It was a such long season, which started at the beginning of April and finished at the beginning of November. But I am really happy with my results during the all season. Of course there was couple of not very satisfied races and maybe sometimes I had a bad luck, but overall it wasn’t bad at all :)
About last event in Florida, where I finished with 2d place and with 9.14. I am pretty happy with my results and with my place. And it was very nice to know how many people supported me inside and outside the race; inside and outside the state; and even inside and outside of country. I hope I didn’t disappoint them.
I felt very good during the race day, although I still had made a few mistakes. I picked the wrong socks for a marathon,so I got bad blisters on the both feet and lost the toe nail (again), which slowed me down at the last part of run. Everything else worked really well for me that day. At the end of run I thought: “Thanks God I don’t need to do any other Ironman next season to qualify for the World Championship”. I guess that’s how much I was tired to get thoughts like these :).
Anyway it was a great time in Panama City, it’s one of my favorite places: I love sunsets, a flat ocean water, friends around and “it’s a good weather for november”, like for a person from Ukraine.

I had done first two Half Ironman races in Europe this season after I had come back from States. I completed those races during two weekends in row. That wasn’t an easy experiment. The first triathlon took part in a beautiful city Linz in nice old Austria. I was happy to visit that country, especially after all troubles I have had with a visa,which I need to get for a visit to any country in Europe, as a Ukrainian person. I got the visa one day before the race and somehow I should to get to Linz from Lvov, Ukraine during 24 hours. I wouldn’t be able to do it without my Slovakian friend, Marek and with his help I had very comfortable and rested trip to Austria and back. The race came out very well for me, I felt confident and strong . Unusually for me I was leading from the first part of the bike course and I save my lead till the finish line. After the event when I got back home at Tuesday I realized that I have just 2 days to prepare for the next trip to Switzerland and as usually my visa wasn’t ready yet :) Even I knew I can’t do anything about it, I already done everything to prepare all documents, the situation still stresses me out. Maybe that’s why I also couldn’t recover very well between competition, or maybe it’s just an excuse ;)
I got my passport with visa two hours before my flight to Zurich and after I got to my final destination I felt exhausted. Although I slept next nights a lot and very well it’s still wasn’t enough time to recover and at the race day I felt still tired. I suffered from the second loop on the bike and all the time during the run course. I am really angry with myself that I let two girls behind me pass me right before the finish, but honestly, nothing I could do about it, I had no power left. Anyway I completed two half Iron distances in two weekends with a pretty good time: 4h.29′……; 4h.33′……
And now I am looking forward to the training camp with my friends in St. Moritz; no races for the next six weeks before the big one: Ironman Austria.

One week already passed after Ironman Arizona and it was very busy week for me: few days of rest in Phoenix, a beautiful trip to Grand Canyon and a long, very long journey back home to Ukraine. So, back to the Ironman last weekend: I think it was toughest condition of the weather during an Ironman race in my triathlon experience. Till last Sunday I thought I am good with the hot weather, but I was a bit wrong. A strong wind on the bike course was slowing me down sometimes to 23 km/h on the way out and it pushed me so hard and fast after turn around. It looked like I did a fartlek: 3 times 30 km. Even more than usually I looked forward to start to run. But with +93+97 degrees and almost no shadow ( just under the bridges) the run wasn’t that easy and enjoyable at all. And honestly, on the each loop there was a spot when I just wanted to give up. But I am really glad I didn’t. And with a sprinting 400m at the end of an Ironman, thanks Lensey Corbin who gave me this chance J I finished 4^th at the Ironman Arizona 2008 behind Erika Csomor, Michellie Jones and Heather Gollnick. Now I am looking forward to the next races in Europe, of cause after several days of recovery in my rainy but still beautiful city Lvov. 

The first big race of this season done. The women field this year and the previous years as well was really strong. All big girls came to California at the beginning of a triathlon year to compete. It was great for me to be a part of that mix of the champions.
After good training with my new family in Clermont, Florida I felt pretty good, although I didn’t taper yet and I was still a little tired.
The weather was nice and we were lucky, we didn’t have a rain on race morning. I was kind of ready for the cold water, I had some experience a several weeks before at the Great Escape triathlon in Clermont. But I still decided to wear a Blue seventy warm cap and, honestly, even with 15 degrees water temperature it felt hot. Thanks Blue seventy for saving our brains :)
Bike course was fast and flat, I am kidding, just few first miles were like that and then it turned out to the hilly routs with a strong head wind. I didn’t feel very powerful at the end of the bike course and was looking forward to start my favorite part of the race, a run. I thought before the event: even though I’ll have a good race in California it doesn’t mean I will be able to be in top 8, but the small goal I had motivated me a little bit too: a new laptop, as a gift from the prize money, if I would have make some. I guess without my new “baby” you wouldn’t read this blog.

I had also another very nice present after the hard race, it was a Timex camp and meetings with new and old (not age) family members . Unfortunately for me and possibly for somebody else ;) I wasn’t able to joying you guys and girls from the team for a party and a fun part of the camp. Sorry for that and I’ll do better next time. But I was really glad to see my team all together and happy.

Name: Tamara Kozulina
Birthdate: 2 of January 1976
Birthplace: Lugansk region, Ukraine
Current Residence: Ukraine
Years Racing: 10
Favorite Race: Long distance WC 2004

List 5 Top Race Results:
2000 – Austria Ironman – 2d Overall
2002 – Nederland Ironman (Almere) - 1st place Overall
2004 – New Zealand Ironman – 3d place Overall
2004 – Long distance WC – 1st place Overall
2005 – Zofingen Powerman WC – 3d place Overall

Favorite Pre Race Food: Pasta and vegetables

Favorite Post Race Food: Pizza and ice cream

What’s in your MP3 Player?: Ukrainian band “Elsa’s ocean”, quiet music.

Biggest Pet Peeve: Flowers

What would you do with $100,000 if you won Hawaii?
I’ll do big party for all my friends and rest of money will put to some busyness.

Anything else we should know about you?
I am single.