We had over 50 people in my wave. The field was very crowded. I started out in the back of the pack as this was my first OWS. Don't know how but I gulped a large mouthful of water and man did I get nauseated. I tried to follow my normal stroke\breathing pattern but felt very uncomfortable and admittedly spazzed out inside. I was making my way through the pack as best I could. Took a second gulp of water...man that really did not sit well. Got out to the turnaround\merge with international distance....talk about a traffic jam. Had visions of stopping swimming and sinking without anyone noticing...then the wtf moment came and I pushed on. I can swim pretty decent, my issues were just mental and this was my first time in a group swim and ows. I plugged on getting bumped\bashed\grabbed. Overall I can look back on it now and think that with the mental issues I was working with I did ok and will think about this swim in the future and use it as a base to grow on.

Try and get more OWS's in. Remind myself that I am a competent swimmer and next time start on the outside line instead of the inside. There was less traffic outside and had I gone there it might have alleviated some of the issues.

Walked into transition while I composed myself mentally and a guy two bikes down from me was sitting down in front of my bike blocking my area. I stepped over him and the little guy decided to move (didn't apologize though). I had everything laid out methodically so found everything easily. Minor issue getting my socks on. Walked bike to the mount line and got on my way.

Don't by new socks the night before. Socks were the only real issue in transition.

Mounted no problem and just started plugging away. I felt I was behind from the swim (I was out to have fun but wanted to push myself too). Since I felt I was behind I pushed my pace a little. This was my first time in a group ride also. It's amazing what can happen when your competitive with yourself. As I would see people ahead of me I set it as my goal to catch up or pass them...then move on to the next. This mental tactic was all within the paces I have rode before. I wasn't looking to beat anyone but rather using them as smaller goal to keep my mind from thinking ...11 more miles to go....10 more miles to go. They were waypoints on my journey back to transition. I felt the new bike definitely made a difference as I have felt all during my training. I made to work the gears well going up and down the hills which really made it easier climbing them. I was surprised at the way some people rode...biking in the middle of the lane instead of to the right, swerving all over the lane when trying to get a bottle. Overall I was pleased with my ride and felt very confident in it. Man was I sore when I got done though. I could tell I pushed it. BTW my training average speed had been between 16 and 17 mph.

Probably not go so hard on the pace. Try to drink more but the nausea was the issue there.

Got to the dismount line and man did my hamstrings and gluts burn like never before. I mean I have never had either of them hurt from the ride. I was moving pretty slow from the pain...felt like I was in slow motion. I didn't push it in either transition as this was my first race and while I wanted my segment times to be good I wasn't overly concerned with my transition times. I used them as a break if I needed to.Changing from the bike to run was basically helmet off, shoes off, visor on, shoes on.

Nothing. I was ok with how it went. No issues with any equipment or the switch.

I really didn't think I was going to be able to run from the way my gluts and hams were feeling. Calf was good. Where others were jogging to the run out I actually walked to the transition exit to give my legs a minute break. I had my garmin on since the bike and switched hit the lap button to switch from transition to run. I knew there was no way I was going to hold my normal pace (10min\mile) so just told myself to get going and do my best. I mainly looked at my Garmin to check my heart rate. Occasionally I would check the pace and\or distance just to see how I was doing. I really thought I was going to walk at some point but I just plugged along. I would have people run by me and then catch up to them walking a little while later. A few seconds after I passed them they would take off again. Did this several times with the same people. I caught up to another guy who did the previous scenario who was somewhat around my size. Just as I started to pass him he looked over at me and started to run again. He never stopped again and I never passed him. This was about 2 miles in. At this point my skin feels like it's on fire. I had sun screen on but I was still burning. I have a genetic disease (HCP - Heridtary Coproporphyria) and am not supposed to be out in the sun for long periods of time. That's what makes my skin feel like it's on fire....as well as other feelings\issues. At this point I was getting concerned if I was going to be able run the rest of the race let alone finish. I figured if I could tough it out for 10 more minutes or so I would deal with it afterwards. When I got to mile 3 I just started to kick in the last of the gas I had left. I caught up to a girl that I had played tag with several times earlier in the course. I made it my goal to pass her one last time before the end...which I did. Short term goal to get me to the end of the larger. I finished strong and was proud of myself. I did it!!!!

Not go so hard on the bike so I had better legs for the run.

1 bottle of Gatorade, 1 bottle of water and a grassy shady area. the shade was my #1 priority. I sat there for a while while I tried to cool off. My wife couldn't find me and decided to look for me at the medical tent as she thought I might be having issues. Eventually got back up and realized that there were bagel chunks and green bananas....I passed on the bananas. One of the things about my disease requires me to stay hydrated more than normal and eat a high carb diet...hence part of the reason I will always be a clyde!!


Gulping water on the swim and getting nauseated. I won't use my disease as an excuse.


Overall I was pleased with the venue and the race. I will definitely be back next year. I thought it was well organized and run. Personally I liked the course. Hopefully with some work and experience I will do better next year. I am very pleased with my overall results and my performance for my first race. The race is both mental and physical. I had physical issue so I used the mental aspect to overcome them. Persevere!!!!!