So the anouncer guy says 30sec to go and everyone gets ready at the waters edge. I found a little hole maybe 2 guys back and then we were off. I felt like I was running for awhile so I started swimming, but the other guys around me were still running. I guess I could have kept running but I think I was swimming the same pace they were running. Anyway I really didn't spot much. The guy in front of me faded away and I swam around him. Then before I knew it, it was time to make the first turn. No prob. Then during the stretch I saw a object in the water (you really can't see much, maybe a foot deep) that looked like a softball right in front of me. I didn't really have time to get out of the way, so I just swam over it. Well, turned out to be a jellyfish but no stings so I kept swimming. While swimming you have no idea where you are in relation to everyone else, but I saw a kid swimming next to me so I figured I was going slow. Turned out later he was just a fast kid. I got out of the water and head. GO MIKE!, but most of the yells were for another Mike that was just in front of me. Thats was ok though cuz I still got a rush.

I was really happy with the swim. I think I came out around seventh in the wave so I was pretty happy with that.

For the transition you have to run out of the water, across the beach, over A1A then into the shopping center for your bike. So 1:40 seems long but most of it was getting to the transition area. It was great not to have tons of people in the transition area. There was maybe three people there.

Get on the bike better, I just about crashed into the Gatorade setup.

Getting on the bike was almost a disaster. The pedal was upsidedown and I looked down to see where my food needed to go. Once I looked up I was pretty much headed into the gatorade. I quickly turned around it, but it still took a long time before I could get my foot in the shoe. I think it was because my feet were still a little wet. Two guys passed me while I was trying to get my feet in. But I ended up passing four so I think I gained two places. I could see I few guys in front of me but after a couple miles they were gone and I was all by myself for 90% of the ride. No one in front no one in back. Nice ride. When I went to dismount my foot hit the shoe and the shoe went flying. I went to pick it up but another lady was running for it too! I remembered no one is allowed to help so I had to beat her to the shoe. I barely did and off I ran to the transition.

Get on and off the bike better.

Othere than shoes flying, just fine.

I was burmping up gatorade the whole time. And it got really hot. The sun was cooking me. Two people passed me and I tried to keep up with them, but I couldn't. I always run with my HR monitor, so it was odd not having that to monitor my pace. I really liked my new brooks T3 racing flats though. I came up to the finish and Leia and my parents were yelling for me so it was nice.

Train better and with fluids.

Good eats. Lots of apples, bananas, and muffins. Gatorade and water, but the Florida sun was out and it was tough getting shade even after the race.


Getting in gatorade.


This was a real nice first race. I felt bad for the winners of overall male and female as they got the same award as everyone elese, which was a training bag from stonewood. I had a great time. Sure wish the photos the pros take weren't so expensive.