All times are estimated
Started up front, but out to the left of the guideline (most everyone was up front with only 32 racers (one team not included in my overall numbers).
Shout to start was given and it was straight to swimming. Very short course, but I stayed in the crawl the entire distance with no panic or breathing issues. Sighting was ok, but I did get off course on the return trip for a bit and had to correct.
Really had no idea how quickly I got out of the water, but looked back when on shore and there were a lot of folks still coming in.

Nothing this time...was a great confidence booster over all of my reports last year even though it was a short swim course.

Placement includes exiting T1

Guess on the time here again
started pulling off suit as I came out of the water and had it at my waist when I got to my bike. Sat down to pull off suit and had no issues. Helmet on, glasses on, shoes on(no socks). Felt like it was smooth and not rushed.
Grabbed bike and ran/shuffled to the mount line. Stopped and got onto bike (no flying mounts for this guy yet)

Get tri specific shoes and learn to get a flying mount

Holy vibrations Batman! The road surface was not much fun for me at all, the ride pace-wise felt good.
Passed by three people inside the first half1 mile on the course. Two of those were the guys I rode with during my warm-up, the third had an even bigger motor on a HUGE bike with what I consider to be one of the best looking wheelsets out there (Easton EC90s, man they look nice). I was happy to note that everyone that passed me looked like they should be passing folks on thier nice Tri Bikes and wheelsets (hope I can live up to that since I now have a new(to me) bike and wheelset coming).

Being passed on the bike was a first for me, and while I hate to see that my engine isn't up to par yet it primarily meant that my swim is getting better (now just have to do the same at longer distances).

Maintained my aero position (modified road bike with clip-ons, not professional fitted) most of the ride besides coming up to the hoods to give my arms a break from the vibration at one point on the return. Lost ground to all that passed me and eventually had no one in sight front or back. Started counting bodies as i was getting closer to the turn and folks were on their return leg. Way behind, but sitting in 10th overall...made me quite happy about my swim. Decent return leg, but I believe I was getting slower and was mentally cursing the road conditions.

Saw my wife and daughter near the transistion area and stuck my tounge out for her camera.


Pick a different course j/k, but seriously RIDE MORE.

Gear came off ok, but I couldn't get my shoes on for the life of me. I don't normally untie my shoes when training, just slip my foot in with socks. Figured it would be close enough over this short distance without socks or untying my shoes. Didn't work in either case when all was said and done. Don't change things on race day anyone?


Don't get cute with things I haven't done in training and remember that just because one set of shoes works barefoot it doesn't mean they all do.

Legs felt beat and I felt all alone on the course with the folks in front of me too far ahead to ever reel in. I went into maintain my position mode and suffered a lot more on this run than I should have. I did not run a good mental race. I looked back a few times to see if I was getting run down which also told me that I was not in a good place mentally.

I indeed did have one person who was gaining and let him go with a "nice job" right at the turn around point. No chance that I was going to stay with him so I just tried to maintain. Picked it up a little on the last 1/4 mile or so, but just didn't have much I was willing to give. Smiled for my wife and the camera and headed on to the finish happy to be done.

HTFU, train more

Hung around while others finished. Spent some time talking with Paul and his wife and watched the Kid's Tri. After the post race awards we loaded up and headed back north


Me