I had swam the course the day before, but the current was out for the practice, but in for the race. There are lots of sharp shells and many people swam in different type of water shoes. I had just gotten a wetsuit on Thursday and tried it once in the pool and once in the ocean swim. It felt a little snug. As I stood on the beach waiting for my wave the last one with newbies...I thought why am I doing this, I don't want to swim now at 7am, but I am going to do it. I really panicked only about 1/3 way to the first bouy. I felt like I was cut off from all my senses....couldn't hear, couldn't see well, felt constricted, and my heart rate raced so high. I was way at the back of the pack. After making it to the first bouy, I felt better and was able to talk with someone holding on to the bouy from an earlier group with a cramp. It made me feel more normal. I did the breast stroke and sidestroke, but couldn't do freestyle even though I had practiced it all those hours in the pool. After the last bouy, and heading for shore, I couldn't see at all with the sun rising above the trees, and my sealmask all fogged up. Once my feet hit the ground, I was so happy and knew I would finish my first triathlon. Conquering that first swim and only beating those who didn't finish, I felt great.

Practice swimming more, learn the Total Immersion method, practice with my wetsuit in open water, try not to panick.

I did best on the transitions. I brought a small stool (a tip from a book) to sit on to put on my shoes and socks. The stool idea worked great since I have a bad back. I had some speed laced on my cheap bike shoes and they worked great.

Practice riding my bike without socks so that I felt okay doing it for the Triathlon.

Geez, I passed 6 people on the bike, but didn't even know it and enjoy it. I only remember passing one person about 30 yards from the end of the bike. I just thought I was getting passed by everyone. Starting thinking I was last during the last loop. The leaders were on their run when I wasn't even done with my first bike loop.

Get a road bike. I was surprised my bike time was so bad, since the I felt the best biking. I was about 2.5 mph slower than most of my training rides. I think the panic and high heart rate on the swim effected my whole race.

Changed my socks when I put my running shoes on, since my first pair was wet. I didn't want to get blisters and my running shoes were a little to small. Overall, transitions I felt good at.

No socks for bike, and put socks on for the run in T2 or learn to run without socks.

The pink shorts women who I passed at the end of the bike, didn't change shoes and was slightly ahead of me in the run. She picked up someone who ran with her. I tried to catch her and almost did at about the 1 mile mark, but then they pulled away. It was strange to see no one else behind me. My husband assured me that there were others behind me...not sure that I believed him, but a race official I spoke to on the last bike loop and saw on the way out on the run told me there were others behind me.

For me the goal was to not walk at all and I did it!! I had only ran 3.2 miles a few times before and never after swimming and biking, so I was very happy.

About 200 yards before the finish line, I got all chocked up and started to cry/honk. I was about to achieve my dream...one that would not have been possible a short 6 months when I started training or 1.5 year earlier when I weighed 75 pounds more. When I started running in May I couldn't run one side of my block...I felt good to improve and achieve, but lots more room for improvement.

Work on better form, more endurance and train at a lower heart rate.

Fell into my husbands arms, he removed my chip ankle braclet, and ran to the bathroom. Walked a bit until my legs felt better. Was surprised to see my heart rate back to normal very quickly. Perhaps I should have pushed myself harder. Surpised that the next day I felt fine.


Lack of practice in open water swimming with my wetsuit, the panick of not practicing open water swimming, being about 30-40 pounds overweight and 42. I need to improve my running form and train at lower heart rate.


I achieved my goals of finishing, not finishing last, and running the whole way. I did beat 2 people who finished, a bunch that didn't and about 50 that didn't even show up to start.

I had dreamed of finishing my first triathlon for about a year. I had always been afraid I couldn't do it. It was a test to see what I was made of. After losing 75 pounds and trying to get in shape, I felt this was the ultimate test of turning my life around, getting in shape and trying to live a healthy life.

Yes, now I can say I'm a triathlete!!