Unbelievable swim. After my one lake practice swim I was expecting to be much slower. The first 200 meters were scary, with all the turbulence, and with someone swimming up my back, but I swam through it hard and it paid off. I had planned on starting on the outside to avoid the chaos, but at the last minute I moved more central because the outside was really shallow and I didn't want to have to swim through muck. It was really turbulent where I ended up, but I think it paid off. By the first bouy, all the super-athletes were way ahead of me, and just about everyone else was behind. No one passed me and I wasn't able to pass anyone. I wasn't able to draft but it didn't seem to really matter. My pace was good. I swirved a little bit, swimming wide of the second bouy and then having to swim back a little bit after aiming too far inside of the third, but I don't think I was way off.

Nothing. Worked out good.

I did a good job of getting my wetsuit loose and my cap off on the run towards my bike. Got out of my wetsuit in a decent amount. Had placed everything fine. Great job.

I was slow on the bike--I'm not really sure whether it was from the fast swim or the allergies or some mild asthma. I was kind of lackidaisical coming out (although I like to do this to get into the rythym of the bike and take my first GU shot) and I never seemed to feel completely comfortable on the bike. Getting passed by all the people who I whipped on the swim didn't help either. When I hit the first downhill, I was sort of drifting off mentally and I didn't shift gears correctly.

Get the bike adjusted a week before the race rather than the night before. Everything turned out all right, but the gear shifting seemed off to me and more than anything I just didn't trust my bike.

Bike/run transition was fine without any goof-ups

I suppose I could learn some tri techniques, like being able to dismount with the bike still moving and all...

Just couldn't ever contain my breathing. And again the psychological issue of being out in front from the swim and getting caught up with. Felt properly hydrated and everything, but was kind of asthmatic.

I dunno

Walked a little, sat on a bench and almost puked. Finally got my breath back after about 5 minutes


The breathing really hurt me during the bike and then even more so in the run. Somohow got to get more oxygen to those lungs...


Considering the above average cost of the race, it would have been really nice to get a detailed course description and map in the packet, or at the very least online before the race. I saw that there was a map on a table inside the pavilion, but it wasn't obvious that it was there and I didn't see it after the race. The swim course wasn't explained to us until right at the gun.

Anyway.

Overall, I met my goal of the race which was to get some experience in a lake swim before the big Olympic in 3 weeks. My swim time was awesome and I hope it will make the next lake swim a little less daunting. I'm a little concerned that my breathing went so haywire in this race that I'll have even more trouble at Pacific Crest (3500' elevation). But since this was a "C" race for me, I'm not going to beat myself up about the slower than expected bike and swim times. Also, I need to remember to enjoy these things, especially @ Pacific Crest in 3 weeks. It's nice to have goals, but I should also just be happy with a finish since it will be my first Olympic!