I self-seeded in the back of the pack, being used to swimming with a masters group full of people MUCH faster than I am. Forgot that many triathletes are not swimmers, and had to pass more than 80 people. But the first 300m or so I was stuck in this mass of people and couldn't even swim -- I think I breast-stroked and dog-paddled half of that first leg, looking for gaps in the pack to swim into. After we rounded the first buoy I had passed most of the people I needed to pass, and swam decently after that. Breathing pattern was weird, and my technique went out the window, though. Need more open-water swimming practice.

Not start in the very back of the pack. That was dumb. Many people had recommended starting off to the side, but half my wave had the same idea, so people were stretched across 20m or so, and I thought I would have had to swim a significant extra distance.....but in retrospect, I could have returned to the buoy line after the first leg, and it wouldn't have been that bad.

Put my shoes on at the rack, instead of having them clipped in. The grass was wet, and I didn't want dirt and rocks and grass stuck to my socks creating friction. It's funny -- I don't remember taking a nap, getting a massage, and eating lunch during this transition, but apparently I did. :-) I didn't even have a wetsuit to get out of, so I don't know how I possibly took this long -- work on this transition.

Run with the bike. Not spend so long drying my feet off before putting my socks on.

I need to get faster on the flats, and I also need more hill work. My climbs were weaker than they could have been, and I simply haven't been spending enough time on the bike. My lower back was sore, my shoulders hurt, and my ankles and feet were really tired by the end of the bike leg, and those things are easily taken care of by just putting in the time. My top speed on the flats was under 19 mph, and I'd like to be able to sustain 20.

Not much, during the race. Train harder, though, for sure.

Lazed through this transition, too. Stopped and stretched my calves and hamstrings, which were REALLY TIRED and needed it. I think that was time well-spent.

I don't know about leaving my shoes clipped into the bike. I don't want to run with my socks covered in dirt and pebbles and sticks and things like that.

This was a hard course. I had to walk up........I don't know, maybe 6 hills? And those were just the steep ones. It was very hard. It took me almost 2 miles to feel like a runner again, even though in my bricks I felt fine by the end of the first mile. My right foot started tingling around mile 2, and by mile 3 it was completely numb. Very weird. It went back to normal around mile 4.5, which was nice. I think I was able to run a little faster after that. I was pretty happy with my run -- considering how tired I was and how hilly the course was, I was satisfied with my pace.

Stop and stretch as soon as my foot started tingling. I need more hill work, for sure. More long bike-run bricks, too.

Walk around a little, stretch.


Mostly not knowing what to expect, I think. My training was not optimal, and I have a better idea of what's required, now. But for my first triathlon, I'm pretty happy.


Take my rating with a grain of salt -- I have nothing to compare the race to. But I enjoyed it!