Thanks, everyone. Good to know I'm not just rambling for myself to read later

They are lucky they had the momentum and knowledge from years past - the organization could have been so much worse had they not mostly done "lather last year's plan, rinse, repeat." The woman who basically replaced Sally was a little firecracker and a SUPER nice woman (she came over and filled bike tires for people in my rack area. Awesome). I heard the motivational seminar thingy at REI wasn't as good as Sally's, but that's hard shoes to fill. I also don't get having the packet pick up in Bellevue (but they did that last year too).

I think this time the Danskin reminded me to enjoy the experience. So many women were there finishing their first triathlon, overcoming major obstacles, racing with the names of family and friends that had cancer on their backs, whatever. It's just... amazing. I have to say, seeing OTHER women cross the finish line makes me infinitely more emotional than crossing it myself. Thinking back to the first time I crossed that line and the other "firsts" I've had and to know that's what someone else is feeling... awesome. I've done other women-only races that are similar, just not on the same scale of fun. I hope to never be so competitive that I forget that.