This was the longest single session swim I've ever attempted so I figured I'd take it easy the first lap - slipped behind a long lean woman and drafted the first 1.5 laps - saved energy. There was another guy shadowing the two of us. At the middle of lap two, they took off. I did not see her again.

The rest of the race I was pretty much on my own.

Rounding the bouy to the third side on the second lap, the wind must've kicked up because the chop was brutal. If you could only breath to the right you'd be having some serious difficulties. It was the most difficult swimming I've ever done. Fortunately I can breathe left but the chop made sighting tough, you really had to get your head up to see the bouys. This meant the second side of the triangle was the most relativeley smooth so I planned to push harder on that side.

Lap three was more of the same, into the chop 1st side, 2nd side i did push but was getting tired, form was breaking down a bit, really had to focus on keeping it long and not getting sloppy with the pull as I tend to cross over midline when I get real tired.

Turning into the final leg, the chop was even worse - I was getting bounced around and took some water, I flipped over to clear it out, and drain my goggles. Took the opportunity to thank a guard in a kayak. I could not see anyone around me. I asked if I was last... he said not even close so I figured to push on to the end.

I could see the end chute bouys so I decided to crank it up dispite the chop. As I got closer I say a orange cap ahead of me and I was getting closer. It was the guy that had took off with the tall chick.

I blew past him like he wasn't moving. Actually he looked like he was struggling and his head was way down.. water was actually breaking on the back of his neck.... anyway I cranked it up into the finish, when my hand hit bottom i got up and staggered up the short steep soft sand and across the Mat. People seemed a little aghast.. I was staggering a bit, and let out two big belches. I was done! 1:33:06

push a bit harder, i did not leave it all in the lake

staggered around for a minute, DD#2 found me and i stripped off wetsuit ate a banana and finished the last of my now warm gatorade


some mild calf cramping , but mostly the chop. It did not look like much but had a definite impact. Plus I am not in as good condition as I would like to be


stuck around for announced results.. 2nd! Hardware!