This race was really tough for me because I really did not feel like racing. I had been sick for a few weeks, I was not in my best form. I knew that I would be swimming without my wetsuit so I would struggle. But I went down to the race and gutted it out.
I was dissapointed in my swim time, I heard the horn that is used to start each wave (at four minute intervals) go off as I finished my swim and thought "Wow!I swam it in 12 minutes thats about a minute and half faster then I hoped"...turns out the horn was for the wave that was 16 minutes after me and I swam 3 minutes slower then I hoped. The swim was long and hot and I did beat last year by almost a minute. I biked slower then last year and I ran slower then last year....Overall I was slower then last year. I was just a tough race; physically I was still off my game and mentally I was not up for it. But I dug it out and did ok, I think you really need to feel good about getting the job done when things are stacked against you.
The crazy thing is that I finished third in my age group. I had a friend say that I should be more positive about the race because I was third out of sixty something but I do not think it is good to rate yourself by how you placed. If a few of the big dogs had been there I would have been off 
the podium. Instead you have to look at how you performed compared to your potential and I was not on for this race. But you can still look for positives and I feel good that even on an off day I went out and gave a solid effort.... and it is nice to get new necklace (see picture - This is my Coach Lance, his wife Coach Ann and Baby Leo - Lance was second overall, along with "Podium" Rich, my friend who has stood on the Podium for every race this year!)
the podium. Instead you have to look at how you performed compared to your potential and I was not on for this race. But you can still look for positives and I feel good that even on an off day I went out and gave a solid effort.... and it is nice to get new necklace (see picture - This is my Coach Lance, his wife Coach Ann and Baby Leo - Lance was second overall, along with "Podium" Rich, my friend who has stood on the Podium for every race this year!)I am going to Kure beach and I am trying to get myself ready for this race with its weird format: Swim, Run, Bike, Run, Swim. I think the shortern distances will play to my strengths. I am feeling better from the illness and the training set back. I am adjusting to the heat. Well see what I can do in the next one...
