Even though the posted water temp was 83*, I felt fine in my sleeveless wetsuit.
This was the roughtest swim start I've been in until we hit the 1st bouy. Just elbows, fists, and feet flying everywhere. I looked over when I rounded the bouy and saw some guy with a look of sheer terror on his face. The rest of the swim was uneventful except the water was so cloudy/murky I couldn't see my ELBOW in front of my face. Even though I could see the shoreline with each breath I still think I zigzagged all over the place. HR spiked right near the end, I may have had a small tachycardia episode and that may explain why I didn't feel good the rest of the race. Out of the water right at 26:00, rest of the time is the run up the beach and T1.

Time really wasn't that bad for me. I'm a slow swimmer

Transitions weren't split, I think this one was rolled into the swim time.

My wife and daughter were there as I came out on the bike, pretty nice to have them there.

I just didn't have it when it counted. 25 watts off my pre race goal, just one of those days when I couldn't push the pedals hard. Pretty pissed about it since this was probably my last race of the year. I pretty much survive the swim and cruise on the run, the bike is where I should make up some time.

I don't know what else to say, maybe I had a tachycardia episode at the end of the swim. I hate making excuses. I just didn't have IT this day.


Work: 722 kJ
TSS: 86.5 (intensity factor 0.833)
Norm Power: 166
VI: 1.03
Distance: 26.724 mi
Min Max Avg
Power: 0 318 161 watts
Heart rate: 47 97 79 bpm
Cadence: 35 98 83 rpm
Speed: 0 26.7 21.4 mph

Wish I had the splits from this since I think it was pretty damn fast. I've been practicing my running dismounts, it really doesn't take much. Everything else was smmoth and fast also.

I think this time was rolled into the run. My chip time on the run is 29 seconds longer than my lap time on my watch and I remember hitting it right when I left T2.

I knew my bike was slow and I needed to run a fast time for me just to make my goal time but every time I tried to pick up the pace I felt like I couldn't breath. Just one of those days when I didn't have anything. Maybe my stars weren't aligned and my chi was out of balance or some other bullshit like that. The thing is that I felt fine after the race, I just couldn't push this day. Eh, I'll race anonther day.

Other notes:
My family was out on the beach when I went by and that really felt good to me for them to be out there. Campbell picked me out before I saw them and was yelling "Go Daddy" for all she was worth.

The headwind down the beach was blowing sand all over the place. Tough running down the beach and you throw in a stiff headwind, well that's just offensive.

My family was back at the finish line when I crossed. I had a slow day but that just makes up for it and more for them to be there cheering me on.

My training has been going really good the last 3 months, lots of little incremental improvements and I thought I was in good shape, but there's no chip strapped to your ankle on training days. Training results don't get published. I just couldn't perform when it counted.


Even though I raced like I was towing a piano, I had a good time and really liked the course. Sure the bike was flat but this is the only time bikes are allowed on the main roads on Kiawah Island and the run down the beach was something different and fun. Too bad it's 550 miles away and I may not be back for another few years, I really like the race.