This was the only part of the entire day that didn't go well. I had to keep messing around with my goggles--couldn't get a good seal and had to stop a few times on the way out to the swim start. When the horn went off for my age group I wasn't even to the starting buoys yet, that made me mad, but I didn't panic. I just got my goggle situation straightened out and went on my merry way. A few places were rough with some of the men catching up from behind--feet and elbows, etc, but whatever--I did the Dory and just kept swimming!

Made sure my goggles were good to go before I started swimming. That was frustrating.

Want to cut this transition time down in my next race.

Tried harder to pee while I was swimming so I didn't have to stop at the Port-a-Potty!

AMAZING! GORGEOUS! TOUGH! I loved, loved, loved the bike course! I had a perma grin the entire time! I loved the climbs, especially the climb up to Snow Canyon! It was amazing and tough and I had a blast! The whole time climbing up that canyon I kept thinking 'there isn't anything else I'd rather be doing than this right now!' I can't say enough about it--I was awesome on the climbs, kept my heart rate in check and chipped away, passing younger dudes and fancy bikes on every climb. Little ol' me and Ruby kicked ass up those climbs! The downhills were a blast as well--I was shouting thank you to all the volunteers on those downhills. Like I said, total perma-grin the whole time!

Nothing! With the heat really coming on I decided early to keep my heart rate in check and push hard enough to work but I wasn't going to kill myself. Plus, I knew the run was EVEN HILLIER! So wanted to save something for that.

Another slower transition, need to work on that

Tried harder to pee on the bike so I didn't have to stop at the Port-a-Potty!

Wowzers! What a tough run. Some parts were so steep I could walk faster than I could run. I really kept my eye on my heart rate--when it would creep into Z3 I would force myself to slow down. The mantra I kept repeating to myself was 'stay in your wheelhouse, you're not in your wheelhouse" and then when my heart rate would slow to Z2 I'd say 'you're in your wheelhouse kid, you're in your wheelhouse!" I have no idea why or how that came to me, but it kept me going the entire race. There were two great moments on the run: one, a lady told my to dump ice in my sports bra and reach in every so often to chew on a piece--brilliant! The second was the lady at mile 11 handing out popsicles--best lime popsicle I've ever had! The finish was AMAZING! All downhill through the chute. I had the biggest smile on my face!

Nothing, considering the course and the 95 degree heat--I did an amazing job!

Found my hubby and talked his ear off about how much fun I had just had! Then, the best part of the day--I asked him what my overall time was. When he said 6:53 I burst into tears and laughed and cried at the same time. My previous HIM time was 7:02. Leading up to St. George all I heard was 'don't do St. George for time or a personal best...it's too difficult a course and it's going to be too hot!' Na na na na naaaaaaaaaaa! This girl did hit a PR on this mother of a course! So proud of my training and race!


As always, genetics! Ha!


One thing I really was smart about was hydration. Starting a week out from race time I added 8 oz of plain Pedialyte to every 24 Oz I drank, averaging about 80 oz a day. I did that right up through race morning. I had zero cramping issues, never felt dehydrated and woke up Sunday morning feeling great--I am not sore at all. Definitely my plan for my future races!