this was my first pool swim in a triathlon. I was very excited as I wouldn't have to swim through all the peed in water (kind of hard to pee when you only have 10 seconds to get a lead before the next person jumps into the pool. ) So, when we signed up for the tri, we were asked to put in an accurate swim time for 300 meter swim. So being the "good student" that I am, I timed myself 3-4 times in my pool and came up with 5:04. I entered that as my time and went on my merry way. When I told my tri buddies that I signed up, they asked if I put in my "real" swim time. Of course I did. They said, no one puts in their real swim times and I will be stuck behind a bunch of slow pokes who lied about their times to get in earlier. Great. So a couple weeks later (and a few more snide remarks from my buddies), I emailed the race director and said I improved VASTLY and could he please change my time to 4:24. He replied, no problem.

So, Friday, I go to pick up my race packet and I got #37. I said to the lady, "I guess I was one of the first to sign up." She said, "No that's your place in line for the pool." OUT of 450?! Crap! I am not that fast! So I get on the phone to my "buddies".
"Are you SURE I should have put that faster time? B/c even though I don't want to be stuck behind slow pokes, I don't want to BE the slow poke people are stuck behind!"
They said they were confident I did the right thing. You have to follow what the pack does (BAAAA) and they all fib on their times a little bit.
So I went into the pool swim really nervous- and told the three people right behind me that if they catch up to me and tap my foot, I will be happy to wait at the wall and let them pass. LUCKILY, no one had to pass me on the swim! whew, what a relief.
I could have sworn the bike was supposed to be 15 mi. so as I am looking at my computer, I am counting down 5 more miles, 4 more miles...to 15, but I take a turn at around mile 12, and there is the finish line. I was very disoriented/confused for a few moments, b/c I though maybe I missed a turn or a lap or something, but turns out, the bike leg was only 12 mi. Should've paid more attn.
The run was good, since I came out of the pool fairly early, I noticed there were not many females in front of me (both on the bike and the run) I think only two girls passed me on the bike, and one on the run. So I was feeling pretty confident. When I got to the 1st mile marker, the volunteer yelled out that he only counted 5 females before me! WooHoo, that gave me a boost, and I ran pretty strong until the last 1/2 mile when I started to lose steam.
300 m swim; 12 mi bike; 3 mile run: 1:08:and change
3rd place AG (F 30-34)
Hooray!