Well, I was hoping for a better performance than last year and I obviously didn't have it. Although, the water conditions were much worse this year and I know that played a role in my performance. The way out to the first turn buoy went really quick. I felt like I was going to have a decent swim. The farther out I got the more rough the water became and as I rounded that first buoy it was much harder than I expected to keep any rythm. I kept bringing my head out of the water and swimming breast stroke. I was officially a mess. This is no surprise though, as I battle with the swim. Really, I made it through the swim and I feel it was okay for me..

Practice in open water more. Not let myself get mental and keep picking my head out of the water. I just need to keep swimming.

This is a little slower than it should be and would have been but my bladder was out of control. I had to pee so I just sat down and did it before getting on my bike. That's where the extra time went, other than that it was smooth.

Nothing really. I had an issue with nutrition from the get-go and this was one of the effects.

I felt strong from go. I wasn't sure what to expect, but I had a great time on the bike. I was passing people the entire way and was only passed by a few guys. I knew I was pushing hard and keeping a good speed but since I left my computer in the car I wasn't sure of what I was doing. I remembered most of the course from last year and it really went by quick depite having to pee the entire time. I thought about stopping but the only porta pot I saw was too difficult to get to. I just told myself I would stop on the run..as I could make up the time there. Man, was I wrong. I wasn't ready to get off I was having so much fun but I was definitely ready for the bathroom :)

Not much. Perhaps push a little harder but I feel good about this time.

This went well. I'm sure I could improve my time but transition is huge at this race. I ran out with race belt in hand so not to waste any time.

Nothing.

This was a piss poor performance. (Pun intended) My first thoughts on the run were I need to pee! I headed straight for the first porta pot I saw and I was in there for at least 2 minutes. haha. I thought I would feel much better after letting all that fluid go but no such luck. I stopped at the first aid station and sipped some gatorade and dumped a cup of water over my head. The next thing I know my stomach is cramping bad. It hurt to move. Then the gatorade came out. I tried to just keep moving but it hurt. So, I moved slowly along hoping it would let up and it did, until I took another sip of water. It wouldn't stay down. So I decided to just not drink anything else which probably was a bad move. I did though keep dumping water over my head to try and stay cool. I just kept moving forward in hopes to feel better. At mile 4.5 I did start to feel okay, so I picked up my pace to a "normal" run but it was too late. I already knew my goal for the race was shot.

This is where it gets tricky. I want to say I could have pushed through it but in reality I wasn't able to. This is my favorite event of the 3 and it's also my strongest. So to have such an aweful experience really upsets me. I blame the run on my nutrition, not today, but the previous days leading up to the race.

Sat under a tree for a while after finishing with a cold towel over my head. Wondering "what the hell happened out there"


Nutrition the day before was just plain horrible. Eating pizza and breadsticks the night before was a bad move. Not to mention at 9 PM. The next "issue" I had was peeing. It was abnormal to say the least. Why? Because the night before I drank TONS of water..all day too..and I never pee'd. Of course, hind sight is 20/20, and I didn't realize until after the race this would be an issue. So I pee'd before my wave start twice, then had to pee immediately getting in the water. So, I did in T1. But as soon as I got on my bike I had to go again. I didn't want to stop so held on til the run....I obviously held ALL of those fluids from the previous day until the race, when it was very bad timing. Very strange.


Free beer. I mean really, what else do you need to say? This is an excellent event and very well organized. I will definitely do this race again. (even though I'm cursed on this course)