HORRRRIBLE swim (if you can even call it swimming!)!!! My breath was totally sucked completely out of me when I jumped into that frigid water. Tried to swim after gun went off, but could not breath out with my face in the water. Felt like I was hyperventilating and was FREAKED OUT! Did the doggy paddle at first while gasping for air that the cold seemed to be sucking from my body. Finally settled on the backstroke and did the best I could under the circumstances. My backstroke is by no means straight, so I was all over the place. I did manage to pass a couple people doing this (actually I swam on top of them first because I could not see them back there). This was by far the worst possible swim I have ever done. Actually considered calling a kayak over at the beginning because I thought I was dying! Literally! Was sooooo glad when it was over. The thing we were supposed to climb out on was way too high up for me, so a guy had to lift me out of the water with both hands.

Um, actually learn how to swim in cold, open water. I think it was the cold that freaked me out, not the lake. I've never actually done an open water swim before, so more practice outside of a nice, heated, safe pool would do me good. If all else fails, learn how to haul it on the backstroke!

After I could actually feel most parts of my body again, the transition really wasn't too bad. I kind of lost focus during the bad swim and really didn't have it back in T1. Wasn't trying to be in any particular hurry because I thought I had already blown it.

Try to get back on track faster and not dwell on the bad swim.

Felt awesome on the bike. Felt like I was back in my element and pretty much blocked out the bad swim. Course was very crowded at first, so had to weave around lots of people before it thinned out a bit. People were riding all over the lanes, so had to pass some of them in the lane for cars. No women passed me on the bike, a few men did though. The U turns and some of the right hand turns were annoying since I'm too cautious to take them too fast or stay in the aerobars.

Nothing.

Pretty good T2 time for me. This was only my 2nd triathlon, so I'm still working on transitions.

Can't think of anything really other than more practice.

Hard run for me. I could not catch my breath the WHOLE ENTIRE WAY! I wanted to walk sooooo bad, but didn't. I don't know what was up, but I was just gasping for air the whole time. Slowed down at the 3 mile point, which is where I was passed by the lady who got 3rd in my age group. I was pretty bummed about this. I should have just kept my pace up. Oh well, I guess it's a learning experience. I was actually doing good to keep the pace I did since I felt so crappy.

I have not been running too much lately because of a strained groin muscle. I'm in physical therapy 3 days a week to try to heal and strengthen it. I took enough Advil over the past few days to allow me to run pretty much pain free today. Although now it hurts. I think when I build my running base back up, I won't feel as bad running (i.e. not as much gasping for air!).

Walked around. Drank Accelerade and ate an orange slice.


Frigid water that I apparently could not function in even with a wetsuit, lack of running over past several weeks due to injury.


Good race overall. Lots of events going on, so the bike course was pretty crowded with all sorts of ability levels, so that made it hard to navigate on the bike.