My early breakfast seemed to be nonexistant by the time we got to start. I was starving. For some reason I cannot get a rhythm going with this sensation going on. I started off swimming and never swam a consistent 200 meters of the whole course without side stroke, back stroke or breast stroke. I am mad at myself cause I CAN swim, but for whatever reason I don't swim well on race day.
This was another one of my "do what ever you need to do to get from point A to point B in your own power" swims.....

Swimming would be nice.

Long run up a hill, down a hill and in the back end of transition. I ran most of the transition but walked the hill so I wouldn't fry my legs too soon.

I pushed my limits on this part of the race. Once I got out of the park I started picking people off as much as possible Played cat and mouse with a couple of people. Fast and faster, I was amazed at how hard I was riding yet not feeling cooked. My legs told me that I was pushing them, but they never said anything ugly in response so I just pedaled as fast as they would give me.
Plenty of course volunteers making sure that the vehicular traffic gave us right of way, even had a couple of sections where they closed the road to cars.

nada, the highlight of my day was on the bike.

Run back in to transition and my back tightened up, walked down to my rack....shoes and socks on, visor and out the chute

I dedicated my run to my friend, Helen. We have both battled injuries over the past year and while it took 8 or 9 months of PT for my legs to heal.....she remains in limbo with the possibility of more surgery. So every step the left footfall was "Hel" and the right footfall was "len", I thought of you and wished I could run harder.....but knew that my goal today was to finish upright and prove that I was recovered enough to tri again.
Somewhere around the 1 mile water stop I was running with a guy who had a total knee replacement a couple years ago. We kept a nice steady but slow pace together for about 1/4 mile then I felt like I could pull ahead so I did. Just as I had begun to wonder if I would ever hit the turn around it came up on us. WooHoooo, head back and my gastrocs are talking, not saying anything ugly....but I knew that the pace I had was all I was going to get out of them. Got to about the last 1/4 mile and the lady in front of me was walking a lot....gave her a bit of encouragement and she thanked me by starting to run again.
The closer I got to the finish chute the more I could feel my tears coming. I was smiling and crying just because I had gotten to the point during all those months of PT that I wondered if a day like this would ever come again. They called my name as I ran through and I was still crying as they cut my chip off.

nothing, this is the run my legs had in them. I pushed my limits on the bike and knew that the run was going to be slowed as a result

Water, stretch, food


well, that whole swim thing would be a start.....and coming off a gastrocs tear from last season. This was my only tri this season and I am happy to be able to do this one.


Pizza was not appealing to me post race, but the fruit and chex mix were fine.
How many people asked me why I was wearing "those things" on my legs? Lost count after 3 or 4 of them.