It was a running start into the water, the under-29 males were the last heat. I was SO NERVOUS at the start, very fidgety. Once I hit the water though, it was all gravy. I thought I was going to be scared, but I really wasn't (which was a nice surprise!) There were people everywhere, but I just kept my head in the game and it didn't bother me.

One of those guys must have been an ex-boxer lol. Rounding the first buoy I took a left hook to my temple that made my see stars! I took a few more light shots after that, but I think I won the fight. That and a little swallowed water was the only hang-up

Swim faster, the lead guy in my age division swam a 6:43! But honestly I am super happy

Decided to throw on a bike jersey during T1, bad idea. It got stuck and cost me like 15 seconds. I wore socks also, NO MORE SOCKS. I am just going to get some tri-shoes so that I can easily go sockless. I rigged the bike so that my shoe was held in position, thus I could step up over the bike quickly. Getting into the shoes was also nice and quick due to my practicing.

1) No shirt
2) No socks
3) Have a pail to wash off feet maybe

The bike felt really great, I was breathing hard the whole time but I never really felt it in my legs (no burn). I passed plenty of people both ways. I did about 18 on the way out, and 24.5 on the way back. For some reason my avg speed was still only 20ish so all those turns and whatnot cost me some time. 10 weeks ago I had NEVER ridden a road bike, so I am pretty happy with the results!

Push the headwind section a little harder

Simple and fast, grabbed the race belt and off I went

Not a thing!

Not too happy with the run, just way too slow. By then I had been breathing like a maniac for almost an hour. My legs felt fine, but I just couldn't breath any harder, and I needed the oxygen in order to speed up! I was a little frustrated, but I still felt like I wasn't going too slow. If I could have run my standard 5k I could have pulled 2nd place overall.

Wear a watch, the time would have motivated me and helped me realize how slow I was going. However this is my first race so I didn't know how to feel or what to expect, I am happy.

Grabbed a water and chatted with the parents.


My lungs were just plain tired, needed more speed work/short-term endurance work.


Great after race party with free beer, red beans and rice, and snacks. The prizes were great as well. I get a little bitter that the elites get all the cool stuff (they are already faster than us AND they get money and prizes haha) They handed out these really neat hard-carved tiki gods to the top people, I really wanted one lol. Maybe some day!