So I was expecting the course to be as it always has in the past, a short rectangle that the longest side is with the current. THe last email from Set up said we would be with the current. I get do the swim start and see a triangular course. They indicated the orange buoys to site from and yellow was to turn. Okay, this has the potential to suck. I have not been in the river all year and have not done any cross current training since last season. Plus, high tide came in about 45 minutes before the race started. Yeah, it's going to suck.

The horn went off for my wave and I started to swim out, was doing okay. realized people were still walking cause it was so shallow. I wanted to find a rhythm and stick with it but somehow that didn't quite happen. I got tired easily and switched over to breast stroke until I felt better then back to free for a bit. The cross current swim had me feeling a bit dizzy and I hadn't packed my ear plugs so the breast stroke was at least half the course.

Rounded the turn buoy and was feeling a little better but still swimming breast most of the time. Got into a fairly decent rhythm for a bit then heard the kayaker whistle cause my sighting went bad. Lost my rhythm and went back to breast stroke.

Once I was able to touch my feet AI started walking which was really a bad decision. I was close to chest deep but just didn't have it in me to swim any more.

I've skipped a few too many swim practices...my fault

I haven't done any OWS other than the ocean all season, again my fault

I don't like the physical contact in triathlon swimming. It creates too much anxiety in me and I feel better being slow and away from the pack even if it is a worse result

Given that in the past I have had major OWS panic, I am happy that I kept calm and kept moving without incident.

Long azzz run and the grass is wet from rain during the early morning. Whatever, keep moving.

Bike shoes on, helmet and sunglasses on, run out to the mount line.

this is a long run up from the river then my rack was better seeded for the run out than bike out. Whatever, it's what I had to work with

I have raced this course many times, in July the bike leg went out and back in by way of a crappy access road with chip seal and pot holes. Today, we went out the "usual way" they have the course and over to Greensprings Rd. I was feeling pretty good about my pace and effort. Tried to keep within, but really, I thought my ride was faster than my split reflected. My bike sensor had me averaging 17-18 mph most of the ride.

Course support and local law enforcement did a good job controlling the intersections for us for the most part. But traffic (the 4 wheeled kind) was rude and impatient. At one point, they were held up a good 1/4 mile and you could see drivers getting out of their cars looking to see why and clueless about the 500 cyclists out around them.

I was passed by a truck towing a small boat, he was cautious, gave me a decent amount of room as he went by. Then he couldn't pass other cyclists in front of me cause the riders on their way back in were riding too far out in the lane essentially making it so cars on either side could go nowhere. Where is a USAT official on this to call the blocking and position penalties?

Hit the turn around and headed back in, still working hard and seeing my average speed around 18 mph. Finally hit the hard right turn into that nasty access road.....whatever, I am used to this thing now and know where to look out for rough sections. Got stuck behind a woman who slowed a lot way before the dismount line and had to work my way past her.

My half mary plan has me running 5-6 days a week, I have not had consistent time on the bike all summer. I miss the bike time.

Dismount and start running in with the bike. Two spectators are waddling across the transition area walkway. I yell that I'm coming through so they'll move it. First one did, second one is blocking me. I yelled MOVE again so she finally got to the side.

Remount the bike, shoes off....socks on. All the blister issues I have had this summer I had to wear my socks and use the blister guard. Shoes on, visor on and Go time!

Be meaner to the lady? I dunno, she had no clue she was in the way and that it takes a lot of effort to run with a bike.

The little bit of grass out to the course in transition area is soaked, thought I was going to go down! Still breathing pretty hard from the effort on the bike. Took a bit to get my rhythm here.

Passed a guy racing in an Army tri team jersey. Go Army! High fives. See some Liberty Tri Team kids, GO FLAMES (my daughter's college, gotta cheer them). Mile 1 hit the aid station, nope, don't want anything. By 1.5 miles my legs are cooked. First tri since the gastrocs injury 2 years ago that I didn't wear my calf sleeves. Still running but not thrilled with my effort.

Passed a woman who had a cool pink and white jersey on and complimented her for it. Very cool jersey.

Get to the aid station and had the guys splash me with water. There's a younger guy running behind me and he comments to the race day photographer (who was not shooting pics at this time) that he didn't get any back side photos? I said I didn't want any pics of my keester. Dude tells me the back side looks just fine, passes me and says my front side looks good too and if he weren't already taken he'd make a play. I laughed and replied that I was taken too but I guess I'm not too shabby for an old lady!

Get to the final turn just into the finish chute and there's a young tall guy right in front of me. Spectators tell me to pass him and do not let him finish ahead of me. That gave me a little oomph to overtake him but he got past that turn and turned on the afterburners smoking past me.

Not much, I found a pace and hung with it knowing my legs only had so much within them to give. Wearing the sleeves would not have made me run any faster, they would have only been a mental boost knowing they were a little protected

grab water and my finishers medal, turn in the chip. found the family and entourage as it were. I am not used to an entourage when I race! Handed my finishers medal to N. Her face lit up with a big smile.


A 3 day migraine

My lack of swim practice

My reduced bike time

My caution on the run once I felt the calves announcing any irritation


Cold pizza is not my idea of post race food.

The swim course change was a race morning surprise and not too pleasant at that.