The swim felt good. I felt like I got in a groove, had a smooth stroke going. Sighted well and swam really straight. Enjoyed a little contact. :) I didn't feel as slow as my time indicated. Lots of talk about the distance being wrong. I'm not going to worry about it. I felt good out there for the entire distance. Had to pee during the swim. Kept telling myself to just pee already and let it go, but I couldn't do it while I was moving and I didn't want to stop. This is the first of many times I thought about peeing during the day. ;)

Not a damned thing.

I take my time in T1. I really need to work on doing this faster. I'd like to shoot for sub 4 minutes next year. Since I wear the same shoes for bike and run, it's a big deal for me to make sure I get my feel clean and dry and the shoes just right before I head out. I can do this faster.

Had to pee. Thought about peeing on the bike, but just couldn't bring myslelf to do it. Pushed the thought to the back of my mind and just enjoyed being out there. There was traffic on the course. Some stopped afraid to pass cyclists - some stopped taking pictures. VERY annoying. Nothing like getting slowed down in a traffic jam. Had a couple of noticable hills at the midway point and a couple of really nice downhills. JChristoff passed me on one of the hills and spoke to me. I didn't know it was him, but the encouragement was welcome. :) I got in the aero position more this ride than ever before. I felt better in some of the smaller hills being aero. Not ready for long distances in this position, but it was interesting to find myself gravitating to this position today. Paid attention to drinking frequently and making sure I drank both bottles of Infinit.

Work on becoming more efficient on hills. I don't really care to become really fast on the bike, but I'd like to get the average up in the 16's. I'm getting there.....

No big deal. Rack bike, helmet & gloves off. Grab a bottle of infinit. Start running.

Nada

Brutal run. Started out strong out of T2. Had to pee from the start. That's a good sign, right? I'm hydrated. Of course, since I had to pee all day, maybe not.... Anyway, went out too hard the first mile, it was my fastest, and I faded from there. I really tried to stay with my run downhills and flats and walk on the uphills, but I was breathing way too hard and I never did get my heartrate below the 150s. Z4 the entire 6.5 miles. In the first mile, I was hurting, but it kind of cool talking to those heading back in from their run. I saw several friends heading in, including etknowles, and everyone was hurting. At the mile 2 station, my stomach was rumbling and I had to do more than pee, so I stopped. Fumbled with the sweaty one-piece tri suit in the sweltering porta pottie. Fun fun. Actually, it was nice to sit for a minute. ;) Headed out on my way. Gosh it was desolate out there. Hardly saw anyone. Joked with the volunteers at the mile 3 station. Finally hit the turn around point. Saw a vulture in the middle of the path ahead of me. Surely I can't look that bad!? Turns out there was a dead groundhog beside the path. Whew, felt like I was in a Stephen King novel there for a minute. I pretty much checked out around mile 4. I set a distance to run to, then walked. I tried to make the walking pace a decent clip, but even walking, I couldn't get my heart rate down. I started thinking, "I trained for this - I shouldn't feel this bad." and the negative thoughts just kept flowing. Nothing like a little bad energy to keep you company on a brutal hot run. When I could hear and see the finish line, I saw a lady in front of me and set my sights on passing her. She was not moving any better than I was and I did pass her before the final stretch. I ran as hard as I could down to the finish line and when the announcer called out, "Tammy Nickerson from Granville", I gave a little jump and hoot.

At each aid station, I got two cups of water. One for over my head and one to drink. Looking back 4 oz of water every miles was probably not nearly enough in the intense heat. High temp while I was out there was 87.8 degrees.

One thing I will say - as bad as I felt out there, quitting never entered my mind - even when the negative thoughts started flowing. I would have crossed that finish line had it taken me 6 hours.

Don't know - need to do some analyzing and figure this out. Think nutrition was my primary problem.

Saw etknowles, Fred, and another friend that joined us. Was very shaky at the finish. Had a couple of cups of heed, a banana, and some salty potato chips (HEAVEN!) and felt better. Hubby took a pic of Emerson and I (sorry, Emerson, that pic will NEVER become public!) Hung around transition for a while hoping to see Jungle Jenn come in off the bike, but never saw her. Was getting my things together to leave when I saw amyro1234 and introduced myself. What a cutie! :)


Not going to answer this question anymore. I am what I am. I train and I go out there and do my best. I can't ask for any more from myself. I love to train and I love to race. That's why I'm here.


Good race. Fun course. I'd defniitely do it again.