This swim felt really good. First open water swim for me where it was a no wetsuit rule. The start was a little tough, because the water didn't get more than shin deep for about 50-75 meters, so we were running, then dolphin diving before we could start swimming and settle in. It worked out well though, and I got settled into a rhythm quickly. Found a pretty sizeable group of swimmers going about the same pace and latched onto them. Goal was 23 minutes + 60 second run up the beach, my time was 23:42, so I beat goal. I was definitely happy with the swim.

Nothing.

Goal time was 60 seconds, so it was close. I need to practice running with the shoes clipped in, jumping on the bike, then getting up to speed while getting my feet in my shoes.

Practice transitions.

I felt solid on the bike. I was definitely holding back for the run, and started to get concerned toward the end that I held too much back, but overall I'm not disappointed with how this went. For my first Oly distance race though, I thought I paced well, pushed hard where I could, took it a little easier where the course was hard, and made good decisions. Knowing what I know now, I would have pushed a little harder, but I really have no regrets. Also, I wanted to get down 2 gels and 2 bottles on the bike. Got down 2 gels, 3/4's of one bottle of water, and 1/2 gatorade. Need to drink more in the future on the bike.

Goal time here was 1:05, and I went 1:06 and change. Considering the slightly long course, I was very close to goal time.

Push a little harder at certain spots on the course.

I just need to move faster in T2. Goal was 30 seconds, I went 52. I had a little trouble racking my bike, but that doesn't account for 22 seconds. I just need practice.

Hurry my ass up.

This run felt surprisingly good. I took it easy the first two miles, going steadily low 7 minute pace but not pushing, then picked it up around 4, then tried to run the last couple HARD. The hills prevented me going too fast, but I ran as hard as I could for the last two miles. I was starting to crack by the end of the run, but it still felt good overall. The hills in the last two miles were just a bitch, and I would go so far as to say that this was a harder 10K than the BolderBoulder course, which is saying something at the end of a triathlon.

Goal time was 44:30, time was 44:36, and considering that the course was long by a tenth, I smoked this run.

Maybe push a little tiny bit harder at the beginning. I almost felt like I waited too long to start really going hard. Then again, maybe I would have totally melted down if I pushed harder, so what the hell.

Walk around, stretch, pound water and gatorade. Once again, NO FRUIT AT THE FINISH LINE!? What the hell, I can't eat a cheeseburger 10 minutes after the race is over.


Hills on the course.


Overall, I loved this race. Even though I was mid-pack in AG, it was awesome to see that much talent in one place and race with that group of people. And I felt like I belonged there, which is nice. Even though I was 16 minutes slower than the guy who won my AG, I put up a respectable time and had solid performances in all 3 events. In sum, no regrets, and a great learning experience.

There were a few assholes at the pre-race meeting, but in a group of that caliber and intensity, you're bound to have a few idiots taking themselves too seriously. From that angle, it could have been more fun, but the guys around me in transition were all chatting at the bike check in on Friday, and again on Saturday morning, so I think the jerks at the race were a pretty isolated and small group.

The course was hard. But I would expect that at Nationals and wasn't frustrated or disappointed. Plus, we knew the whole course before the race started, so there were no surprises going in.

Probably the best part of the race though was just getting there early, scoping the course and hanging out with the Dillards. Mark and Michelle took such good care of me when I got there. Mark and I rode the course on Thursday, then had dinner at their camper, then drank beers around the camp fire. Pretty much the same routine on Friday before the race. It was so nice to just relax and be away from the race hotel and all the freaky athletes stressing out. I'm now trying to talk Mark into taking the camper out somewhere next year to do a multi-day training camp. Anyway, thanks so much to Mark and his wife and kids, because they made the race very fun.