Prior to actually finding out my chip time for the swim, I felt like I did a good swim. I wanted to be aggressive and started in the front of the wave. I felt like I was aggressive and I felt like I was swimming hard. But my pace time was slower than at Jefferson. Now, the difference was that there were more in this wave than in Jefferson....so perhaps I was slowed down by the crowd. I was kicked and clawed at a lot. About a minute into the swim I had to stop because my watch was falling off after someone grabbed at my hand and loosened my watch. Despite that, I still felt like I swam well and aggressively. I am quite disappointed with the time. I think I'm additionally disappointed because a friend who did the tri had a better swim time than me and I thought I was a faster swimmer...stupid, huh? I know, always finding ways to put myself down and being way too competitive. But she was in a different wave, so who knows?

Jen did comment to me later after the tri that she thought she saw other swimmers swimming across the buoys early before the final turn. My main complaint of the swim is that the course was marked by about 4 very large orange inflatables and it was more of a cone than a triangle. There were no little buoys linking each large inflatable. At one point I thought I was at the turn but then noticed another large inflatable ahead of me and realized it wasn't time yet.

Anyway, it's probably just sour grapes on my part. Don't worry, be happy.

Nothing really....I need to continue being aggressive and just swim, swim, swim.....I'm thinking I am not going to wear my watch again on the swim. Maybe I'll put it on after the bike to keep me in check for the run.

Prior to seeing my swim time compared to my friend, I would have rated my swim time as good....now I'm just rating it as average....I'm such a meanie to myself.

Overall it was fine....I goofed and didn't put on the helmet first. There was a lot of gravel and I got too wrapped up and trying to get it off my feet with the water I had. So I ended up washing my feet and putting on my bike shoes and then putting on my helmet and sunglasses.

Go back to helmet on first, worry about feet later. Just move faster!

I enjoyed the bike course. Overall it allowed for fast speeds. There were a few rolling hills and a couple of long ascents, but not with a high degree of incline, so it wasn't too bad. Only trouble was that my bike computer came loose and then fell off! Luckily it was still attached by the wires. But it was dangling and I wasn't sure if it would stay on! At first I yanked on it to try to rip it off to put it in my side pocket so I wouldn't be penalized or have to stop if it fell off my bike completely. But it wouldn't rip off. Then I realized that this was a $40 bike computer and I was an idiot for trying to rip it off. Had to just hold it in my left hand and just deal with it. Not the best riding position, but oh well. I was in the second wave (really the first, since the first wave only had the two pro athletes in it). So I was able to pass a few people which was a nice feeling compared to last Sunday. Since I didn't have a bike computer, I had ride completely by feel......made it a bit harder, but I did it.

Need to practice more hills! I hate hills and I want to do better on them too! And next time check the bike computer! Geez....never thought it would come loose or fall off...had to be on a race too no less!

Went fine. Was catching my breath. Took a bit longer trying to put on cap and drink water. Run out was a bit further away....so that might have added to my time.

Just go faster!

I actually ran the course!!!!! I didn't walk at all! It felt great! I ran out of the transition area and I was actually running!!!!!!! It felt awesome to run out and have the crowd cheering. Of course I got passed a dozen times but this time I was not walking, so it felt fine. I ran, I ran, I ran. I'm still slow as Christmas, but I ran!!!!!!!!!!!

Run, Sharon, RUN!!!!!!! Keep running!!!!!

Didn't have the blackout sensation. Felt pretty good after the race despite the fact that my blood sugar was through the roof. I can't use those electrolyte replacement drinks....it just wrecks havoc with my blood sugar. Will have to go back to just regular water and figure out something else to get my electrolytes in. Luckily it wasn't that hot.


It was a good race. Felt good to actually feel like I was racing and not just merely finishing. I wasn't that fast overall, but I felt like I was, probably because I started in an earlier wave, but you know what, I need to remember that triathlons is about challenging yourself....at least that's what I need to focus on. It just felt good to not come in last this time.


I came in second in the Athena under 40 division. I probably will never place in this division again...not just because of weight (hopefully), but I was lucky that I came in second anyway. I know, gotta love myself. I raced, I completed and out of the 10 women in that division, I was the second fastest there. I guess I just look too much at the other times and think that I am undeserving. And yet if someone else was in my shoes, I would say they deserved it.

I enjoyed this race because the crowd and volunteer support was awesome. Having the spectators and crowds line the streets for the bike and the run was awesome. It was so cool to round the corner going into transition on the bike at high speed and having people cheer you on...like my own mini Tour De France! And having people cheer you on as you run in and clapping and yelling for you.....everyone should experience that at least once.

And I need to remember that my participation in triathlons is not about winning or losing because we all win when we do something like this that only helps us live healthier and more productive lives.

Carpe Diem, eh? No more negative self-talk. Learn to love myself and learn to love my experiences and my own little victories, because afterall, I earned it fair and square.