excellent swim compared to my first open-water experience. my goal was to be under 25:00. i never struggled and pretty much stayed on course and steady the whole time.

maybe get a more sggressive start position. i stayed back and out of the pack to avoid the panic/congestion that i experienced my last race.

almost forgot to put my helmet on. taking off the wetsuit was annoying but not too bad. they had helpers there to pull it off for you, but i decided i should be able to do it myself, so i skipped that option.

have more of a plan of what to do -- i never rehersed t1.

i had forgotten to mount my cycle computer, so i never new my current speed, but there were mile markers, and i kept my pace using those and my watch. on the flats, i was doing 20+ rather comfortably, but there was a lot of traffic (both that i had to pass, and had to get passed by), and the course got quite tight at times. i felt like i was much faster than most around turns, but could rarely take advantage due to high traffic. i really enjoyed the ride, though.

remember my computer.

good transition, i thought. stopped for about 10 seconds to talk to my dad and get an update on how Susan was doing.

nothing.

awful. my stomach didnt feel quite right the moment i started running, but i ran the first 2 miles in 18:00. i slowed way down the tird mile, then had to start walking. by the fourth mile my stomach was knotted up, i was nauseous and had trouble walking. i had to sit down for a minute or so about 3 times in the last few miles. i was quite miserable, but i figured i might as well keep walking and finish. i'm not sure if i got sick due to too drinking much water during the bike, swallowing some lake water during the swim, lingering effects from being sick a few days before, not getting enough protein before and during the race, or some combination of these.

not sure.have to figure this one out.

being sick.


excellent race overall. plenty of volunteers to help out just about everywhere you'd need them.