My swim was 32 seconds faster than when I won this race in 2012, on the same course in similar conditions, but overall placing much worse. I think due to a lot of very strong juniors moving up to the senior race in 16-19. I didn't get off to a great start--I'm just not that fast. But was in the clear without too much struggle (I was in a wave with only 40+ women as the RD turned down my request to race "elite") and ahead of all but one woman in 40-44 and one in 45-49, who were over a minute ahead. Just outclassed from the get-go. This meant I had no one to draft off of (at least for the last 3/4 of the swim) and also couldn't see anyone on the run.

Not sure. Try to get a faster start and draft the women in front? Not sure I could keep up that pace and have a strong run, though. Considering the time spent running, that is close to 12 minutes for 750m and pretty much all-out for me at my current fitness for a swim-only TT. I think I could have pushed it a bit harder if someone had been close enough in front to draft or catch on the remainder of the swim, but probably not as fast as the first two women in the wave.

I think wearing socks definitely slowed me down, though actually my transition was only three seconds slower than four years ago, when I DIDN'T wear socks. But very average for the field. I did try to do some runs in my race shoes without socks but it was very uncomfortable; also have a bone spur on one heel that makes it difficult for me to pull on the shoes without socks. (Doesn't bother me otherwise; have had it for decades.) The year I won, I did without socks but blistered badly; couldn't afford to do that due to upcoming field trip with lots of hiking.

Maybe try to find some racing flats I can wear without socks for 5K?

Felt strong the whole way but not very fast. I was coming off a big training week with only two light days before the race so probably to be expected. There were only two points where I could see the women ahead of me. The first time (at about 1 km) I could see that they were more than 1:30 ahead; the second time (around 3 km) I could see that I had made up quite a bit on the woman in 40-44 (ended up catching her with about 400m to go) and maybe only 20 seconds on the woman in my AG. But somehow ended up only 15 seconds back of her at the finish--she must have faded badly in the final 2K.

I really feel like I would have had a stronger run with people to chase/be chased by in the elite wave. Given the level of fatigue I had coming into the race, and a HIM focus, that would probably be the only thing that might have pushed me to run just a bit harder.

I was planning to jog for about 10 minutes but it was getting hot and there wasn't much time before awards, Jogged for about 3 minutes to the next beach over and saw that it was nearly deserted although the lifeguards were out and they said it was fine to swim. So I took off my shoes, put on cap and goggles, and swam for about 15 minutes.


Not being in the elite wave. I think it was really unfair. "Elite" in Singapore generally means you have a good chance to place in the top 10. I was 5th, nearly 4th. The seeding was based partly on results in last year's series (I couldn't go owing to work commttments) with some spots awarded on an "at large" basis. There were about 20 women in elite. My AG rival also requested elite seeding and was turned down. We both believe we were turned down because of our age (I'm 46). We said, "Revenge of the old ladies!" at the start to each other and indeed it was. We finished ahead of all but the first three women and both beat the winners of the 35-39 and 40-44 age groups.

Aside from that, probably some cumulative fatigue from training and some very stressful events at school over the past week, plus simply focusing on longer events, kept me from performing at my peak.


This series is very well-organized and particularly beginner-friendly, but they have gotten stingy over the years with prizes (they have given the same sunglasses as AG prizes for about half a decade now!) and post-race food. I'm also getting sick of this "elite wave" business. (For my last race with them, I was put in the elite wave, but they cancelled it the day of the race "because there aren't enough people" and made the 40+ women start last, after all the men, and I spent the ENTIRE SWIM trying to pass and being kicked in the face by guys). I really feel that my AG rival and I were discriminated against due to our age and not training with the sponsoring organization.