We all know (yeah right!), that you should not change things up on race day? You know, don't use different shoes, don't try a new fangled sport drink, or better yet, don't use a NEW FRIGGIN PAIR OF SWIM GOGGLES!!! Well, that is what I did, and the damn things leaked like a garden hose with a big hole in it. Very distracting. I had to swim with my eyes shut because the salt hurt my eyes, then I would open them to see where I was at, and I found out I don't swim that straight with my freakin eyes closed.

Porbably NOT change & use goggles that I have never tried before (IDIOT/Napoleon Dynamite).

I had not practiced with my bike shoes clipped in for a long time, but decided to set up that way. The 45-49 year old transition spot was the absolute furthest away from everything spot I have ever seen. I had to run about a half freakin mile out of the water to get to my bike, and again to get outto the bike course! I don't feel like I could have gone much faster in T-1.

I had trouble getting my feet into my bike shoes after I exited T1, I sort of struggled to sneak my little feet into those Carnacs. WTF? It was a little frustrating to say the least, and I almost drove into an oncoming car lane (IDIOT!)

I was using my new race wheeels (Zipp 404's), and my shifting/gearing was a MAJOR problem. The gears were noisy and I was skipping gears like crazy. I am certain that cost me some time. I hammered pretty hard on the bike, as my heart rate average was right at my lactate threshold. I was thinking, if I don't take it a little easier, I will BLOW TO KINGDOM COME on the run! I tried to get things settled down a little.

Pre-riding the course the day before was really a good thing. Visualization is a big help to me...

I froze my gatorade bottle the night before, and it didn't thaw that well by race time. Another pretty DUBM ASS move, so next time, I guess I'll just drink warm gatorade!

Even though I think the 45-49 AG was at a ridiculous disadvantage in terms of how damn far we were from the entrance/exits, I don't see how I could have done a hell of a lot better in T2, I was as fast as I can go in/out.

Can't really think of much, but then again, I am sure if I watched it on video, I'd see that I am actually an IDIOT, and could have done a lot better!

I got my running legs pretty quickly, and did not push as hard as I can. I wanted to get into a rythem, and I feel I did. I mostly passed other (younger) runners, and I only had a few people go by me on the run. Most of the people who passed me on the run had started in waves way ahead of me on the swim anyway. The 2nd place 50 year old guy thanked me after the race for pushing him the last 1K of the run and said it helped him get 2nd place.

Go a little harder at the beginning, maybe?

Walked around, drank a beer, ate plenty of food, and fluids.


Mental toughness on the bike/run, ability to endure the pain, and my bike gears actiong up and skipping.


My goal was to break 2 hours and do 1:58 which is exactly what I did! I was hopeful to finish in the top 10 of my Age Group in a what I deem a VERY competitive field. I finished 13th, which I am pleased with. This was a great learning experience in my 4th triathlon. Next up Lifetime Fitness in Minnesota in July, can't wait! Woo---Frickin---Hoo!