The current was mild, I did not even notice it. On the way back down river, the sun was in our eyes and I could not see the buoy's well. I focused on the smoke stack at the end and sighted that the entire way. Water was warmer than the air and it was a great river to swim in.

Nothing! My time was great, I drafted when I could, I did not follow the pack, but sighted and made straight lines where I wanted to go. My breathing was great and I felt good!

To get to the transition area it was a very long job, up the dock, up 29 steps, across a parking lot - it was pretty far. I put my sandals in a place where I could get them shortly after getting out of the water and I was glad I did. Sat down to take off the wetsuit. Pretty late decision to wear a windbreaker, but I was glad I did.

Would have put the camelback over the windbreaker. I thought I would warm up and take the WB off, but it did not get a lot warmer. I would have dried off my legs and feet more so there were not so cold and clammy going into my shoes.

The headwinds did me in. I started off great, but as the race wore on, they increased and by the last 90 minutes, they never left and were even gusty. It was tough! The ride was pretty isolating -- I took a pit stop and no one passed me in the 90 seconds I was off the bike. As the miles wore on I got tired and bored.

Would have taken longer rides in more rural areas to pratice riding in significant head winds.

Easy transition, I had practiced this one a lot and it was helpful to have done so. Came in, chatted with family, racked my bike, changed shoes, helmet to hat, and I was off. Ditched the windbreaker.

Taken sunscreen with me if I did not want to put it on right during the transition. Taken my iPod with me, even if I did not use it or wear it immediately. It would have been worth a 2 minute deduction to have it with me during some of those longer stretches.

The run was very isolating. There were large portions where spectators could not even access the route, let alone 2 sets of 49 stairs. For several miles I was very much all by myself until I got to the next mile marker/aid station.

Take a moment to stretch before jumping into the run. Yes, it will add time, but my muscles needed it and I did not take the time to do it.

some walking around, chairs under a tent to relax in, stretching


Headwinds


This was the first time they held this event and everything ran very smoothly during the race, but the post-race offerings were pretty weak. No water bottles to be seen - you had to get cups of water/Gatorade from the finish line. An hour later I was really thirsty and there was no water to be found. The food was very limited, too. I just finished exercising for 7 hours and all I got was a dixie cup of potato salad. No bananas, cookies, or other regular triathlon/10K items to be seen anywhere!