Ok, so this was my first, and long awaited Oly distance -and my sixth sense said stay home. But common sense told sixth sense to shut up, and I went anyway. I, for lack of training, had been telling myself I wasn't ready, well.... On Thursday before, Diva was invited to a slumber party, so we scored free babysitting. A sign? Then Saturday morning, when I called the kennel, they were full. A sign? The forecast was for low 80's, so the dogs would be ok.

On the way to big creek, I was reading all the rules, like I needed more to worry about. I have to remember not to be a space hog in transition, easy enough. And that if I'm not off the bike course by 11, I'll be scooped up and done. It could happen.

Traveling with dogs = dumpy motel = not a good nights sleep. I fell asleep around 11 and woke up at 4.15, with my back killing me and too much nervous energy. Arrived at the race site with Mr. D_M at 6.30, plenty of time to set up camp. I get in line for body marking, and seriously, thanks to the volunteers, but I now have an age marking on my calf in 3" numerals - bigger than the numbers on the front of my house. There's no way I'm wearing a skirt on Monday. Go to get bike and perform final inflate on tires and I broke the valve stem on the tube. I've got 20 minutes before transition closes and I need to be at the beach, and the LBS trailer has a line 3 deep. The adventures with flat tires earlier in the week pays off, and I have it changed faster than Richard Petty. Nervous energy can be your friend.

The swim start's with the cannon (which scares the crap out of me, even though it's the 4th time i've heard it), and I wade out last in my wave. take my time and swim. One stroke after another, a few ankle tugs here and there, but not the near drowning I feared . As I'm making my way back, I noticed one of the buoys was way off line (and getting further). Some were swimming for it, and I thought about it, and logic prevailed, that I'd take a dq over chasing a run away bouy. smart choice. the kayays couldn't catch it, and they stopped those behind me from going way out there. i managed to pass the poor few that did go out for it, and a few guys from the wave before. I was feeling pretty damn good at that point. Made my way up the sandy beach and the long run through the grass to T1. Changed quick and took off on the bike.

And that's where I realized, I'm the flying turtle. I'm slow. My little legs are churning and burning and I'm passed by everyone, even the little old lady with the walker. I know I had to make a nature stop, but didn't really want to, and that occupied my thoughts for a while, but it also made being aero really uncomfortable. I ran off the road trying to open a pack of luna moons, but no harm, i ride off road all the time - just not on skinny slicks. After I hit the turn around, I counted the folks that were still going out all 5. 4 of them passed me on the way back. Including a clyde with an Mdot tat. That's it. I got pissed and decided not to let him go. And I didn't.

Into T2, Mr. DM was there for a kiss and a word of encouragement, and I took off with Clyde Mdot. And then I passed him and never saw him again. the flying turtle was amazed at the number of people that I passed on the run, including all the people that I thought would run at my speed and help pace me. Then I was alone in the woods, feeling lost at times. One foot in front of the other. Finally I could see the beach finish. And I found some untapped fuel and ran on in. Whoo-Hooo.

What I learned....The view from the back is kinda nice, if you like checking out the legs of all the tri-guys, with their ages clearly marked. I decided not to keep time and worry, and to just have fun. I know I finished somewhere under 3:30, but not by much.