Fleet Feet Sports Supersprint - TriathlonMini Sprint

On the first half, got stuck between two swimmers. Swallowed water, which made me sick to my stomach. breast stroked a bit after that. Ended up stopping and standing up a couple times just to see where I was and how I could swim around the others.

Toward the end of the first half got stuck behind 4 women, two of them were swimming backward coaching two others who were doggie paddling. Swam around them at the buoy and then was able to swim a straight line freestyle back to the shore. Swam as far as I could before standing up to run out. That helped as swimming at that depth is faster than running (walking).

One of my goals for this race was to complete my first open water race and learn something from that. I learned to try a little harder in the very beginning to position myself such that I could actually swim. Tried to just swim through other people, but that didn't work.

This was crazy! First I ran the wrong way when I came into the transition area. I ran the way I had gone to set up the bike, but the volunteers were directing everyone to go toward the racks from the opposite end. This was disconcerting and forced me to find my rack by bib number rather than by the tree landmarks I had memorized earlier. "No problem," I thought, "I know my bib number, I can easily find my bike."

Not so. After about 2 minutes stammering around where my bike should have been, I realized that I had racked it in the wrong place. A volunteer asked if he could help. Ask what color my bike was. It was useless! My bike was lost in a sea of other bikes and I just had to go rack by rack to try to find it.

Finally found it and realized that although my bib was 11266, I had racked my bike where 11622 should have been! By this time and after the rough swim start, I was pretty disheartened.

My wetsuit, cap and goggles all still on but I quickly removed them and got on my bike. I believe that if it weren't for the missing bike, this would have been a very quick, nice and clean transition.

Make sure that I actually rack my bike in the right number range. Tie a balloon to my bike. Prior to the race, memorize the transition area (directions in and directions out) for each transition.

Sun came out during the bike and I was wishing I had brought my hat to shade my face for the run. Mentally rehearsed T2 during last lap on the bike.

Push harder. I could have gone faster, but I think I was overly conscious of the traffic around me. Use higher gears and shift more when needed. Instead I muscled through mostly in same gear and this slowed my overall pace.

Bring bike computer! I forgot to attach it when I set up my bike. When I watch my speed on the computer, it helps motivate me to move faster.

Again, once into transition, I didn't know which way to run out. I had thought it would be obvious, but I ended up running the wrong direction and had to be re-routed! Arghh! Wasn't doing any of these transitions right!

Again, know the in/out gates of the transition area so I wouldn't waste steps.

I think I paced myself pretty well on this part. I had been practicing running shorter distances faster so I knew I could push myself harder than I initially felt like going. I timed myself to the turn around point so that I could judge my pace better.

I generally perform better when I know my exact pace and the exact distance remaining. Perhaps I should have run with my GPS, but I also feel like fiddling with all that extra equipment comes at some cost, too. Will consider it for next run. I think if i use the GPS more just in my practices then I will naturally become better at pacing myself and perhaps at judging distances better.

Walked around grounds, stretched, ate 2 bananas.

Stopped at bathroom and dropped my running shirt into the toilet. (I had tucked it into the back of my shorts.) So gross! Luckily there was a garbage can nearby so I didn't have to touch it for very long. Sad because it was a nice shirt- the one I got at the Womens 10K in July.