Started great, felt I had great lines Just started going. Then I looked up and noticed that I was way, way off line. Had to get back online then never got passed or passed anybody after that! Leah, never even yelled at me can you believe that!! Then the swim exit was marked by white flags. Hard to spot! But I did it and caught up to Leah in Transition. Said goodbye to her and let her take off(let in I could not keep up if I tried)

Get a better line and draft.

Slow transition for me. Too much to get on, gloves and the like but I got out there!

Set up differntly, remember a towel.

The course was scary for me. I have not did any dirt for years. I still remembered some of the important part. The blue goose did great no flats or anything. I got caught by one woman from The Wack and we chatted and she helped me through the rest of the bike. She helped me big time with keeping up and speeding on the flats.

Not Choose to do an off road race with no experiance 1 day before the race. Not buy a bike to ride one day before the race. Damn Expensive gloves Eh Leah?

Fast transition like 10 seconds. Really fast.
No clipless pedals and I just shot out of the gate.
Noticed Leahs bike was there, not even moving, I knew She kicked me by then!

Nothing. SPEED was awesome

I took off and started running, had to stop in the aid station to get my gel opened since I had wet fingers, this did not happen so good then I just took off. Up the hill and Mel passed me going down. So I never thought I would see her again. Howled at the howling tree and then took my gloves off. Mel then passed me. I said you know what, I think I can keep up with her. Well I did. I was running fast but way faster than my 5k pace and had to stop chasing her at the bridge. More training needed for this. At the floating bridge, seen the person who was about to hand me my ass. Yep, it was Leah, the Doc high fived me and I started up the big horse shoe loop. I was doing good and then I got really tired. WALKED for about 10 secs and said this is stupid and started going again. Glad I did. The down hill I crushed. I mean I was rocking down hill. Passed a couple of people. and then booted it back to the bridge and up the hill to the Howler tree. Down and booked it to the finish. No finishing kick at all as I was COOKED.

Train more on bricks!!

Just got some water and seen Leah. YEah she was waiting for me. THen she teased me and said this: " I got to see Mel cross the line"! Yep she was rubbing it in!! Oh well. It was a blast. A great great day! Waited around for the Draw prizes and was chatting to the girls. Found out that Not everybody knows me. Unreal! Then I heard my Name called for something. I was stoked I ran up there eager to get my draw prize and they shook my hand and handed me a trophy, I was flabergasted. My first trophy in tri on the off road! Well, I had to say, are you sure, She said yep 30-34 DUATHLON... I handed back my trophy and went out to the timing booth to fix my times. Tears were welling up! DAMN THEM!! I never even won a draw prize in the rain! BUT KELLY GUEST AND MELANIE MCQUAID won the over all events. An 11 year old won the 10k Trail race in women! Unbelievable!


Training on off road.
Obviously my SWIM and my BIKE need more speed as you can tell with my overall numbers. I could use a bit more brick training which probably would have gotten my run a bit faster. Not Race Mel!


Will try and convice myself and the Docc to do the full!!