This swim was OK. Although I passed several people and they let me know that I passed them. The race doesn't have split times and I forgot to set my watch so I really don't know how long the swim was. But considering my overall time I don't think I was too slow on this one. Even with the individual start there was a lot of touching and grabbing only because of the out and back out and back course. So you were swimming with people who just started and people who were on their second lap.

Go out faster and stay strong. I took it easy on the first lap and then hit it harder on the second. But I've been working on going all out on Olympics and Sprints and leaving nothing in reserve. I do that often because I'm training for HIM but my coach told me to let it all hang out and I don't think I did it on this Oly swim.

This was good. No socks! Woo hoo.

I really wanted to use this race as a litmus test for my HIM which is on the same bike course + 30 miles. And I did well. Better than I expected. When I looked at my watch and saw I had done 10 miles in 30 min I thought - holy crap. I'm kicking butt. So I just kept pumping myself up - leave nothing in the tank. Don't reserve it. Lay it all out on the course. And I did and it paid off I think. I had called myself a lazy triathlete at the swim start and when I passed this girl on the bike on a hill she screamed, "You're no lazy triathlete girl..." It felt good to finally 'RACE' as opposed to participate. Now my times are no blazing glory but I was better than a lot. And only worse than some!

Nothing. Pretty much met my goal on this bike.

Took my time here. Ate a bannana before running.

This was hot. Really hot. I started off at a grandma trot but then picked up the pace. I even played "tag," with a couple of girls who were really walking. They chased me and passed me and then I chased them and passed them. But they were faster than me so they finished before me but not too much before. I really tried to run this. I felt good. But slow. And I'm slow not because I didn't have the energy but because I'm always slow. Gotta fix that. One leg at a time. But I had fun. Giving shout outs to everyone around me. Smiling and thinking, "This is so freakin' cool. I love triathlons." I didn't feel bad, or in pain or anything. Just felt good during the whole thing. Weird.

Pick up my cadence more.

Ate. Changed clothes. Met Zev??? from BT.com. Hung out with CDA finisher and talked trash about Ironman. Then waited for the last person to cross the finish line. I had passed her on the run - something that never happens she was going out and I was coming in. Usually I never pass people just starting the run while I'm already passed the turn around. That NEVER freakin' happens. But this time it did. Anyway I was about 1.5 from finishing and she said, "I wish I was where you are..." And I said, "You will be! No DNF today!." And she smiled. And it made me remember all those times the race director had to come out on his bike and ride me into the finish line. How people had to wait on me because I was in last place. And how they cheered because deep down all those fast tri people know that they're expected to finish fast but people like me aren't expected to even try. And we do it anyway. We stand at the swim start line knowing that we won't see our cars again for hours, hours after others are in their beds or at home but we do it anyway. That's the real hero. And that's why I waited until No. 25 crossed the finish line cause I know what it's like to be dying wanting to quit and knowing everyone is waiting on you to hurry up so that they can close down and do awards. But having the guts to stick it out. To ignore the little wagon that keeps coming out asking if you need anything and just put one foot in front of the other until your foot crossings the black timing pad. And it was great. We all clapped and she smiled.


Ummm, I need to learn how to actually run


I love Jim's races. And I just found out he's doing an Iron distance race in 2009. Guess CDA isn't going to be my only Iron distance race! :) Also the swag was unbelievable - sweat resistant hat, long sleep jacket. Cool.
I felt good on this race. It was a good barometer for me for my HIM. I'm well coached and trained. Just need a few more long runs and bikes and I'm good to go.