I was really excited about this cos it was my first OW race (and only my second swim in a lake). There weren't that many of us so I started near the front but to the side. The start was fine and not the mad splashing drowning fiesta you hear about in some starts (maybe cos it was girls!).
First part of the triangle seemed OK and I tried to get into my rhythm. Think I was fairly straight for this bit and tried to use other people when I breathed to the side as my sighting rather than looking up. Banged straight into the first buoy
Second leg was a bit wavier and for some reason I kept going off at all sorts of angles. Plenty of other swimmers though to keep an eye on. I managed to pass a few from earlier waves (older age groups had gone first).
Went round the last buoy wide and then headed into shore. This leg I tried to just use a couple of other swimmers going my pace as my sighting guide but I was very zig zaggy I think (else they were!)
Tried drafting but don't really know what it feels like and didn't feel any different when I got up behind people so kept to myself really.
Looking at whole musselman my swim would have put me 8/28 for my age group


With hindsight I was very disappointed with my time - much slower than in a pool so guess I should just get out and practice more with sighting etc

a bit of a run from beach to transition. Kept telling myself I was doing this for fun so need to rush rush but it all went quite smoothly and I even remembered to take a few gulps of gatorade.



Nothing, all was quite smooth.

I had driven the course the day before and it all seemed pretty flat but was actually not as flat as it seemed in the car! Having said that there were no big hills, just gentle ups and downs and flat bits which meant it was just pedal pedal pedal the whole time.
The course was down side one lake across and up side of other lake, 1 loop and was very pretty. Against wind on way down (so I am told) and saw my average speed was only 15. Passed a few, was passed by a few (some that made me feel I was standing still!)
What surprised me was how fast my neck began to ache - I guess that was because of the swim sighting. After mile 40 everything ached, shoulders, back, neck, bum. Thank you to the volunteer at the last aid station that said "only 7 miles to go" that really helped. Began to feel a bit breathless about then too - think may have been nutrition. I was a late entry so hadn't practiced with Heed (on the course) so stuck with my gatorade (2 bottles of diluted stuff on bike) then went to water.
I ate half a clif bar at about 40 mins and half from about 1hr 40 to 2hrs

I would have been 20/28 for my age group in the HIM

I think I was at my endurance limit at the end and I don't think I could have gone faster. Was very glad I didn't have the run afterwards but don't think I would have gone slower if I did have it.

Oh and must practice getting off bike. I braked and tried to get off but wobbled enough to have a volunteer to dash towards me! I was fine but it clearly wasn't very elegant

Walked around for a bit. Tried to force some food in but quite honestly I felt pretty awful for about half an hour and just sat and lay down. Must be the stop in exercise cos I felt fine coming in on the bike and just getting off it.

I felt a bit of a fraud with the same colour band as the HIM but sitting around when even the winners weren't in! It didn't help that when I returned my chip to the score this tent (as instucted) he looked at me blankly and said "are you a dnf?"


Fitness. I haven't trained for this length of race (that's why I didn't do the run) but as I want to do IM next year my trainer suggested I do this for the experience and just have fun so I am pleased with it overall.


Race was very efficient and organised.

At the moment I am in awe of those athletes that are fit enough to do the full HIM, let alone IM and am really looking forward to becoming fit enough to join them