i decided not to use my wet suit. it was a tough choice. on one hand, i wanted to get more practice getting in and out of it and it helped to use a wetsuit in the olys i did last fall and this spring. then again, this was a short swim, it was warm, and i figured the time savings might be a wash once i got to transition. there were only a handful of people using them anyway. the water temp was 77 - cut off is 79. anyway, my swim time was not great, but i think that was more due to starting off swimming too fast when people were still running around me, and then almost missing the turn around. it was a short swim and that bouy snuck up on me!

last year = 5/17 athena, 8:54, 1:42 pace

wade/run longer at the start.

long transition time, but much of that time was the run from the timing pad on the beach all the way along the side of the transition area, then running all the way through the transition area. i didn't hit my split button until i went into the transition area, so on my watch, my actual time in the transition area, gate to gate, was 1:58. there were 2-3 bikes missing off the athena rack when i got in from the swim, but a couple clydes also racked their bikes with us. either way, i knew i was 3rd or 4th out of the water.

should have fixed the straps on my bike shoes prior to the race. only added a few seconds, but i usually have the shoes ready to go before hand.

didn't pay attention to my speed at all, just my cadence. was really surprised that my average speed was basically 20 mph. that might be my fastest bike time in a race yet...checking - YUP! fastest bike time yet. made up for having a slower swim and run this year. guess doubling my bike time this year has paid off a bit :) as practice for the 1/2 im, i had energy drink in my aero bottle, and i drank as much as i could between mile 2 and 8, and then didn't drink anything else after that.

last year = 4/17 athena, 41:14, 18.9 pace

actually, i could have pushed harder. i was trying to keep my pace steady so that i would have some legs, since at buffalo, my legs were lead. my legs felt just fine off the bike, so i could have pushed harder.

second athena on the run? ahh ha ha haaaa. never thought that would happen. had i raced age group, i would have been 7/25 on the run, which is still not bad.

last year = 6/17 athena, 26:34, 8:52 pace

not stop for water at all. i dumped it over my head to cool off, but i probably would have been fine without it.

tracked down county cycle folks, packed up my gear, hung around and cheered for kris and nora and steven. checked results and was happy to see i was 2nd athena. last year i was 3rd athena. anyway, hung around for the awards ceremony. got a cool mug and a free month membership at the ywca (in minneapolis, so i may end up giving that away to my friend emily). everyone on the tri team placed in their age group. it was really strange not having my family there for this race, but between the bt folks and the tri team, i felt like i had family there anyway. it was so inspiring seeing steven cross the finish line...and then to hang out with my team mates as they all got their awards. honestly, i think steven should have my mug. he was the biggest champion of all at this race!


um, NEVER SWIMMING?? :)


because i placed last year at this race, i started to feel some stress about how i would do, especially since my performace was less than stellar at my last two races (buffalo oly and the bjorklund 1/2 marathon). i'd been sick prior, but not doing my best had placed some seeds of doubt in my mind about my overall fitness this year. i had a couple really good runs this week, but i was still nervous. i have a friend who is working on learning how to do hypnotherapy and touch point work, so i was her guinea pig the night before the race. we talked about my anxiety and she helped me focus on my one true goal - to have a good race and a good time. i was sceptical, but i really did feel better after we did the visualizations and touch point stuff. amazing. i felt relaxed and happy. i made sure that i kept 'have fun' in my mind the morning of the race, and tried to let go of any expectations. i almost left my watch behind, but couldn't quite let go THAT much. i kept my cyclometer on rpm and miles, and didn't check my mph at all. i had a great time. again, seeing steven finish was the big moment of the race for me. i have never, ever seen anyone SO happy and SO pumped and SO vivacious after a race. it was a good reminder of what an accomplishment finishing any tri is. thanks, steven!!! :)

btw, i LOOOOVE this race. i will do this one every year if i can. it is one of my favorites. the course is easy and pretty and fun. the volunteers are awesome. the post-race stuff is fantastic. i think everyone who stuck around for the awards ceremony left with a gift certificate of one kind or another. it really is a fantastic race, and a perfect race for first timers.