This was a good swim for me. I drafted better the first loop. I came out of the water at 17 minutes which is blistering for me. I had a little trouble navigating the first loop. I had a better rhythm the second lap but it was probably because I was going slower. I decided that I really like the 2 loop swim because it broke up the monotony. When I came out of the water I saw Barry and Sharon at the top of the ramp cheering for me...that was really nice :)Turns out the chick who won aquabike is an olympic swimmer and did the swim in 21 minutes...no way can I compete with that. Also she is 13 years younger than me.

This was a very good swim for me..

I had my road ID (safety first!!!) and my timing chip on my right ankle. My left leg came out of the suit great but somehow the suit had gotten UNDER my timing chip and got stuck. I finally got the silly thing off and slipped on my flops. It was a minimum of 1/4 mile to transition. I walked/jogged. I was out of breath and didn't want to get on the bike gasping for air. I took my time. When I got to the rack both the other 2 aquabike chicks were gone so I knew I was last. I didn't take much time at the rack it was just getting stuck on the timing chip and the long way from swim exit to transition that held me up.

be able to run

WIND WIND WIND I checked on NOAA after the race and there was 24 MPH wind. It ate me up. I had a great first hour. I was totally in biking heaven. After getting out of the park I was flying. I passed Janelle about at mile 5 (she was in the wave ahead of me) and I was having a great time. In the first hour I managed 19.62 miles. Little did I know there was a tailwind. Then we made a turn and Cross wind...It was OK I was still going 17-18 MPH then POW miserable head wind...reduced down to 12-14 MPH. I've never biked that slow in my life. cross wind head wind cross wind head wind BLAH. Finally turn to the bottle drop. I refilled my aerobottle, threw out the throw way grabbed an amino vital and water...all with out swerving or falling..I was happy with that. Back for loop 2 and enjoy a the last tailwind of the race for a few miles. Just like clockwork 29.62 miles my legs start cramping. I left my feet in my shoes til I got back to the head wind because there was nothing I could do in that wind anyway. Took my feet out and put them back in on the crosswind section. Did that again. On the last 5 miles I just rode with my feet on my shoes. I was going dead slow I knew I was last and my legs were hurting. HTere were TONS of people with flats on the course. There were tacks and glass all over the place. Mile 46 I was hoping for a flat. I passed a guy with a flat about mile 50 and I asked if he had 650s or 700...he had 700 I was like DAMN I can't stop. Told him I was sorry but couldn't help him...I have 650s. Finally the last stretch. I was never so happy to get off my bike

I have to say the police at the intersections were excellent. I said thank you to every one of them.

More long rides. Learn to handle crosswinds and headwinds better. Do something to get over this cramping issue. I can honestly say I did the best I could in the wind it just wasn't very good. That was the longest I have gone on my bike without stopping to refill bottles or make a pit stop or stretch. It was hard to know that I was in last place the whole way....

Ran across the mat into transition which stopped the timing chip for aquabike. GOT OFF THE BIKE YEAH. Got my stuff and walked over to the finish to turn in my chip and get finishers medal. Found the other Bters and hung out for FOUR HOURS. Drank A LOT. Helped Jess when she finished. It was great that everyone did well. I was terribly covered in salt. I actually had crystals of salt on me.. EEWWWWW


WIND, cramping


This was a disappointing race for me. The girl who won aquabike is an Olympian (swimming) no way to compete with that. Also she is 13 years younger. Goes to show you that you never know who is going to show up on race day. It just wasn't my day. I got my ass kicked fair and square both by the competition and the wind. I had been feeling sick 2 weeks leading up to the race which didn't help either. I am definately sick now.

I have to say my nutrition was spot on, cookie and gel pre-race, gel 45 minutes into the bike, and every 45 minutes. Had a slim jim for salt and protien at about 1:30 into the bike. Endurance gatorade with aminovital. I felt fine coming off the bike. I totally could have run if I was not injured. I'm glad I didn't feel like crap after the race like I did at St. Anthonys. I think the whole thing was a little anti climatic for me. I kind of feel like it wasn't that big a deal to have done the race and I did crappy.

It was hard mentally to push into the wind knowing I was in last place and was going to stay there no matter what I did esp since I was really hurting. I probably rode 10 miles with my feet on top of my shoes. The wind totally sucked. There were times when I could barely keep poor little Roo upright.

The police at the intersections were awesome. The volunteers were great too.