This was my best tri swim yet. I made several changes based on what I've learned in my first 4 tris (one being last weekend). I made an effort to line up on the inside, instead of the outside to cut some distance off the swim (I tend to avoid the "pack" as I hate the wrestling). This time, I decided to try to find someone swimming my speed and do some drafting. I was able to draft a few times which was cool. I seemed to be sort of stuck in a pack for the first probably 400 meters of the swim before we spread out. I was also passing stragglers from the wave before ours, and I "think" I was near the FOP when I finished because I couldn't see many white caps (my color) in front of me in the last 500 meters, and there were alot of bikes on the racks still when I got to T1. I had done an OLY about a month ago (my first OLY) to get a gauge of what my pacing should be, so this time, I stepped up my swim pace and it seemed to work well. There was a long run to T1...probably around 300 yards, and part of that on the sand. I kept my pace slow here to keep my breath in check.

I maybe could have swum even harder, not much harder, but I think I had a little too much in the "swim" tank at the end of the swim.

Just went through it methodically. I was thinking in my head during the jog to T1 what I needed to do, so I followed my plan. Threw a gel and a Clif Bar in my back shirt pocket. Never ended up using the gel.

I wanted to wear bike shorts instead of my tri shorts (I like the extra padding), so I had speedos under my wetsuit, and pulled the bike shorts over them after getting the wetsuit off. I didn't want to wear them under the wetsuit because the thicker chamois would soak up too much water. In hindsight, I think I could have handled the bike in the tri shorts, which I could have worn under the wetsuit. That might have saved me about 10-15 seconds.

My legs were feeling fresh through the entire bike, and I just wanted to keep pushing. I found myself passing more people than passed me. In the last half of the bike, I had a guy in my age group ahead of me slightly, and we kept exchanging front position. In the last 2 miles, I overtook him and never saw him again. I just kept pushing! I try to use the bike to hydrate, and drank nearly a whole bottle of diluted Gatorade, and about 1/2 bottle of water, and a big bite of a Clif Bar. That was tough because it was a bit dry and I was breathing hard. I tried to use the beginning of downhills to drink so as not to lose too much speed. My av. speed was really good for me and I finished alot faster than I had anticipated. One thing...my bike computer is off. It read 21.8 miles when I finished, and last week in my sprint tri, it was also reading lower than the official mileage of the race. I have to check that thing!

Honestly, for me current ability level, I was happy with my bike performance today. For a "good" triathlete, it probably would have sucked, but for me, it was a PB for that distance.

Came in quickly and actually skidded on the sandy pavement and almost missed unclipping! Ducked into T2 and followed my plan. Off with the helmet, on with the visor, race belt, and running shoes (speed laces). Guys had laid their wetsuits over my rack, so I had to rack on top of their suits.

I was happy with this transition.

I'm not a fast runner by any means, and simply wanted to maintain a 9-minute-per-mile pace. I'd say I got passed more than I passed others. I started out at a slow pace for the first 2 miles, and then got into a groove and managed to increase my pace. At every water station (there were three on the run course) I would take two cups and dump one on my head and gulp the other. I made sure to thank the volunteers, and have to say that the Marines along the course were a HUGE motivator for me! They were all cheering us on and shouting stuff they probably had to hear in boot camp, but it worked for me, and I thank them all!!!! I was starting to get tired around mile 4, but by the last mile, I picked it up, and did my "rubber band sprint" in the last 100 yards. I call it that because my legs feel like rubber bands when I sprint at the end. Weird, but good! This was, for me, a great run. For a good triathlete, my pace is probably a crawl!

Somehow figure out how to stay cooler. I felt revived every time I dumped water on my head, but there were 3 water stations. I don't really want to carry water on the run, and hey, it was overcast in the 70's which is COOL. I'm going to have to step it up for my big Half Iron in September. It could be VERY hot for that one, and I'll have to figure something out. Maybe a hat with an ice pack under it for the run?

Within 1 minute after finishing, I felt great! In fact, I had dropped a water flask I kept in my race shorts about 100 yards from the finish and I ran back over to get it and ran back. Just kind of walked around and had my wife take pics and video. Got an orange wedge and Gatorade that was on offer.


Me being hot and lack of speed training. I have done zero heart rate training and zero "interval" training. Just been doing the miles and building my endurance, so because of that, my race speed has improved slowly but surely.


I would say this was the best of my 5 tris so far. The Marines put on a first-class event with TONS of support from the Marines along the entire course. They were VERY motivating cheering for you every step of the way. They definitely kept me powering in parts of the race. A group of them were standing near the transition with a sign that said "Go Your Name", so every time I passed that area, I'd yell "YOUR NAME" and point at myself, and they'd yell and we'd all laugh. It was classic, and made the race fun! I will definitely do this one again next year!