First leg to buoy was pretty good. A fair bit of contact, nothing too serious. I had no issues with breathing etc, I was comfortable from the start. Around the first buoy and was looking for next one. Our buoys were green, which is the worst colour ever. Hello, it's Vancouver, there are evergreen trees everywhere! Most of the field seemed to be heading towards the orange buoy, which was the half course. Same general direction, but 400m further out. I don't need any extra thanks. I took probably 30 seconds of slowing up to try and find the buoy. Spotted it, and picked out a landmark on the hill.

Got to the second buoy and made the turn. Back to the beach, yellow buoy so no problem with sighting, but the current was strong. I didn't realize it at first, but found that I was drifting; a lot. That, and the fact that the beach never seemed to be getting closer...Finally made it. Run up the beach and back in the water, making a mental note to aim left on the next loop.

The second loop first leg was pretty much a repeat of the first--except that the sprint athletes were now in the water and their buoy/turn was in the middle of ours. There were crossed paths and I saw some confusion, but made it through ok. The first buoy was moving with the current, so it made it tough to get to it and make the turn. There were a couple athletes that were having trouble and in my way, so I actually ended up going partially under the buoy--I grabbed the rope underwater to get around.

Made the turn around the second buoy, and was trying to use my same landmark...but this buoy had moved too. Thank goodness for all the head up swimming Kevin makes us do, because I used it to take the time to find the buoy. Turns out it had drifted so that now, it was right in line with the Spanish Banks point. Good for sighting, but made it VERY difficult to spot the buoy.

Made the second turn, and started heading very left of the buoy. I was sort of aiming about 100m offline. Turned out to be pretty good, as I ended up right on line with the current push. There was a permanent boat buoy out there, and it took me forever to get to it. Every stroke I took, I got pushed back by half. My plan was to push on this whole race, and boy, did I get to! I was not unhappy with my time, especially given the conditions.

Well, figure out the current on the first lap. My Garmin map shows me very zigzaggy on the first loop, much straighter on the second. Otherwise, not too much.

I usually don't run up from the beach as my HR is high after swim, but today, I did a slow run. Had some trouble getting my wetsuit off my wrists, but the run to transition is long enough that I was able to get them off by the time I got there.

No problems with wetsuit off over the heels. Feet rinsed and socks and shoes on, helmet, glasses on, and off I went.

Run faster.

I had raced the half last year, so I knew the course. My plan was to go relatively hard on the bike, not hammer, but a solid effort. A bit of a fitness test, and to see how I felt on the run. This was the race last year that I was hating being on the bike on the long slight uphill on the 'back' portion of the out and back. I wanted revenge on this course and I was hoping that all my work on my bike this year would pay off.

The first part of the course is flat--good for settling in a bit. Get to the bottom of the big hill and it seems smaller than last year...:) Got up no problem. Now there is a km or 2 of false flat, before the slight downhill of the 'out'. I got into a good cadence and kept it steady. I got passed by a lot of halfers, they were flying. Made the turnaround, and started back. And, yup, it was different this year. Again, kept a nice cadence. Passed quite a few people, including a woman I swim with. I felt good the entire way, unlike last year when I was questioning my sanity...

Got to the top of the hill and started down. There are a couple good curves on the hill; I stayed in aero where I could, but I am a bit cautious. I hit the steep part and I was on the hoods. What happened next happened quickly. A squirrel darted from the left side of the road. Now, those on that side of the road were climbing, so not much speed, and the little fellow was in no danger. But I hit 60km/hr going down that hill. He shot across my path, hesitated enough for his tail to flick and thankfully kept going. I really didn't even have enough time to hit the brakes; and good thing, because I would have certainly been hurt had I done so. I actually do remember having "Sorry little squirrel it's you or me" fly through my head as it all happened. I did, however, have enough time to shriek like a little girl. And then I giggled at myself the rest of the way down the hill...

Got to the bottom turnaround safely and headed back up. Second loop was uneventful and pretty much a repeat of the first.

Pretty happy with my effort.

Not much to say.

Hot lah! Again, same route as last year. My plan was to push a bit. Again, testing fitness and seeing how I felt after working hard on the bike.

S had said that he was certain I could do a sub 3 hour. I wasn't totally sure, but was giving it a go and my swim and bike had set me up to do it easily. So now, I was going to try for a 51min 10km, due to another conversation with S and V.

Honestly, there was no real thought or plan to my execution. I just tried to run fast. Around 2.5km in, there is a small hill in the woods. I started up and gained on a young man. We ran side by side for some time. At about 3.5km, he says "I really want this to be over, guys!". I chuckled and said "Almost halfway". We chatted a little--it was his first olympic. We ended up running to about the 5km mark very close, and then he dropped off.

The second half is much more exposed to the sun and it was hot. I was hurting by about 5.5km. I knew when I hit the turnaround at 7.5km I would get a bit of a lift. And then, there at 6km was K and the little puppy. Yay, a boost! But, I still had to run 4 more km. Ok, 4km. That is, as S would say, for children. And, that was the start of the voices :)

I managed to get to the turnaround; I had walked a couple aid stations, but now I wanted to WALK. But the voice said "Don't walk. C'mon, chop chop. Finish up I am tired". That would be S on our training runs. But I have to stop and walk "No. No walking. Walking is for children". I checked my pace: it had not dropped off. So obviously, then, I didn't need to walk. It was just hard. Ok, I can do this. 8km. 9km. 1 more km. I tried to pick it up a bit, and I did. Finished strong, and well under 3 hours. I didn't make my 51min, but not far off.

Not a lot.

I did not feel 100% after this one. I wasn't sure what the problem was, but instinct said get cooled. I went and got an ice pack from medical and put it on my neck initially, then under my hat. That was the ticket. Felt better not too long later.
S had finished 10 min before me; he and I and Karen waited to cheer V in.


Pretty happy with my effort. Good test of fitness and a good confidence builder for IMC.