I lined up front and took off like crazy expecting there to be some fighting for position up front. Unexpectedly, there was none. There were only three of us up front and those two were off to my left and right. This was good news for my heart rate as I didn't have to get all worked up just to escape and find clean water. The next thing I notice is that I can't see jack. I look forward and all I can see is the splashing of water from the swimmers in the previous wave. I just hoped they were going in the right direction because I couldn't see a buoy anywhere. I blame this on my goggles, which were a backup pair after my previous pair got mysteriously broken. I had realized that I had a couple of guys drafting off of my feet and I all I can think about is that they're going to be sorry they followed me once I lead them off course.

Miraculously, I see a buoy. Not only do I see it but I pass right next to it. I totally meant to do that, no luck here. At this point I'm swimming through the traffic of the earlier waves. I see a guy in a white swim cap (my wave) and follow his feet through the bodies of people. If I can't see clearly I might as well have someone lead the way for me. This lasts from the first turn buoy until the turn buoy for home and I suffer minimal contact along the way. Somehow I lose my guide and I'm on my own to make it back to shore. No worries, I can find my way. I just have to swim towards the blurry green/brown up ahead (aka land). The traffic clears up on the way in and eventually my fingers hit sand and I stand up, but I really wish I hadn't yet. It was a long trudge through thigh high water before I could actually hit the beach and jog up it.

Don't be so quick to stand up so early in the water. I know better.

2010 - 23:48
2011 - 22:42
2012 - 22:32

Geeze. My transitions feel so slow. After a long run to my bike, which gave me plenty of time to struggle with getting my wetsuit off my arms, I reached my bike. I took too long to get my wetsuit off my ankles. Mounting my bike felt like a comedic spectacle.
197th out of 673

Practice more transitions. Clearly just competing in triathlons doesn't make me any faster in transition, particularly T1.

Once I got going and settled I put my head down and got to work. I really enjoyed this whole bike segment and just had fun with it. I really didn't care for parts of the old course, which passed through the community college and neighborhood. This course was a welcome change with the wide streets, long straight-a ways, a few hills, and spectators. I tried to manage a balance between pushing it too hard and wasting my legs, and being smart and saving something for the run.

I think I write this on every other race report, but looking at the overall standings my bike is clearly my biggest limiter as everyone else who placed around me has a faster bike split. I've made some good strides in the past year, but there is still plenty of room for improvement. I was kinda hoping for a 22mph average. Oh well.

I think I could've sacrificed a tad more effort on the second loop instead of leaning towards being cautious and resting my legs.

A mostly solid T2. Nailed my bike dismount (it helps to practice beforehand) but fumbled a bit with grabbing my Garmin off the bike. Room to improve.
141st/673

Practice more beforehand.

Started the run feeling great. I made a conscious decision not to look down at my Garmin to see my run pace and to just go off feel for the first mile or two. I had some stomach discomfort which suggested to me that I might have taken in a tad too much fluid on the bike, but it wasn't debilitating. In fact, all things considered, I felt great. There are times when I'm running the leg portion of a tri and I kinda know, later down the road, I'm going to have to slow things down or actually walk at some point. By mile two I *knew* that today wasn't going to be those days. I was going to be able to hold it all together for the entire run. My stomach issues disappeared at some point and I just flat out ignored the early indications of a right ham string cramp.

At mile three I latched on to a guy who was roughly running the same pace as I. I more less followed him for the next 2+ miles. I was forming plans to pass him near the finish, but I wanted to time it right and not attack too soon. However, I noticed his pace was falling off so I kicked it into another gear and got around him with enough effort and hoped to keep him from counter passing me. I was in pain, especially as I approached the last .25 mile, but I had enough in my legs to carry my body to the finish in an all out effort.

Pick up my pace a mile/half-mile sooner. I had it in me and I should've used it. Set a new 10k PR - although I've only run two open 10k ever.

2010 - 47:54
2011 - 44:00
2012 - 40:31

Gulped down a Gatorade and water. I be thirsty. Since my stomach was iffy on the run I didn't want to test it with anything the aid stations were handing out on the run. After grabbing some small food items I sat down in an isolated area of the parking lot for a breather before getting back up for some mini socialization.


Not specifically targeting this race in my training (i.e. a taper) and feeling really run down the last two weeks in training.


I don't ask for much in my races, just a well run event come race day and that's exactly what I got. I enjoyed the bike and run courses, and despite the increased field size I don't think there were any overcrowding issues. There was talk about a special t-shirt design, but I got the impression that there was a problem getting those in and the ones we got were a quick fix. Anywho, I don't exactly sign up for races for the swag so it didn't bother me.