I woke up yesterday to clear blue skies and calm water, which would be great every other day in Hawaii, except for a Colorado girl like me, that meant a lot of HEAT. The race started with a 1.5 km swim off Makena Beach. The swim is gorgeous but it didn’t go as well as I had hoped. I’ve now learned that many of the women wear XTERRA Speedsuits when we are not allowed to wear full wetsuits. The Speedsuits help with flotation and reducing drag in the water. I think I need one to help with my swim. That, and LOTS more time in the pool this winter.

Starting with a bad swim makes the rest of the race mentally tough. I felt like I never got my rhythm on the bike and couldn’t really get going. I was fortunate enough to have no mechanicals or flats but it still wasn’t quite enough. I survived the run and crossed the finish line in 15th. Not terrible but a little disappointing. Just that much more motivation to get better at swimming and race better next year.

I want to congratulate Danelle Kabush (2nd place) and Jenny Tobin (7th) on their awesome finishes! These are two moms that ROCK and motivate me!