What an incredible race... I recommend it to everyone. Not to mention the spectacular views this course is one of a kind. It covers all aspects of terrain and is run amazingly!!! My family all came down so my prerace was not really at all like I would have liked it, but then again as I'm sure you know I haven't quite got that down anyway.

I didn't get to connect with Mark prerace but we chatted on the phone and he told me he was able to bike the bike course and that it wasn't that bad just short steep hills (little did I know that he was just trying to ease my mind, because I drove it with my family and almost had a heart attack!) I was freaked out by the bike. It appeared harder than I even thought it would be. I was so nervous before the race... completely forgetting about the swim.

Race morning we all boarded the boat to head out to Alcatraz. Saw Mark we wished each other luck and then before you knew it I was jumping off the boat into the water. Which my thanks goes to Ironman for providing such great wetsuits because the water wasn't as cold as I thought it would be. WOW!! The most challenging part of this race ended up being the swim for me. That was my first race in water like that choppy and also that distance. Not being familiar with this kind of rough water I found it hard to focus and swim like normal. I spent way to much time figuring out just how to master it. And spotting was difficult because you go to look and can't see the shore because of the waves. (I bet this was Marks fav part of the race growing up in the ocean in Australia!)

I ended up swiming way to far to the right and had a kyacker tell me and this other guy we were heading the wrong way. (note to self... make sure the guy your following knows where he is going ;) !!!) My time was 40:13 for the mile and half which isn't good at all but I am happy considering it was my first time in that kind of water. T1 freaked me out a little I took my time but also after struggling to get my wetsuit off and put on my shoes to run a half mile stood up and almost passed out. Thank goodness for the run to the bike it helped me recoup!

LOVED the bike course. Went faster and was easier than I anticipated. It's not easy but once on the course I thanked God that Lidia had got me to go up to Harriman to prepare for hills. I'm feeling stronger and more confident on the bike... which excites me. My time was 57:48 averaging 18.6/mph (which for that course I am really happy with), T2 I still am taking to much time on transitions, but headed out for my 8mile HILL run. OK def need to train more for hills.

The run is fantastic... being a previous cross country runner I loved the course but I had no idea what it would be like. You will laugh at my run splits per mile... let me give them to you and you tell me where the hills where and also were suicide stairs was. (1) 6:47, (2) 6:40, (3) 8:05, (4) 7:20, (5) 10:59, (6) 6:46, (7) 6:55, (8) 6:40! Crazy hey!!! I think I know what I need to work on.

I was thrilled with my race. I'm already planning on going back next year because I think I can do so much better. And the race is so challenging. I loved it!!!! Tonnes of people came up to me because they new SBR. In fact the girl in my age group who beat me was a former SBRer Karin Linner (who says Hi to you Christophe). Once again I just want to say it's a thrill for me to be part of the SBR team. Thank you to everyone for being such awesome teammates and support and to Christophe and to everyone at SBR you rock! Congrats to you all who raced on the weekend what sounds like a very cold race on the east coast!!! PS I was going to report about Harriman but took to long on Alcatraz. One thing I know made the differance in Harriman is pre training on the course. It makes such a differance when you know the course in your mind... I felt like Lance... ok well at least inspired to feel like him!!!! Jenny Looking forward to NYC TRI.