This was my first OWS. I started in the back of the pack. Got in the water and then freaked out. I couldnt get in any rhythm at all. I tried but i had troubles breathing and I was swollowing water. So I did what i could. I tried to freestyle but i breast stroked, side stroked, did anything to go forward. I was bummed and figured my day was shot but I would still try my best. No excuses, my swim was BAD.

Without any doubt, practice more OWS. I have another try at the end of August and I dont want to happen, what happened today. So i will do a few OWS before the next try.

Not a real bad transition. The only problem i had was getting the velcro around the neck off. I got the suit off quickly and put my Garmin watch on my wrist. Quickly rinsed the sand off my feet and put on my bike shoes and was off.

Get more flexible so i can easily reach behind my neck area

I feel I didnt have any shot of a finishing on the podium but I still wanted to hammer it out. I didn't really feel i was going fast but I was spinning good. I did not look at my watch during the bike or run.

practice my T1 transition more and become more efficient.

racked my bike and got my bike shoes off pretty quick. I did a quick water squirt before putting on the running shoes. I have been doing my rides and runs without any socks and there has not been any issues or problems.

practice T2 more and become more efficient

I actually felt slow but i ran and was passing people. I was focused on a guy that was ahead of me and look like a Clydesdale (he was a Clyde, more on this guy later). I ended up passing him on the beach and ended up about a minute ahead of him. There was some soft sand and that was not the easist place to run. But i finished as strong as i could

Run harder. I thought I did.

I finished ...my g/f was waiting with the camera. I had a Gatorade G3 and some oranges. I walked around until i cooled down.


Obviously the swim


I have a bunch of comments. My times are based upon my Garmin.

I liked this race a lot. There was an issue with communication with the 1st wave. They did not do the entire run and only did the bike path portion. People were upset that there was no direction by race personnel. Personally, I feel it is the racers fault because there were maps and on the website there were pictures of the actual swim, bike, and run. There was no reason not to know that. Just my personal opinion.

During the awards ceremony, they forgot to do the Clydesdales and Athena awards. The race director was advised. They announced the winners. They announced that 3rd place was 1:08. So I figured I got 1st or 2nd. They announced 2nd and then 1st. The 1st place triathlete was the one that I passed on the beach during the run and I finished ahead by almost a minute. I immediately notified the Race Director. He checked the results and said I was absolutely right. They changed the results and I was made the 1st place winner.

I am proud of the fact that I still hammered the bike and ran hard even after a totally poor swim performance. I never gave up and I am happy for that.

Lastly, I love the enthusiam of all people who are at the triathlons...both spectators and competitors. There was one female triathlete cheering everyone she run by or past.

Brent