San Diego International Triathlon - International Course - TriathlonOlympic

With the wet suit and the salt water I just floated out there before the horn. I was worried about the deep water start but it was no problem. Some guy cracked me up when he told his friend "you can't sink in a wet suit, but you sure can drown." I lined up at the back and gave it a 6 count before I started (I was going to go 10 count but as always I had to get going). I feel like I had a great swim. My big fear on my first two OW sprints was just finishing the swim. In training I have been regularly doing 2k yards so I knew I could do it. I stayed with my b/l breathing almost all the way through and felt strong and steady the whole way. I think I got a little off course after rounding the bouys swimming in the middle of the bouys but I got it straightened it out.

Not much, try to stay on course a bit more, work on drafting to make the swim easier.

I came into T1 and my wife was calling me over to her on the other side of the transition area. I ran over and she told me my son was sick, throwing up and that they were going to stay at the transition area instead of getting the bus over to the finish to see me there. I was bummed out! I love seeing them as I come into the finish. So I went back over and got into my bike gear. Got screwed up with my bike computer as I left it in my saddle bag, felt like I needed it so I knew where I was on the course mileage wise so I took it out and popped it in. Sucked too because I had not reset it last time I used it so I stood there getting it reset. The rest of T1 went ok though.

Be sure that the bike computer is reset and in place.

The course was really nice. It was closed off with monitored intersections and lots of volunteers. I felt very strong on the climbs and passed dudes as I climbed, then got passed on the downhills, mostly by tri bike guys. There was one guy that I was passing then getting passed by on the whole ride. I seemed to get him on the hills then he got me on the downhills, that was fun, a little race within the race. Got to fly back down the hill at the end which was fast and fun. I put my bike race number on my top tube and it was flapping and getting in my way the whole ride. I need to put it on the seat post next time. I taped my gel to the bike race number and that leaked out and all over my bike, it was a gooey mess. I felt some distress in my hips in the last mile or so of the ride which was strange, was fine on the run though. I let my HR stay too high, I was trying to keep it down but it was up higher than I wanted for too much of the ride.

Work to keep my HR down. I still felt like I had a lot left for the run, so I need to figure out just how much I can push on the bike and still run ok. Put the bike race number on my seat post.

Fine transition, got my bike gear off and shoes on ok. I did get hung up a little bit when a bike was in my spot when I got back. For some reason I vapor locked and could not figure out what I should do with my bike. There was plenty of room on the other side of both bikes next to my transition setup, so I just put it over there. Not sure why it took me so long to figure out what to do?? Strange. I put on my glasses and race belt and took off, the family was still outside transition and my boy was laying there not looking too good.

Make a quicker decision with the bike, I threw myself off a bit there.

I felt awesome at the start of the run. I got to mile 3 and was thinking they had placed the markers too close, I could not believe how good I felt at that point. The guy I was playing cat and mouse with on the bike was just ahead of me early in the run and I saw him stop and stretch his calf a bit. He got started running again but was going a bit slow. I caught him and passed him, then he never passed me back. The way I figure it I was racing him and I came in first place!!! (j/k, kind of) I hit mile four and felt a bit of a dropoff in my energy level. The last half of the run was all facing the sun so it started to feel a little hot. I hit the last mile and faded pretty good. After I passed the mile five point and kept hoping the finish would show up pretty soon. Made it in to the finish line and the family was there! My son started feeling better and they were there when I came across the line. It was awesome to see them when I thought they would be back at the transition area, great surprise.

Keep training to improve my fitness level so I can improve the run, I feel like the run is where I can see a lot of improvement

Got across the line and got some oranges, Powerade, muffin, and banana. I was a little woozy for awhile but felt better after eating. Did a little bit of stretching then headed back over to pick up the bike.


Just need to continue to build my fitness, feel like I put in a great effort based on current fitness level.


I thought the race was very well organized. There were charter style buses to go back and forth from transition to the finish line, very nice buses so that was cool. Largest race for me yet, it was fun to be at a big one like that.