Swim felt really good, stroke felt smooth and fast. Conditions were great. The only problem was that I started passing the previous waves at the first buoy. Swam with Michelle and Will Smith (no, not the actor/singer) pretty much the whole way. Mich and I passed will towards the end which I was kinda suprized about -he's on the USA Nat B team for water polo and also a great swimmer (Will was in the women's heat because he was on a corporate relay). Exit out of the water was good -thought it was funny how some guys were walking in the water and I was just swimming by them...don't they realize swimming is faster than walking thru water??? I always try to swim till my hand start to touch the bottom of the ground...usually is a good rule of thumb and worked this time. Run up the beach was good -felt suprizingly strong and not that winded.

nothing

I need to learn how to A-ride without socks and B-jump on my bike, and put shoes on while beginning to ride -I think this will be a goal for Westchester in about 1.5 months.
Wore sunglasses for the first time in a race -seemed to be fine.

see above

Mich got a head start on the bike because I had to run about 60 extra yards to my transition area...so started on bike as second woman. I was able to catch her at around mile 4 or 5 but she was able to hang with me and we ended up finishing together. This was probebly my best bike leg ever -I was killing people on hills and was able to stay aero for longer periods of time (even when cornering). Still need to work on turns, but uphills and downhills were good -flats could be a little better, but good overall.

see above

I also need to learn how to jump off the bike while riding with feet on top of shoes -another goal for Westchester.
Since I had a barracade for a rack my bike wouldn't stay "hung" so I just sort of flung it -not the best thing to do especially as I was the first to come in in my section but oh well. I think this is the reason I forgot my race number...oops! (Luckily this race isn't USAT sanctioned). I did get shoes on quickly though...took a big gulp of water by accident coming out of T2 which then sloshed around the entire run.

see above

I still suck at running but at least I'm improving. Left calf seemed to get tight coming out of T2 -this is the second time this has happened. Breathing was still labored...I did remember to take my asthma medicine in the morning and I think this helped a little bit. After about one mile my breathing started to improve. At least I know that I have somewhere to significantly improve.

see above

talking with friends


running


So all of the girls who stayed at my place last night placed -we went 1-2-3 in the 20-29 AG! Mich blew me away on the run...but only by two min which is good for me, Kathleen (who won NYC in her AG) went in the elite group but as a strong runner and a weaker swimmer and biker she ended up having no one to race with -she came in about 1 min ahead of me but I think would have been faster if she was with Mich and I. AG prizes were cool -asics dry-lite singlets with the race logo.
It was also great to catch up with more friends post race. Went to a TNT barbeque after the race which was fun -lots of beer, food and playing volleyball in the pool.
Oh, I almost forgot...I dropped my time by about 10 minutes from last years race :) Above all that's what I am happy about - a significant improvement.

Note: split times approx-no chip timing.