Good swim. A lot of congestion at the beginning, but it spread out fairly quickly. Last year the course was short, but I think they got the distance right this time. The chop made it tough going out, but coming back was better.

This is another new PB for and OWS pace for me. Previous best was 1:32/100 yds.

Not walk as far at the end. It was really shallow, so I stood up much sooner than I should have.

The most unpleasant tri experience to date. I blacked out in T1. Yikes. After exiting the water, I ran to my spot, pulled off my wetsuit while standing, and then sat down to put on my socks and shoes.

When I stood up again, I instantly felt like I couldn't breathe, like an asthma attack that came on very suddenly or something. I remember thinking "What the..?" and then I got the creeping gray coming from my peripheral vision... you know, like when you're going to pass out. I got very dizzy but luckily I already had both hands on my bike (which was still on the rack), so I was somewhat stabilized. Otherwise, I'm pretty sure I would've gone down. Things went dark for a few seconds (I think) and then started coming back again. I could hear before I could see, and it took me a few seconds to realize where I was and what I was supposed to be doing. Then I was looking down at my hands on my bike and trying to get them to move and do something, but it was like I was in slow motion for a little while.

I stood there for a few more seconds and caught my breath, and decided I'd keep going and see how it went. Any thoughts of pushing really hard pretty much died right there though. I managed to get my bike unracked and started toward the bike exit when I realized my wet sweatshirt that I had been wearing before the race was still hanging over the tube, so I had to go back and toss it on my spot. Ugh, more time lost.

I was stunned to see that my T1 time was 2:53 since it seemed to take forever. This was easily my most unpleasant tri experience so far. I'm not sure what happened other than maybe I stood up too quickly after puttin on my shoes and socks. That doesn't explain the shortness of breath though. It was pretty unnerving.

Stand up slower, I guess.

I started a little slow on the bike given the T1 incident, but tried to pick it up pretty quickly. I really like this course; it's challenging but not too hard. There was some serious drafting going on during the outermost sections, which is always discouraging.

I decided not to drink as much as last race and to skip the Hammergel in order to avoid the side cramp I had last time. It seemed to work from a cramp standpoint, although it may have cost me on the run.

By the start of the bike, the weather was very nice. The wind was still there, but the sky was blue and the sun was out in full force.

Not a lot. This was ok for me given that I purposely started slow.

Thankfully a much less eventful T2. Racked bike, helmet off, bike shoes off, run shoes on, grabbed race number, and headed out.

This run was excruciating. It was hot, and I got killed, just absolutely *killed* from a rank perspective on this run. It was pretty depressing, actually. I only passed one woman on the run, and she wasn't in my age group. At least 6 or 7 people in my age group passed me, though.

Just about everything. The only good thing about this run was that I once again did not have any IT band issues.

Headed right for the water and Gatorade. Actually stretched some, for once. Watched other finishers for a while before heading back to the cabin to fetch the kids.


Lack of serious training recently


This is a very nice race that we'll likely make a yearly event. I really like the bike course, especially. Nice running hats rather than shirts this year, which was a nice change of pace.

I'm pretty disappointed with my results for a number of reasons, but the bottom line is that I need to approach my training with renewed dedication going forward. I have a new bike this year, but yet the two races that were repeats from last year both resulted in slower bike times. *sigh* The engine just isn't what it should be. And the run...it just needs SO MUCH work. I have got to get a plan, rather than just going out an plodding for 2 or 3 miles, and calling it good. Clearly that is not working.

On the bright side, my husband placed 7th in his age group, which is his best result. Go Mark!