Saturday I headed for San Angelo, TX with my very good friend Karen for a fun weekend of racing.  We met up with her friend Laura McCreary from Dallas at the La Quinta Hotel in San Angelo.  We did a lot of laughing, talking about our kids (there are 10 between the three of us), and race prep!  Karen's friend Kevin Saunders of KGS Bikes joined us for a drive on the race course and for dinner. He helped us prepare our bikes and gave us some valuable bike handling tips.  Thanks to Kevin for that, and for some great race day pictures!   We enjoyed the lower humidity in San Angelo, so race day was not as brutal as expected.  It was in the 80's by the time we got to the run - not too bad compared to the "wet sauna" training we have been doing here in Austin this summer.

My swimming group started at 7:30am SHARP!  I felt great in the water today - the water was warm, but not "soupy" as reported;  I was the first one out of the water in my heat (although one guy was close on my heels).  It felt great to be by myself in front before the first man went swooshing by!!  I was extremely surprised not to be passed on the bike by any ladies, and even more surprised I was not passed until just after the 5th mile by Master's Champion Sharon Sander.  My run was not strong, but steady and I stayed positive the whole way.  I finished 3rd over all the women (congrats to overall winner Natasha Van der Merwe, 28), and 1st in my age group.  A great start!