got my escort. This time it was a motorcycle and it was really loud and most annoying. A police car took over the last mile and that was much better.

From all of knee surgery I have VERY weak quads. Strength training is what I need...and of course get a road bike and ride lots!! I had put off starting my strength training plan so I could be ready for this race, gives me even more motivation for the gym workouts starting this week.

When I pulled into the area just before dismount there were lots of people milling around. Race officials were yelling at them to get out of the way, but some just didn't pay attention. I almost creamed this one lady in a long white dress...ugghhh! But then I saw my dh and beautiful children and all was good. There were lots of people yelling and cheering for me. I'm such a dork, I got all misty.

I got to my rack and there was no room. Fortunately, there was a guy on the other side of the rack and he moved his bike for me. I didn't mention how I knocked a bunch of bikes down in the last race...bet they would have left me some room had they known that!! LOL Anyway, the guy move his bike and gave me some room. I guess this is one time that it was really convenient to actually have a kickstand!

Took my socks off for the run as they were saturated. I pinned my race number on my shirt as I walked out. It wasn't hard since I was walking. Don't think I could have done it if I was running. The race belt that I wore last time was just not comfortable...not yet at least.

It was all good!

Well, I started walking and my legs felt pretty darn good, so I decided to run a little. That didn't last very long, maybe 30 seconds! My HR was in the 170's there was no way I could bring it up another 20 or so beats per minute. I walked the whole rest of the way. My HR never came back down, even though I felt good otherwise the whole time.

There was a girl that I talked to on the beach before the race, and she and I were the 2 obvious Athena's. She races a lot and was there racing with her father, brother, and BIL. Just after the turn around, I saw a man walking up to me. It was her father coming to walk the rest of the course with me. He said, "my daughter said you were really nice and I thought I would come walk with you". Just after the 2 mile mark, her BIL met up and walked with us, then my friend Jan and the other Athena. We walked together, until the end when they let me finish by myself.



I think my HR was up for 2 reasons. First, I think I am still in the phase of building my aerobic base and I really need to get to using the HR monitor and training in specific zones. I wonder if often I am keeping my rate too low during training. Second, the heat, the heat, THE HEAT!! I live and race in south GA/north FL, and I just need to get over it and do what it takes to adjust to the heat. That is one variable that is not going to change, therefore, I need to.

Some light stretching and some Recoverite. I am now really a beliver in recovery drinks.

I missed the awards ceremony, I was still on the run course. My dh said that when they anounced the Athena division, they announced me as 2nd place and the guy said, "she's still out there, but she's on the way"! How cool is that, to win before you even finish...come to think of it, I don't think they had to give me a medal for me to know that.


Overall conditioning


So, even though I was DFL, there were only 2 Athenas, so I won a medal...again! How crazy is that!

The race officals were so amazing and so nice, I just can't say enough nice things about them.

I had some serious anxiety going into this race, about my self and wether or not I was "worthy". It seemed like it was one thing to finish one, but to finish 2 was a whole different thing. I slayed some demons today and that is always a good thing!

I think that the biggest accomplishment for me, this race, is my friend Jan. When I asked her about doing a tri she lasughed and said no way. Then I told her about the "non-Ironman" distances, and that I was doing a sprint. She started swimming and joined the Master's program that I'm in, she now has done her first tri, and is planning to get a road bike so she can start training for her next...now that's what I'm talking about!! That's a good day...