Okay, no WAY was that actually 2 miles. They HAD to have mismeasured the course. I am fast, but I am not that fast. When I got to the first turnaround (supposedly 800m) I glanced at my watch and saw 10 minutes...and I thought I read it wrong. But I didn't want to waste anymore time looking at it so I didn't look again until I had completed the first loop. 19 minutes? That's when I REALLY knew that the course had to be short. Anyway...

I started out badly from the get-go. It was a small wave. There were only 28 of us doing the full 2mile/10k and we were the last to go. I tried to catch some fast feet but I apparently suck at drafting outside of a pool. Since it was such a small wave I soon found myself with all the room I could ever have wanted in an open water swim. And then I hit the WAVES. Sheesh. This is the choppiest open water swim I've ever done and it probably wasn't even that bad. But...worse than what I'm used to. I was getting pummeled by boat waves from my front/left side. Mistimed most of them and did a lot of breathing to the right. Never really found a rhythm, but was able to sight less than usual and stay fairly straight. Directions were to swim to the second yellow buoy and turn around. I saw the first one go by then finally the second. Bebop around it and on the way inbound the waves were MUCH less severe. I think they were quartering and coming from behind me and actually helping on the way back. The trip back took 9 minutes whereas outbound took 10. That also could be because on the way back in you could kind of cut the corners. Once I realized how short the course was I tried to push it up second half, but I must have gone out too fast. Second lap took a minute longer. Waves were about as bad, but I was having more trouble fighting them the second time. Form went to crap. Also started trying to sight WAY too much. I think I get impatient after about a half hour in the water. Was very happy to turn around and head for home. Pretty much swam by myself the entire time. Small field, long distance...we got really spread out. My arms started to feel tired with about 400m to go so it's probably good for me that the course was short. But still, I would have liked to have gone a full 2 miles...My best 100m was the last 100m...I finally just put my head down and WENT. The time also includes a 20 second run from the shore to transition.

In addition to the rankings in my race...there was a straight up 2 mile swim division too. Overall 38 people did a 2 mile distance as part of the 2mi/10k or 2mi...I was 12th out of the 38. And I would have won the women's swim only division...by over 10 minutes :) I gotta stop doing this running thing...kidding, kidding...

Lots of stuff:
1. Seriously, I NEED to learn how to draft.
2. Learn how to swim with waves trying to beach me.
3. Better sighting (as in less of it).
4. Don't go out so hard (learn better pacing).

This is a bit of an estimate. Transition was included with the run times. I hit my watch coming into the transition area and forgot to hit it til after the water station on the way out...but it's pretty close. Took longer than I thought, but there was a lot to do:
1. Remove cap/goggles (was pretty much done by the time I go to my area)
2. Wash off feet
3. Dry feet
4. Socks on
5. Shoes on
6. Tie shoes (one of these days I need quicklaces)
7. Grab hat, sunglasses, and race belt and get out of there

I couldn't have gone much faster without making mistakes due to rushing. Really, not bad.
When I saw how short the swim was I elected NOT to eat the PB crackers I had waiting in transition. I wonder if this was a tactical error and left me energy deprived?

HOT HOT HOT HOT HOT! I guess we started running at about 9:15ish? SOOOO hot! My face was already flush and red from the swim and the warm lakewater so I think I started dehydrated. Drank some water right away as I exited transition. Started out a bit fast then realized that I had better slow down or I wouldn't finish. Also, I had a minor accident the day before the race. I fell into a hole (dug by my ever landscaping dogs) in my backyard the day before the race. Forced my bad toe into a not very nice position (bent backwards). I was limping around for awhile and was a bit worried how it would feel on the run. Well, it hurt...every step of the way. Stupid toe. Not bad enough to stop, but it was definitely letting me know it was there. Anyway, I digress...I was getting REALLY hot. Grabbed more water at one mile. Had no idea why I was getting so overheated until the 1.5ish mile turnaround and I realized we'd had the wind at our backs. Felt GREAT after the turnaround to have some wind blowing across my face. Kept downing a couple of glasses of water or gatorade at each aid station (every mile) because I really felt like I was overheating. The water wasn't even that cold but when I poured it on my head and neck it felt like ICE because I was so hot. Stayed cheerful and struck up conversations with just about everybody I saw. Some were friendlier than others. I looked at this run as my long run for the weekend....It felt really good to round the turnaround the second time and realize you didn't have all that much further to go. Finished strong. Thanks for reminding me Sue...NO remarkable knee pain. A few twinges was all. Not sore today either.

Train more for the run. The 6 weeks of no running due to my knees REALLY hurt me here. But I wasn't there for the run :)

Drank some water, talked with davidsra and waited for my friend Robin to finish. Walked back to the car and went out for lunch.


On the swim...inability to draft and some endurance issues with my arms.

On the run...lack of running :) And my stupid toe. And the stupid heat.


Great giveaway bag :) Lots of goodies...a race belt, duffle bag, and a towel. I was given the wrong color swim cap at registration. I couldn't have known because they didn't list the colors anywhere. Robin and I got to our hotel room and realized we had different color caps but were swimming the same event...hmmm. I think they just got more people than they expected, then things like the water level had receded causing them to change the course a bit race morning. That sort of stuff led to us starting at least 15 minutes or so late. But...no big deal REALLY. My biggest beef is that the course was pretty much short...wish it hadn't been.
I wasn't exactly thrilled with my performance. But I did the race to get more open water time because I know I need work on it. And it got my long run in for the weekend. What more could I ask for? Oh, I got to bring home hardware...5th place women got me a cute little bricklike plaque.