I felt great when I was swimming but had issues with water filling up my left goggle. so every 10-15 strokes I had to do a modified breast/side stroke and get the water out of the goggle. This really had an effect on sighting the buoys and I felt blind in that eye once I got out of the water and into the transition area. Was more of a mental issue because i felt strong while swimming and did not feel winded at all at the first transition.

Need to work on sighting the buoys in the open water. Will practice that in the next 6 weeks. Other than that i just have to work out my equiptment issues and get used to the elbows

Thyis is obviously something i could work on to get better times but at this stage in my training just finishing a race is desired. So overall i felt fine about this transition.

Maybe a little practice jogging in my bike shoes could help me get used to that feeling.

Got on the bike easy and then the first 6 miles of the 13 mile ride was ALL UP HILL! This was a little painful but I chugged all the way up and kept telling myself it’d be all better on the way down. 1/4 of the way down I though my back tire was getting flat (this had been a concern as I noticed that both tires were a little low when i set up the transition in the morning) so I contemplated stopping, then I looked at my speedometer and I had reached a top speed of 37 MPH, so I decided i had to check the tire for fear of taking a turn and loosing control. Tire was fine, and around the next turn I saw some poor bloody bastard being hauled away in an ambulance next to a slightly twisted bike, I was then patting myself on the back for being so cautious. Got off the bike and walked gingerly into the transition

Train on some more hills and longer distances.

Tired! pulled on socks, knee brace, sneakers, sucked down a sports drink, put on hat, grabbed a gel pack and ran out.

IO think getting the quick pull laces will help, i was not happy while tying up my laces so this will change. Also i did not roll my socks prior so i'll do this next time.

Sucked = Shin Splints. But I powered through ‘em. I ended up walking and running all the way to the finish although I made sure to do the final mile all running. Surprisingly the shins are not feeling as bad as the knee is today.

Again light streatching for post race as i did pre race. There seemed to be a great deal of activity at the end event but as the finish line was 3 miles away from the start i did not want to stay much longer than i needed to warm down as i had friends back at the start/ transiotion area. I did get some power bar samples, some orange slices, and water/ OJ for the shuttle back to the start area.


Overall performance wise i think i need to continue with my own training and add a few more leangthy brick workouts. also the shin splints really hindered my run training and overall performance so i'm going to nurse those for a few weeks and try to get it under control so that i can really get some good training in for the run.


Popping my cherry in San Diego was fun and I can't wait to do it again!