I'M SO PROUD OF MYSELF!!! I really did well to keep focused, keep my head down, keep my legs up, and not kick. I kept swimming strong, and maintained my pace. I was amazingly excited. I was so calm, and focused. I maintained my place from where I started and didn't fall behind, which was so great. Does this sound like a fantastic swim? Oh yeah, because IT WAS. Was I super fast? Of course not. But I sure as HECK was fast for me! Did I feel like a true triathlete and not just a survivor after? Yes.

Well, swim faster and more downhill, but as I haven't worked on that technique much, not too much.

Eh, this was pretty weak, with good reason.
1) the transition area was in the sand, so everything was gross and covered with the stuff.
2) People were rude and moved my stuff...normally, I don't consider this rude if it's called for, but my stuff was extremely well organized and about as in small a space as possible. They didn't move it OVER, just kinda moved it, and someone put their bike over it. Whatever, I wasn't in it to win, just finish.

Go faster, practice bricks and transitions OFTEN, and pracitce drinking and eating on the bike. Also, have the confidence that I can spin on the bike and catch my breath there.

Well, we can't win them all. I was so frustrated by this course. I was told that it was hilly, which it was and I shouldn't have been so blase, but I just didn't seem to get my groove on. I need to practice on hills using harder gears, as I was really spinning out of fear of burning out. I also was too nervous to get water or eat my gel, which would have helped after the faster swim, because all of the riders were passing wildly on the left. Often saying nothing. On a course that was about 4 feet wide. It was really scary, and the attitude was so negative. It's an end of the season sprint, guys. I understand it might matter a lot to a few people, but for most people who aren't getting prizes or accolades, take a breath. Smile. This isn't life or death. (also to be totally fair, I was just nervous in general about getting water...a really great technique to practice in the offseason, plus I really want a camelpak.) However, my bike would have been much better if...well, you should know that the only hospital on the island was, of course, on the road of the course. As was the fire station! So, at the bottom of the down hill on my second loop, a guy stops me on the blind turn, because a firetruck was coming, and of course turned the other direction (Of course, I have no problem stopping for a firetruck, it's just that a bike course should not have any potential of interfering with hospital traffic - that's unsafe for everyone involved, especially on such an extraordinarily narrow course. I stopped, and of course fell over because I was so unprepared. What pissed me off is that then he let 30 people pass me while I was lying on the side of the road, and people yelled at me. I'm sorry, was I TRYING to fall?!?! That shocked me...so unlike any triathletes I know I tried to crawl out of the way, and did eventually, but they couldn't see me and I was a bit shocked. Finally, the guy came and helped me, which I wouldn't have needed had he just warned people that I was down. I don't know how much time I lost, but it was really disheartening, and shook me up badly. I was also getting a bit arrogant about the bike, so now know not to. However, the last loop was kinda fun as I was so far behind, the course was nearly empty. I didn't want to have a bad attitude in my head, so I started singing "Nothing's impossible I have found, So when my chin is on the ground, I pick myself up, Dust myself up, Start all over again...Don't loose your confidence if you slip, be greatful for a pleasant trip and pick yourself up, dust yourself off, start all over again...Work like a soul inspired, till the battle of the day is done...You may be sick and tired, but you'll be a man my son!" (Now, I've been a singer for 16 years, so this was actually pretty easy to have the breath.) I stopped when I lost my breath, but this woman behind me said, "was that you? PLEASE keep singing!" So I did. She passed me right by, which actually felt kinda good...like my singing helped or something. guess because I'm so new at triathlon, but an experienced singer, it helped to remember I'm good at something, and that I've been working hard at singing for 16 years and still know I have so much to learn...may I always have that attitude with triathlon. However, I was still a bit disheartened, which explains my crappy transition.

Um, bike faster, work harder, get braver about passing, and...oh yeah, not fall! But keep the positive attitude!

I was really shaken up, and very dehydrated from the course. I had drunk literally nothing, which was a mistake and I knew it was dumb at the time too. (I'm sorry, not trying to be hard on myself, just the truth!) Also, somehow, my race number had gotten ripped off my belt, and I was just so freaked out from the fall and being yelled at that I literally was like "what do I do?" so I just held on to it. I ate a gel on the way out, downed some agua, and started running.

GO FASTER!!! Argh. I didn't practice at all, and so I don't know what I was expecting. Whatever, I'm just in to finish, it's my first season and only two weeks after my first race.

I KICKED ASS ON THIS COURSE!!! Oh my God. My only goal was to keep running, no matter what. Sometimes, it probably would have been faster to walk up the hill, but I didn't care. I wanted to run, and I did. I did really well - I do very well on hills aparently. I kept a really great pace down, chatted for a few minutes with someone else, kept climbing, and kept smiling. The race to the finish was incredible...I sprinted for about .3 of a mile, which was really great for me. This guy tried to pass me, and I refused to let him...I sprinted faster. It was incredible.

Train more on hills, but besides that, nada. Really incredible run for me, regardless of time.

Tried not to throw up on the nice volunteers taking my chip and number, and eat fruit and drink water. Then, walk to the hotel and MEXICAN FOOD!


No speed training, no hill run training, falling, poorly organized race, and way too high expectations of myself!


Well, the island itself is gorgeous. A lovely resort town, amidst stunning natural beauty. However, this is not a race I personally need to do again. The course was somewhat dangerous (the bike course was so narrow that there was literally no choice but to draft for many people) with hairpin turns and very little marking. I also didn't love the general attitude of the race. I'm sure Hermosa spoiled me rotten, but it seemed like the volunteers really weren't sure what was happening, the course changed constantly (the bouys were moved every 5 minutes until the start of the swim!) and the bike course was dangerous. Also, SO many of the racers were taking it so extraordinarily seriously and generally were quite negative about everything and nasty to us slower folk. I can't imagine with all my experience with wonderful triathletes that this is a representative of a normal race.