Started in the middle of the second wave(40 and older group) and started very slowly. I wanted to make sure the calf wouldn't tighted up on me. My main goal for today was to finish. I had only run once for about 15 minutes in the past 2 weeks because of the injury. After the first half mile I felt OK, so I started to pass a few people and was going fairly smooth. At the start to the second lap the calf started to tighten up a little, so I let up a little and tried to get in a comfortable pace and just think of gettin to the transition area. I made it to the transition and was soo happy I was able to finish the first 2 miles!

Nothing. The way my calf was feeling the past few week, I was just glad to finish the first run with out too much discomfort.

Leaving the transition area and getting on the bike was a nightmare. I used my clip-on platforms so I could just bike in my running shoes. I will never do that again. When I tried to put my left foot in the pedal, it came unclipped. Now my legs are tired and I'm trying to get the platform clipped in so I can then get my shoe in. It took me a good minute or two to finally get both shoes in and tightened.

Do not use clip-on platforms ever again... From now on I will use my cycling shoes.

First of all I had a terrible time getting my running shoes into my pedals. Then I had to tighten them up, but they kept comming loose, so I will never use them again.
I felt pretty good on the bike and passed a good number of people. By looking at the results I think they were mostly the slower ones from the first wave. Since I didn't have my cycling shoes on, it seemed most of my stroke was on the down stroke and could not make complete circles without the fear of my shoes comming out. This cause my thighs to tire fairly quickly, but still I felt pretty good for my first race.

Not suse my clip-in pedal platforms, use my cycling shoes.

Well I could tell I haven't done this in a Loonng time. When I got off the bike my legs just wouldn't move. I had to walk all the way out of the transition area before I could even think about running.

Need to work on some bricks as I could hardly function when I got off the bike.

Well when I finally did start running for the second 2 miles it felt like my legs were filled with a ton of bricks. It was all I could do to get them moving in the right direction, and people were passing me left and right. After about a half mile they started to fell a little better and I was hanging with every one around me at that time. I stayed pretty constant untill the second mile when my legs stated to feel alittle better, but my calf was very tight by this time. I wanted to streth my stride out a little, but I just couldn't.

Need mor training runs. Being limited to 15 minutes in the past 2 weeks really hurt.

Gatoraid and cookies.


First of all my calf made me take it slow and easy for the run. The clip-on pedal platforms were a big mistake that cost me time getting in them, and caused a poor pedaling technique. The lack of running in the past few weeks really hurt me on the secon run today. Overall I am pleased with the day. I started training back in December to get back in shape. At that time I weighed 223, and now I am down to 195. I want to do many more of these races and just continue to improve.