started running but tripped on the bottom, started swimming too early as the ground came back up to meet me. after about 60 yards was finally able to get into a swim groove. rounded the first buoy tight which set me up for the next 2 lengths. got my breathing under control and started passing everyone that overtook me. navigation was very good and only took a few mouthfuls of sea water. struggled coming up in speed as i came out of the ocean and ran through the soft sand to transition.

I would have practiced an ocean swim since its been a couple years since I did an ocean race and I would have like to have a better feel for the bottom leading out to the 1st buoy.

Felt slow but was comparable to everyone else.

Nothing

Last group for the swim start meant that 400 people were out ahead of me. This was great because it meant non stop passing. 1st race on the TT bike in 13 months and it showed, I really couldn't hold aero position for more than a few minutes, so every time I passed somebody I came out of aero for a break/don't trust people.

Since I have only been back from deployment for 3 days, not much. I would have like more time on the TT bike.

Not much going on here, took a minute to get myself together. I took a hot shot cramp preventer coming out of T2 because I could feel my legs about to blow up.

Nothing

Came out believing I was going to cramp but the hot shot seemed to work well. I held a 180 on the bike and wanted to maintain that on the run. I was thinking that I was going to be 7ish but I stuck at 7:30's. My heartrate was stuck at 180 so I just suffered through it. I passed a lot of the people I didn't pass on the bike but just had nothing in the tank to bring to the finish.

Need to lose 10 pounds following deployment and my left groin has been strained for the past 3 weeks which limited any real training.

As soon as I crossed the finish line there was a water shower and i stood under it for 3 minutes trying to bring my hr back down. I found some friends and talked with them, then watched the wife come in on the aqua bike. Then had pizza, cookies, coke, water, and gatorade as we waited for awards.


10 pounds extra weight, lack of training due to deployment, and not knowing the course.


Very well put together race I would go to any of the races that DRC Sports puts on!!