Very calm morning, low tide; no wind, no swell, no surf, water was smooth. Got in water 10 minutes before start and swam 100 yards out and back to get acclimated to water temperature. Started at back of pack and to the outside. Didn't want to get caught up in the pack trying to swim over my ability and burn out on swim and didn't know how I would perform swimming in a pack. Ended up passing a lot of swimmers that began to run out of gas after the first 300 meters. Stayed to the outside around the last bouy and continued to pass slower swimmers.

Go out a little stronger in the beginning. Not help guy next to me in transition get his wetsuit zipper unstuck; wasted time, never got zipper unstuck.

Need more practice, more organization. Pick a rack location closer to the aisle instead of back in a corner.

Not help guy next to me in transition get his wetsuit zipper unstuck; wasted a couple minutes.

Bike went just as planned; finish time was slightly better than my expected goal for course.

Continue training to improve speed.

I thought transition went pretty smoothly. Once again, need more practice and organization.

Do something different with shoes; too much time getting out of bike shoes and into running shoes. Remember to hydrate while on the bike toward the end of the bike segment.

Run time was slightly better than my expected goal to average 9 minute miles. Paced myself as I had practiced but could have gone harder.

Put in more effort. Take the drinks offered along the route whether I need it or not. Remember to hydrate even on a shorter race.

Walk back to parking area about a mile from transition.


First time unknowns. I'd put out a little more on the swim and run, work on transitions and continue to improve times, hydrate whether I think I need to or not.


Beautiful campus and surrounding area, well organized race. I'd do this race again.