Wile standing on shore, waiting to start. the Sunn finally rose over the hills to warm my suit. The 67 degree water meeting the 47 degree air made a fog hang over the swim course. When I started. We ran from the shore into the water and began to swim. the fog made it difficult to see but I managed to navigate fairly well.

My goal was to come in under 30 min on the swim part and I did not do that although I felt pretty good while swimming. I'll just need to concentrate on my stroke more the next time.

find a pack to draft with

THis was my longest race to date so I was much more concerned with just getting averything I needed rather than getting out of T1 quickly. I took my time, made sure I had everything...I applied sunscreen, sunglasses, headband, helmet, shoes. My jersey was full of food my bottles had liquid. I was off

This was practice for Placid. I set the timer on my watch to sound off every 20 min. When the alarm sounded, I ate a gel. the system worked well. without that alarm, I would have never eaten enough. The gels began to taste yucky (yuckier than normal) So I stopped at an aid station and grabbed a handfull of banana halves. Man,,,,those tasted good after all that gel. I consuled 3 salt tablets every hour. I think that system worked well for me, I fetl pretty good on the bike!

Nothing

Again, I was not concerned with time too much. I changed my shoes, changed headbands, Ate a Cliff Bar too off for the run

Not eat the Cliff bar

This run was the hardest run I have ever done. After the hills worked my legs on the bike, I was hoping for a flat, smooth surfaced run. FORGET IT! This was some sick joke! My pace up the hill the first time was about 8 min pace and to keep that up was futile. By the time I made the turn, my heart was racing. I had to "take it easy on the way down. Well...That first trip down was pretty fast but my knees took a beating. I ate a gell at the turn around and headed back up the hill. My pace slowed as I struggled up that hill the whole way. I passed some walkers and their walking speed was not much slowe than my labored running. I made the final turn, coasted down the hill and finished my first 1/2 IM race.

Be ready for the hills

gravity


The race was good. In talking to other athletes who had raced in other 1/2 IM races, I would say this is one of the most difficult! in fact, no one I talked to could think of a harder one