The swim went well overall. Similar to San Jose Int'l, I just went "slow" and focused on technique, putting one hand in front of the other. I was able to freestyle the whole time and didn't really have any problems. I was at the back of the pack most of the time (as far as I could see), but I passed a few stragglers from previous waves and came in about the same time as another in my wave.

I think I just need more time in the pool and more time in my wetsuit. Endurance itself was a limiter here. I could have put a little more slack in my wetsuit around my shoulders to fight fatigue there, which might have allowed me to go harder and faster.

It seemed like I took more time in T1 than I usually do. I had a little problem getting my wetsuit off over my ankles. Wetsuit off, grabbed my hanky, put socks on then shoes, glasses then helmet (forgot my sunglass clip-ons), and finally my camelback, which I've never used in a race before. It was definitely nice having it because I've had problems with bottles before, including having to stop pedaling while reaching. And it only took a few seconds to put it on (I didn't clip the chest strap until later). I'm sure I saved those seconds later, and I was well hydrated. I picked a spot that was right next to the bike entrance. I liked how it worked out. I didn't have to run as far in bare feet, and when I came in off the bike, my spot was right there.

Bodyglide the ankles. Remember my sunglass clip-ons.

Bike is usually my best leg and this was no exception. I passed probably 10 or so people, and in the end, was passed by no one. I played leapfrog with this one guy -- he was on my tail for a long time, then he passed me on this long hill. I passed him back up on the other side, and he wasn't able to pass me again but I knew he was right behind me. Then a 47-year-old woman on an old, pink bike passed me. WTF? I eventually passed her again, but she returned the favor shortly after. I couldn't hold her off. Unfortunately there were some pretty lame volunteers (I should have known the course, but they should have been paying attention) and I followed her in the wrong direction. We had to back track across an intersection to get back on course and I'm thinking maybe she got stuck on the other side of traffic because I never saw her again (until T2 and the run). That's the only reason I came in before she did.

Know the course. I need more time in the saddle to toughen up, because my crotch is pretty sore as I write this (5 hours later). Some form of chamois butter would probably have helped this too. I also first noticed here the effects of not training much for the last month. I was slower than I could have been, I just didn't have the steam I had before. I was weak on the hills. I think it just comes down to a need to "ride lots".

T2 seemed a little slow too. Luckily I didn't have far to go in my bike shoes. I had a hard time racking my bike (I think I was just pretty exhausted). But I remembered everything I needed to (helmet off, etc.), putting on my shoes (yay, speedlaces!) and grabbing everything else, then heading out on the run.

I think my slow speed was just a lack of general training. I was pretty exhausted so it was hard to do anything. I don't think there's anything I did wrong technically.

Again, my lack of training showed up here in a serious way. I was holding almost a 10min/mile pace (I'm curious what the official times will be) but felt very sluggish and a little sore. For better or for worse, I just focused on my race and wasn't very competitive (trying to catch people, etc.). The 47-year old woman who I passed on the bike passed me back up, along with the guy I had leapfrogged on the bike. I just didn't have an answer for them. I think I came in in the last 10 people or so. This was a pretty tough field. I brought my own hydration (Gatorade and diluted Endurox) but a few times I just wanted water, so I drank that.

Run lots. More long bricks.

Took some stuff back to the T-area, ate, changed my shirt, and listened to the awards. There was a 10-year old kid and a guy who ran a 31:02 10k off the bike (faster than any triathlete in the world, with the possible exception of Simon Lessing at the Olympics). Since the Clydesdale division was very small, I thought there might be a remote possibility of me winning something even though I was so slow. No dice. It was some guy who was like 6'7", and a couple of body-builder types. I should have stretched more, but I drank a lot and had a little to eat.


Lack of general training.


I would recommend this race to anyone. The whole course was just so nice and some really good triathletes show up in every division. It would be a great first Oly. Brad Kearns kept the commentary going the whole time and was really funny as well as knowledgeable about the sport. He gives some of the long-time athletes a hard time.