Started out well near the back of the wave, by the half-way point I had been hit several times, lost my focus, then was held up by a couple of people dog-paddling/treading water, then goggles started leaking. Ended up side-stroking the last 150 meters or so.

Long warm up is crucial for me. Start more to the outside.

I was winded from the bad swim so I was slower than I thought.

Will probably go sockless next time.

The bike was a little tricky. First of all, you exit transition on a little walking path in the park. As soon as you mount up, and clip in, you continue for maybe 100 feet on the path and then make a short but VERY steep uphill turn and follow the path another 150 feet or so to where it connects to the road. On the road, watch out for speed bumps and rough patchy pavement. Once you turn left on San Pablo, there is an uphill section that is smooth.

I was pretty tired after the swim so it took me a while to recover. I also decided to take it easier than normal and save my legs for the run.

T2 is tricky. As you are coming downhill on the path to the park, you have to dismount before the steep section. You don't have a lot of room and you have to watch you footing if you run down in your cleats. Some people took their shoes off at the dismount area.

Probably remove shoes after dismount.

Steep stairs and path leading to road, downhill to San Pablo and then flat. Legs felt OK, was conservative and didn't want to blow up. Took 2 cups of water at the aid station. It was getting pretty hot. Saved a little for a sprint at the end.

Run faster.

Walking, cold shower


bad swim put me in the hole from the start, the bike was OK but hard to get in a good rhythm due to the ups and downs. Run was OK but very hot. Steep uphill and then downhill before the finish made it a little tricky.

First ever triathlon! Nervous on the swim as I had just learned to swim a few months before.


Good race for experienced and first timers. Afternoon races are nice, you have plenty of time to get there, setup and get warmed up. The course is short but fairly technical. Coming in and out of transition is technical here as well. Bike handling skills are a must on this course. Probably not a lot of opportunity to get on the aerobars so a road bike might work better here for the twisties and hills.