Swim start was a little insane! You walk down about 25 wooden stairs and at the end of this pier, there is a ramp with a rubber mat. You jump off into the water. The waves were only 3 minutes apart which left little time to get everyone down the stairs and into the water. I was about to jump into the water when the announcer yelled "5 seconds". I was about 50 yards behind everyone else who was already in the water. For the first little bit of the swim, I wasn't feeling great. Towards the end, I managed to settle in. I wasn't able to draft and let my breathing pattern go for a little bit. Cornering the bouys was a little crazy since there were so many people so close together.
At the end of the swim, you climbed up this ramp with the rubber mat and grab the volunteer's hands. You then run up the wet, wooden stairs to the transition area. Never seen anything like it!

Get in the water sooner so I could be closer to the front. Concentrate more on making sure I kept my breathing pattern consistant.

Walked up most of the stairs and jogged into the transition area. Took my time so I could gauge how I felt. I had a little trouble with my helmet straps being twisted. Once I got them fixed, I was set.
I've mastered going to the bathroom in the transition area (see T2 for more details).

Make sure my helmet straps are laid out beforehand.

Course was very hilly! My nausea would come and go. It seemed that everytime I would climb out of the saddle, it would come back. I managed to climb almost every hill in the saddle which made for some long climbs. I forced myself to eat peanut butter crackers and I felt a little better after doing so.

Practice on more hills!

Decided that instead of wasting time in a port-o-potty, I sat down in the grass and took a leak as I changed my shoes and put on my hat. I think my T2 time could have been faster, but some guy made eye contact with me and I had a small bout of stage fright. =) I hope I didn't gross anyone who is reading this out, but I am sure I'm not the only one. It's just not as easy for women to jump off of the run course as it is for a man.

Nothing....maybe not make eye contact with other racers so I could pee quicker.

I wasn't feeling great starting the run. I walked the first 50 yards or so as I sipped water. Once I started running, I only walked once more (through a water station). My second half of the run felt so much better than the first. Maybe because I knew I wasn't going to be the last person in (which was my fear). Overall, not thrilled with my pace, but given the fact that I wasn't feeling great that morning, I was just glad to finish.

Train harder for the runs. Since it's the least enjoyable for me, I sometimes don't focus on it. I think if I trained harder for the run portion I could shave a few minutes off my time. Add it to the list of things to do.

Hosed off (it felt sooooo good)! Hung out for a little bit to pack things up. Hopped in the car and headed to Baltimore for the O's vs. Red Socks game, sushi, and duckpin bowling. Perhaps the best post race ever!


My health...I was really disappointed that I wasn't feeling 100%. I think I could have taken time off of each leg if I wasn't nauseous.
I'm glad I pushed myself to race since I felt better post race than pre race.


I think that if I had trained on more hills, I could have done better.
There could have been more restrooms. Overall, a well run race.
I'd do it again only if I did more hill training.