Musselman Half-Ironman: Londina Cruz's RR

Carly, you said it all and I commend you on your placing.

I am glad that I did the Musselman for my first Half-Ironman experience. It was a great day for a race. A wonderful race and very well supported.

As Carly said, the swim was challenging. I had been training in the lake and new that I could do the swim distance with no problem. What I was not expecting was the waves, the swim against the current. I did think that walking at the beginning would be faster, so I started the swim walking and soon found out that walking in the water is not faster, especially after I fractured my toe while walking. So, I dove in. I was push of course several times and the buoys were difficult to see.

The bike was awesome; it was my favorite of the whole race especially since I averaged 15.6,

I know, you speed demons will think, that’s slow, (Carly that must have been you zipping by me!), but to me that was a world record.

I started the run and that is ware I realized that I had fractured my toe. Off I went. I enjoyed the run all the way. The support was great. I stayed cool by pouring ice down my tri top and there were sponges dipped in cold water and ice that was being provided, I used them to keep cool and the salt caps also help a lot. At a couple of spots there were guys playing the drums, so, I danced a little and did a couple of turns. I was feeling a little bummed towards the end because I did not finish in the seven hours that I was aiming for, but then realized,

"Hey girl! You just finish and got your metal. What is there to be bummed about?"

I am certainly doing it again next year!

Remember to always live life with Passion and to the Max!

~Londina, AKA the “Cruzer”