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 Swim
Comments: This was a nice, smooth course. Also my first deep water start, and I have to say that I liked it much better than beach starts. Water was pretty warm and I questioned even wearing a wetsuit, but I kept it on simply for the flotation and the fact that I'm faster with the wetsuit. Set myself up on the far side and there was plenty of room. Nice, calm swim is really all I can say. I felt good throughout, although I'm sure I zig-zagged a bit on the first segment. Good pace, good breathing and I was able to find a nice rhythm. I think I took a really round turnaround, but nothing major. Found a nice lane all to myself on the far side for the last segment, which had a bit of churned up sand and lots of seaweed to swim through, but there was no one near me and I was really comfortable. Good swim. What would you do differently?: Nothing, really. Maybe swim harder and faster, but I had a long way to go and was pacing myself.  Transition 1
Comments: Okay, this was kind of a funny transition. Coming off the beach I ditched my swim cap (I hate them and never keep them, post race) and I pulled my goggles down around my neck and started working on the wetsuit. I got in to the area and got the rest of my suit off okay, not really getting hung up on my feet. Put my race belt on, got my helmet and glasses on, then reached down for my shoes. Tried to put my right shoe on but couldn't do it ... there was a golf ball in it. My two year old in action. Took it out, got my shoe on and grabbed the left shoe. Couldn't get it on because there was an AA battery and a bottle of holy water from my daughter's christening in it. Got those out, got my shoe on and headed for the bike out! What would you do differently?: I would not leave my bike shoes on the floor of my bedroom again. Or, I'll just check what's inside of them next time :)  Bike
Comments: This was a much hillier course than I had expected. I check out the route-creator here and mapped out the course to see the climbs, and it only looked like about 400 feet of climbing over the entire course. Maybe, but it seemed like a lot more. There's a nice little climb within the first three miles that takes you up to the Cabrillo National Monument area ... which is, in itself, a bunch of good rolling hills or small climbs. Nothing too major, but it would have helped much more if I had actually been training for this race. I maxed out my gears a couple of times, thinking that I was saving something for the run. However, I got warmed up pretty good around mile seven, switched to the big ring on a downhill and never looked back. I don't think I ever got out of the saddle, so it couldn't have been that bad. The ride down was fun! I hit 40mph during one long section, which was nice going into run transition. Only comment here is that the bottom portion of the course was very rough with lots of potholes. Quite a contract from the top section, which was really smooth. What would you do differently?: Get back on my bike and ride more! Transition 2
Comments: Took my time here. I moved okay, but I was in no real hurry. I'm not a runner, and I wanted to catch my breath a bit in transition. Switched my my bike shoes for running shoes, had some Gatorade, took a breath or two and started to head out. Just past the run out, I felt something around my neck ... huh? My freaking swim goggles! I had them on during the entire ride:) I was already out the gate and was about to chuck them, but I really, really like these goggles. Stowed them in the back pocket off my tri suit, and while it was uncomfortable, it was my only option.  Run
Comments: Did I mention that I'm not much of a runner? I actually felt pretty good for the first time coming out of T2, and while my legs were tired from the bike, it wasn't the weird feeling of them not really even being there that I normally experience. That was encouraging. Had a nice little pace going for the first two miles and actually passed quite a few people ... something I don't normally do. Mile 3 was okay, mile 4 hurt, and miles 5 and 6 were brutal for me. Got to the point where I kept asking myself, "Where the F is the finish line?" At about mile 5.5, I felt like I had to stop and walk a bit, so I started to. Literally within two steps, someone behind me said, "C'mon, you can do it." I picked right back up and said, "You're right, thanks!" I paced him all the way to the finish line, and he was going much faster that I had been. It was hard, but it felt great at the end. Overall, I'm happy with the run. Happy that I finished ... ") Post race
Warm down: No real warm-down, just walked around the finish area, looking for some friends. Got some water and tried one of the sports drinks that was exhibiting there and giving away bottles. Ugh, AWFUL stuff. Wish I could remember the name so I could pass it on here. What limited your ability to perform faster: Training. I really hadn't been "training" the past few months, just running a lot and biking whenever possible ... which is not much. Event comments: Overall, I want to say this was a well-organized race, but I can't. I felt the pre-race communication was awful, the packet pickup day was a mess, parking was ridiculous, and the fact that you had to shuttle from the finish line back to your gear at the transition area (with only two shuttles) was a pain. I understand the setup and it worked really well, but the logistics were not fun. Also, while there were lots of drink stations and volunteers, they were cruddy volunteers. Local high school kids that had to have been sophomores at the most, totally clueless and with not the greatest attitudes I've ever seen. All that said, I thought that the setup for the post race activities was fantastic, best I've yet experienced. The weather was gorgeous, the course was just challenging enough to make me want to work harder for next year, and I think this just might be my one Oly each year. Also, I liked that you got a tech T-shirt in your goodie back, but I would have preferred a finisher's medal over the cheap-o pin that they gave out. Little things, I know, but they go a long way :) Good race, I had a blast! Last updated: 2009-01-22 12:00 AM
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Sunny
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Let's start with the packet pickup day ... not a big fan. For this, you had to pick up your race packet at the event expo on Saturday, then drop your bike off at the transition area. Not that big a deal and it seemed like a good idea to me on the way down to San Diego Saturday. Took my two little ones (2 & 6) with me. Big mistake.
First off, you can't park anywhere near the expo area. Paid parking across the street or at the hotel about a half mile away. I ended up sweet talking the parking attendant into letting me past the cones once she saw the two kids in back, so I was able to park close, but only on my second lap around the area. Got my stuff started to walk my bike to the transition area for drop off, finding out along the way that it was another half mile or so in the other direction. Okay, I realize that showing up with two small kids was my own fault, but it was not easy to get situated.
Anyway, got my bike stowed in nice roomy place in the racks, tied it down with a zip tie and spent the rest of the day with my kids. That was actually fun :) Got to be early, but still found a way to oversleep by an hour. Alarm clock went off at 4:00am, I woke up and thought I'd lay there another 5 minutes, only to wake up again at 5:00am. I live 35 minutes away from the race and my wave started at 6:45am ... better move!
Got there in plenty of time, set up my shoes and stuff, finished my coffee and just kind of talked to a lot of familiar faces. I filled up on carbs the night before, so I don't think I ate anything the morning of. Sad, I can't remember if I ate anything or not. :)
This was my first Olympic distance race, and I had zero expectations other than just finishing. I've been running a lot more lately, but due to my wife being pregnant (and miserably pregnant, at that), I've not been able to actually go out and ride a bike at all. Stationary at the gym only for the past few months, with a few exceptions. Swim training? Non-existent.
So, all I wanted out of this race was to finish without hating any part of the race.
Stretched a bit, walked around to loosen up. Not much else.