First of -all Ladies thank you so much for all your help - it made the day go soooo much better.

The race wasn't until 1:30 and I had a 2 hour drive to get there so I didn't have to get up early early like KSH.

Loaded everything up, then had Breakfast so the eating timing would be better. BF was a wheat free waffle, 1/2 banana and walnuts, an egg, some ham and a smoothie made w/ green tea, banana, strawberries and yogurt. calories - no clue but it was enough

drank water on the way down, got to the venue about 1:45 min prior. Ran into a gal I had done a bike tour w/ last year, she introduced me around and I found a transition spot - Surrounded by buff people and tri bikes but they were all nice and it was all good.

an older gal (older than me anyway set up next to me so I felt better.

I set up my transition area, (BTW the older gal complimented me on it for being a first timer - I told her I had had help ) I checked out the routes, exits, entrances, got my race packet, marked and basically wandered aimlessly trying to focus through it all. I ate a banana and PB and a wheat free energy bar I had made

Went and got my wetsuit from my car, locked the car and upon walking back to transition realized I had grabbed my work keys and 3 sets of car keys were locked in the car along w/ my cell phone. I wasn't in too much of a panic because I had everything I needed for the tri out. I borrowed a cell phone, called for roadside assistance, made arrangements w/ a spectator I know to be there when they opened it (she was also the photographer for us) so all was good.

The tri wasn't big participation wise ( we are a small state not near any major area - Minneapolis closest big city, an 8 hour drive away) but the quality was good in my books. (for all I have to compare it w/ There were only 44 in the sprint all told and 15 - 20 in the Oly.

Distance 500 yd swim , 20k bike, 5k run
Swim
uneventful - I started far to the left as recommended, counted to 5 before starting to avoid the rush. I probably could have pushed harder but I was happy w/ how it turned out. I didn't get kicked in the face but did come up on a few people and w/ the water being murky couldn't see them until I was upon them. the water was 65 degrees which felt fine to me, a few complained of the cold but our river swimming this week paid off!
Swim time didn't set any records, w/ a time of 10:37 which was a pace of 2:01 (don't know how they did that math) - respectable in my book at this time not worth speeding up because running is what I have to work on.

T-1
wasn't a long way from the water or departure area for the bike.
time 1:56 which I felt good about as it included getting the wet suit off.

Bike
again no speed records
Had a decent tailwind out but I knew it would be headwinds back. Course was flat so that helped (although I do better than a lot on hills and then they smoke me on the flats)
I looked up the wind when I got home - 14 mph which isn't terrible but was definately one I could feel.
bike time 44:57 av 16.1 which again for me is pretty fast.

T-2
1:16 I opted to skip the shirt on the bike which I am glad I did and put it on here.

Run
This is where I majorly SUCKED! I wasn't expecting it to be great but I didn't think I would do this bad. By now it was hot for around here (our high temps have been in the 50's and 60's all spring and up through last week - today it decided to warm up all the way to 85 - not hot for a lot of you but we aren't used to those temps yet. Again tailwind out but now it wasn't an advantage. I ended up walking more than planned but I definately wasn't the only one - even some of the youngsters were walking
I got doused at the turn around and that helped

I am embarrassed to even post these times but here goes 40:01 - 12:53 min mile

BUT I finished (really wasn't w/ a smile yet) finishing time 1:38:46 which I am VERY happy w/.
First goal was to finish
second goal was to finish in less than 2 hours
third goal finish in less than 1:45 if possible

So I met all goals AND I took 3rd in my AG AND there were more than 3 in it! (I am in the 50 and over

On the drive home I analyzed what I did and started thinking about what I needed to do before my next one in July - I thought that was a VERY good sign. NOW I was smiling I feel like I have a baseline laid now and it is all about me competing against me. THAT is my favorite kind of competition.

Will see how the pics turn out and get some posted tomorrow - going to bed now

I will be contacting you ladies for help in coming up w/ a plan to train for the next one