Broke my cardinal rule which is never use gear for the first time in an event. Used a spare pair of old goggles cause my good ones are at gym. Goggles never sealed and were full of water the whole time. (Almost ripped them off and left them in lake but recalled leaving stuff on course can get you a penalty)

Also had a bad start. This was a wave start for about 50 folks. All over 50 males and Clydesdales. But you had one minute after pros started to get from shore to the line behind the bouy. I could not get to the outside line fast enough for the starting pistol and ended up in the middle and sandwiched for 4/5ths of the race between two guys one on each side of me. It was a mess.

Also (as in tris two years past) am always shocked to emerge from the water with my HR at 160. It.s never even close to that in a pool workout and it proved a problem for rest of race.

Use my good googles (second pair already ordered)

Start on the outside where I can avoid contact and get out in front

swim my pace and try to stay calm!

Normal transition. But I forgot two things from years past.

First, transfer the Garmin from your wrist to the bike in transition NOT while on the bike. I dropped it with wet hands while on the bike. Had to dismount, run back and find it in the grass. Not the most auspicious start to the bike ride!

Second, got on the bike and HR was already 160!

Be calm and practice

I was actually pleased with the cycle portion. I went in hoping I could average 20mph having only trained to date at about 18 mph. Without the garmin issue at the start, I achieved that. I spent a lot of time on the bike trying to breathe deeply, maintain my speed at 19-20 and bring my heart rate down. Could not get it below 160 no matter what I tried (short of dropping a lot of speed). I could have held that pace for a lot longer and did not feel like I was pushing the limits on the bike. Makes me wonder if I need to up my training speed

1. Garmin onto bike before I start

2. Keep training and NOW use my new P1 power pedals

3. Get back on my aero tri bike. Of the 14 folks who I saw pass me in my age group on the bike, EVERYONE of them was on a tri bike. Apparently, if you are still doing this sport at age 50, everyone takes it VERY SERIOUSLY!

Fine. About as quick as normal

Nothing

Well, this is where the wells fell off BIG TIME. I cannot do runs starting with HR of 160. I was dying from the start from both hard to breathe and heat. Started off first mile too quick and then spent the rest struggling to finish by running and walking. Pretty awful



LOTS more training

Need to do bricks (failed to do any in first eight weeks)

Jumped in the swimming pool (best post race option I have seen in a while!)


Lack of training. have to work more o be a good runner again.