This was my first open water swim of the season. And the longest non-stop swim since my last race. The water was warm, but still wetsuit legal. I opted to go without as I'm not sure the hindrance to my form is worth the extra buoyancy. As I was getting my transition bag out of the trunk, I pulled something in my neck. I read my race report last year and realized the same thing happened before the same race. Probably some sort of voodoo curse. Anyway, it made it hard to breathe to the right (which I probably wouldn't have done much as that was the direction of the sun). I veered off course on the first lap, so I swam a little too hard trying to make up time and get back on course. My second lap took just as long, even staying on course. Ah sighting...some day I will get it right.

Sight better. Find a way to get rid of the neck injury voodoo curse.

I'm not sure if I could have done this faster.

Maybe taken both of my earplugs out. I was a few miles into the bike course before I realized I'd left them in. I managed to take the left one out, but kept "forgetting" to take the right one out. So dumb.

Having done this course before, I knew where the most evil hills would be and prepared myself. I also set out to bike conservatively to save my legs for the run. There was only one aid station and only water available. Where it was flat, it was windy. There are also some pretty terrible services at the end of the loop which was a little nerve wracking.

I probably could have pushed a little hard since the run ended up being unsalvageable anyway.

Nothing exciting here. Shoe change, visor on, race and water belt.

Remember to unclip the race belt so it is easier to get on.

My run training was terrible leading up to the race. My hamstring and calf would not allow me any long runs for about two weeks prior. Such a lame excuse. Seriously, though, this is a brutal course. Very steep. Or, it felt very steep. I walked up the hills. Sometimes I wished for hills so I could walk. I spent the majority of the run chasing/being chased by the other three ladies in my age group. In the last three

Discover the cause of my hamstring pain earlier.

Picked up a medal off the table. Found a water in the bucket. Got my results and left. Nothing worth hanging around for. No food, no massage tent, nothing.


Hamstring pain for weeks prior to race


I don't know why I do this race. It doesn't have great anything except volunteer support on the run. There is basically no build up to the race, there's no award ceremony for the HIM course racers, they were already shutting down the post-race food. It's really uninspiring in general. I treated this more of a training day than a race.