Too evenly matched with lane-mates -- we kept bunching up at the turns. Good swim overall; lost my breathing rhythm in lap 8.

Choose locker room closer to end of pool I'm actually swimming in. Have all T1 gear in locker room or get a tri suit. Be more pushy in getting through scrum of dawdlers in locker room.

Shoes/clothes were on by the time I hit the "official" T1 area. Bike stand was an odd fit for back wheel -- spent more time getting the stand off than I would have liked. Had to stop ~0.5 mile mark to mess with bike gloves and hydration mix. Fairly relaxed - I knew my overall time would be poor, so why stress?

Bike helmet with other T1 gear in locker room. Add hydration mix to water bottle before race or go with pre-mixed. Put on gloves during walk/run to bike from swim.

Ack! Hilly route left me at almost a standstill while bronzed goddesses whizzed by (yelling encouragement). Found my bike legs around mile 4. Personal cheering squad at turn-around (thanks, Leslie!) Good ride through mile 9. Saw a rack of volunteers' bikes about 1/2 mile before T2 and was mentally off the bike too soon as a result. Big hill soon after took everything to get up - very, very, very slowly. Stayed on bike, though.

More hill drills prior to race. Extra bottle on bike. No waistpack - aid stations are frequent enough that First Aid kit unnecessary. Don't let up until I see the "Slow Down" signs.

Rode in running shoes, so no change. Handed bike, helmet, jacket to volunteer and wandered dazedly over to grab water bottle and knee brace. Quick transition thanks to the heavy volunteer support.

Stay in zone until actually at T2. Ride in took forever.

Knee brace kept coming off and I misjudged my bra, so very little running took place. Walking pace was slow, but I still finished. Ran across the finish line.

Double-check knee brace fit pre-race. More running practice - fell off the wagon on this and didn't make much effort to get back on. Take an extra bottle of water - I guzzle when I get tired.

Wander around parking lot in a daze; hug Other Human; cry in disbelief that I actually finished.


Didn't train hard or consistently enough.


Great race for a first-timer -- "fun fitness" and women's only atmosphere make this event very approachable for a slow, scared newbie. Great feeling of camaraderie & encouragement from the faster competitors (i.e., everyone else in the field).