Stayed back and breast stroked to warm up into it. after rounding first buoy some 1-200 yards out the back/chest pain acted up and actually went to side stroke for a while (2-300yards) to calm it down. It worked and even working in some free style which felt good and caught up/ passed one or two people. Did not want to over due it so played it "safer" with breast stroke.

Need to get more confident with free style. I made the right choice with no wet suite but my free style is much better, at least race day it was awesome and would have really helped me out.

Knew that rushing would not make a big difference in my overall slow time. I had some trouble getting the bike jersey on but the three nutrition bars were there and did not fall out in the process. Did not feel panicked was still worn from the swim and wanted to keep moving into the bike

Have another bottle of water in transition, otherwise every thing went well. That woulld be just a nice to have especially knowing how hot it really was.

It started very rough. Again my shoulder blade/back problem and never really got comfortable. Was passed by a lot of people which probably played in my head a bit too.. Glad that I got the extra two bottle carrier by the midway turn around I ate two bars and drank 3 bottle. Refilled two and kept plugging along. Time was 10:10AM so I knew I was loosing time. Breeze might have thrown me off a bit thinking I was going faster than I was. I would not have managed anything faster in that heat though. At one point my right hamstring was twinging and I had to straighten leg every 4-6 peddle strokes near the end.

Was so glad to finish it is hard to criticize. Train in the heat would be one, and train more with nutrition. I ate two stinger bars early So my stomach was feeling heavy and then start drinking the perpetuim where I had doubled up in one bottle which does not sit well. Really the heat was the story of the day and the breeze masked it a bit on the bike but I am sure my body was feeling it.

Getting off bike was hard as I went to swing my right leg over nearly every muscle in that leg wanted to cramp. stood on it quickly and it subsided a bit. Support asked me if I was ok, they asked me that a lot, and I said I am right now. Then hobbled over to the bike rack.

Nothing. Nice to have would have been the water bottle. Being my first race I think I did not know if it was the heat or just me. The heat was killer and there was no shade on this lakeside ballpark. Luckily they had the run well supported.

I finished but not the way I would have liked. There were two quick water stops which worked out well, during the race I did not think about the heat but did spend a lot of time trying to keep cool. The first 1/4 mile there was a shower bar which I went through, sneakers and all. My feet/shoes were taking to me for the rest of the day. I walked and walked with few attempts to run for 1-200 yards at a time. After first loop guy wanted to discourage me from continuing as I would not meet the cut off. I did not stop made it to the shower bar again talked with a couple finishers and other race support and decided to keep going. Might have helped they were a couple cute younger ladies. Soon found out all support was lifted and without any water I would have been in serious jeopardy at that point. walked about 3 mile where the wet towel I had was nearly completely dry and I headed back to the finish. :(

Train in more heat. The summer was really cool this year and did not expose me to that kind of heat. Really needed a much better base to deal with that heat.

Did everything I could to keep moving as the whole event was really focussed on cleaning up A guy gave me a half gallon of hot water and I hid in some shade for a while (few minutes) then head to my bike one of two still in the field. I was moving very slow and another competitor asked if I was alright. I gave him the thumbs up and he said that it was really hot that day and it was 95 (this was around 4:15) I decided I had to get back to my car to get my phone and check the weather. I was nearly crawling with bike and gear to a pavillion for some shade where I hide for 10-20 minutes before verifying how hot it was that day.


HEAT!!! The forecast was for rain in the afternoon, rain did not come and sun was out in force. Real feel temperature had to be at or above 100 degrees this day.


It was a great race. I think they did a lot to add water stations given how hot it was. Although they did seem to be caught by surprise with the heat and at 2:45PM they were already clearing the roads and stuff. I felt a bit naked on that second loop. With more normal weather I really feel I was in good position to finish in the cut off.