Didn't need to do much sighting, I swam very straight and there was zero current or wind.
Started a far left and aimed right for the buoy. Didn't have to do any course correction! A couple of times had to navigate around people who were slowing down or kinking me or punching me in the head. At one point I got one person (mid course!) cut me off and then stopped right in front of me. A little later on two people converged right in front of me and stopped. I think they banged heads or something...it sounded like two coconuts hitting.
Very happy with swim. Water was clear and just the right temp.
I could have gone faster. Finished fresh.
Suit needs replacing - or I need to gain more weight again.

Push myself a little harder. I was worried about cramping or getting out of breath and that never happened.
I could have easily been at least two minutes faster. I felt very comfortable.
Was worried about my suit being too baggy and chafing, but that wasn't an issue...it is still too baggy.
I felt like I was complete control in the water. My watch strap came loose and almost off - I calmly stopped, fixed it and kept going, only missing maybe 2 strokes. Same with navigating around people that were hitting me, just calmly corrected course and went on.
Breast stroked maybe a total of 10 strokes and then only to see what some goofs were doing around a turnaround buoy. Great swim!

Tried something different. Beach was very sandy. Instead of using the strippers, I ran with my suit (bottom) still on and pealed it off myself at beside my bike. It worked very well. Still lost about 50 seconds trying to clear all the sand out of my toes and getting my socks on.
Used up time getting sunblock on (first time I've ever done this) and I missed my shoulder blades entirely - ouch. Everything went well and according to plan. New helmet was no problem with my pony tail.
Stopped and had a very long pee just before getting going. Ran with bike to mount line. Didn't forget anything.

Sand was an issue, but I still don't think I would use a bucket/pan. Organizationally it is too much for me to think about pre-race.
Everything else went really well. Great transition spot. used curb as a seat, bathroom break was well timed! Ran with bike - first time I've ever done that. All good

Played Cat and Mouse with Trisportnick who passed me just as I went to the bathroom at the turnaround.
He is an incredible climber! I would burn by him on the downhills and out pedal him on the straightaways, but he would always catch up...I burned myself out almost trying to keep ahead of him...He came in about a minute behind me, but was only a few seconds slower on the bike time - great motivation for me!
Felt a little burnt out near the last 1/3 of the way back. I think I was starting to bonk. Looked at my mileage had about 15k to go. I had trouble getting motivated...then I realized I needed more food....took in a gel and it all came back.
Spun over 100 the last 3 k in town, but also did some hard pulling because I was worried Nick would catch up! Legs felt fresh in transition.

Some of the interesting observations:
One "bump" in the road had collected 8 yellow aerobottle sponges, 5 bottles and three flats as I went by safely.

Signs saying "race" in progress on the road were in the way and had to be ridden around creating a dangerous situation - Yes they were the great big diamond ones - just picture it!

A Texas Gate (cow catcher) at the turnaround gave a big scare the night before as it looked like it would eat wheels - but it was insignificant because it was covered with particle board.

Staying to the right of the white line was next to impossible in places where there was gravel and rumble strips.
A couple of times I had to put my breaks on to avoid drafting because there was no way to safely pass a rider.
Did a lot of swearing every time nick passed me - I think he passed me four times (I passed him five!)

One woman wouldn't yield when I yelled LEFT! four times. When I finally went around her by crossing the white line, she yelled at me and said she can't fix a flat, so why should she risk getting off the clean road surface!???

My bike is fast...very fast. But I only hit a top speed of 69.9...I think I was a little tentative with all the gravel and sand. I really missed my 11 tooth cog, that I sacrificed for the 27 inch one...I could have pedaled harder in places.

Slowest speed was 9.8k/hr up one hill on way back...with a headwind...there was some serious soul searching here. I was never uncomfortable though.

My hip was hurting a bit. I took one advil and within 10 minutes things got good"er" in a hurray.

Nutrition was perfect. One and a half bottles of Glyco concentrate (egg taste and all!) One powerbar over half an hour...lots of chewing!, two power gels, three bottles of water - two of which I grabbed on the fly and emptied into my aero bottle. Other than the slight near-bonk experience, nutrition was perfect - and it helped on the run too.
No problems with electrolytes...although it was overcast on bike. Took 2 e-load pills every 20-40 minutes. This worked out well. Didn't have any gatorade on ride.

Had a pee at the turnaround.
This is a major achievement! At Morden Half last year I peed four times while riding the bike! I really tried to pee while riding but I just couldn't do it...I really didn't need to anyway and waited until T2

Try to go a little stronger in the last part without burning myself out before the run.
I was worried about flatting...everybody was, so I may have been a little less reckless than I normally am on the downhills.

More hill work...I have to get stronger climbing the hills.

Fast transition for me. Everything went like clockwork. Didn't forget anything.
Had all my gels in a flask, had some e-load pills and Advil in a ziplock and my asthma meds. They all fit nicely in the Zoot suit pockets.
Shoes went on well.
Stopped for a pee before leaving.
Great transition.

Nothing.
Ride even faster than Nick on the uphills!

Not my best run...but my best HIM run. My plan was to only walk the aid stations. I did that except for two spots where I just broke down a bit and walked and two hills (same one) where almost no one ran.
Felt tired but never out of it.
It was hot...could feel the heat in the souls of my feet. Biggest battle was with mental toughness...had to convince myself to just keep going. Got passed by Nick in first 2k. Kept a pretty consistent pace although I started faster than I finished.
I was beating myself up for not going faster, but realized I was still passing some people - but was passed by plenty others. I'm content with this run.
Clothes worked out perfectly - Zoot 2-piece. No chaffing! No extra bulk.
Shoes got soaked and muddy from water and sweat dripping onto them.

Made a brilliant discovery. Instead of ice under the hat, just hold the ice. It lasts between aid stations. Give you something to do and cools the whole body down through the extremities. It was brilliant.

Nutrition was spot on. One flask with three powergels and a little water in it. every 40 minutes or so. 2 e-load pills every 30 minutes. Water sips at every station. Gatorade at the last two stations. One Stinger gel at the last aid station - I had run out of powergel and wanted a pickmeup for the run home. Lots of ice.
Water on the head at every station.

Good fast sprint to finish. Passed three people.
Competent run!

Push harder and run faster. I don't think I made any mistakes, just could have worked a little harder.
When I got passed I should have used some of their speed to keep up a bit. I didn't do this. I again was too worried about not blowing up. I didn't come close to blowing up.
Otherwise it was all good.

Not much. Hung out with Nick and some of the other peeps...Including my Dauphine friends.
A little stretching. Should have gone into the lake, I didn't know that we were able too - it is a closed (member's only) lake.
Went into the pool and then the whirlpool several times at the hotel.
Met up with friends after the banquet.
Banquet included beans and cabbage/coleslaw...Not a great idea - they had to crack some windows!

Got a nifty towel and shirt and really heavy medal for my hassles.


Not much. I guessed I would do about 6:30 so I was ten minutes faster.
This race went according to plan and training, although I probably could have gone faster at everything.


Last year I did Morden in 7:11:24...The bike was 6k shorter and the swim 100m shorter at Morden.
I did this longer race in 6:20:15. The results speak for themselves.

Great race.
Even better racing side by side with Nick and Highwaydog. This was a formative race for me.