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 Swim
Comments: I was NOT prepared for this experience. I've put in TENS OF THOUSANDS of yards at the pool over the last few months. This was my first OWS. I just COULDN'T get free of all the bodies around me. I was pretty much spent after the first 50 to 100 yards...I guess I just didn't let myself relax. Kept trying to pass/get around people and couldn't do it. Do people know if they're doing a frog-kick/breast stroke, it's virtually impossible to get around them. With the water that got in my goggles and the sun, quick/sighting incorporated with breathing did not work. At one point, I got tangled in one of the string bouys. That was a VERY hard 440 yards for me. What would you do differently?: Practice in OW. Have some sort of strategy (that works) for maneuvering around others.  Transition 1
Comments: Not a bad transition. Running to the transition area from the beach was tough...because my body didn't want to move, not because of the path. I decided to go with a tight-fitting Under Armor shirt during the bike and run. Wasn't easy getting that down my wet back. What would you do differently?: Have an extra towel available for drying off body/feet. Cleaning off feet with a bottle of water worked fine, but may try a small tub or plate next time. I'm thinking a biking jersey would be easier to put on then the Under Armor shirt...I need to get me one of those.  Bike
Comments: This has progressed into my strong suit. Putting in all the miles I've put in, plus the hilly terrain I train on, made this course extremely EASY. NOBODY passed me on the bike. Me and another guy were passing people left and right (including each other). 18.8 mph has been my fastest training ride average pace. 21+ mph was a pleasent surprise. What would you do differently?: Maybe...hold a little back for the run. Watch out better for sharp curves. Got myself off-road at one point. Getting back on the pavement almost caused a spill. That would have been VERY bad...as it was almost at the same spot I wrecked during the Duathlon. Transition 2
Comments: The iBungee Laces worked like a charm. Running with my bike, in biking shoes was difficult. The bike entrance and run exit were on opposite ends of the transition area. I started to head out the wrong way. Duh! What would you do differently?: Work on the "keep shoes clipped in the pedals" dismount technique. Would probably make running with the bike a little easier.  Run
Comments: Did not feel good at all the first mile or so...though my split time was 7:26. Second mile was 8:26, but I started to feel "normal" the last half mile or so. Surprisingly, I only got passed by a couple guys. And managed to pass a couple. What would you do differently?: Not sure...I think my body was trying to figure out what this 21+ mph bike pace stuff was all about. Post race
Warm down: Walking back to the start area to pick up my BT T-shirt, moccasins, and extra pair of goggles. Took in a fair portion of post-race goodies. What limited your ability to perform faster: My swim performance. Lack of restful sleep most of this week. To some extent, the wave start. Event comments: Last year they had approximately 150 racers at this race. It grew to more than 550 this year, and they weren't quite prepared. The wave start was a last minute change. That made compiling the top-three in each age group results for the awards ceremony time-consuming. They were about 45 minutes later than planned. Of course, the volunteers were AWESOME. Last updated: 2006-06-24 12:00 AM
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United States
Callaway Gardens
85F / 29C
Sunny
Overall Rank = 56/493
Age Group = 30-34
Age Group Rank = 6/36
Got up at 5:15 AM to get my kids, my sister, and her kids ready to go. My sister doesn't get the concept of "sense of urgency". Got to the race at 6:45 AM. Was stressing out a bit because I wanted to get there as close to gate-opening time because we were told yesterday that they didn't have enough bike racks for all that registered for the race. Luckily, there was still room on the bike racks. Got that setup. I don't have a tri-bag, so I luggged all my stuff in a red bucket. That worked out GREAT...was able to use it as a seat during transitions, and it made my area easy to find. Then got myself over to the swim leg start for the pre-race meeting at 7:45 AM.
Pretty much nothing. Unless you count the 1/4 mile walk to the start. Got in the water to get my swim cap and goggles on. Swam a few strokes to see what (I thought) it was going to be like swimming in open water.