This was a land start. I was in the third wave. All of the Olympic waves went first, then the sprint waves. As I lined up for my wave Jeremy elbows me and points out my parents who have showed up to cheer me on. "Hi, Mom" I yell. She smiles. I spot my wife, kids and Dad in the crowd too. So the horn goes off and were in the water. Probably 3 dozen people are in my wave and it is crowded. After about 400 yards we get spread out and I can swim without running into anyone to much. About 1/2 through the first lap my left shoulder starts to bother me. A few more minutes and my left forearm and first finger go numb. Every few strokes I make a fist and try to get the blood flowing again. It bothers me the whole swim. At some point during all this my goggles begin to fog up and I have to stop and lick the inside of the lens. I treated them before the race but wore them the day before for my practice swim. Over all I’m not happy about my swim. I finished the swim 24 seconds slower than last year.

Wear a freshly treated pair of goggles for the race.

Fair T1 for me. I was tired from the swim and took a little more time than I should have putting my socks on. I beat my 2:43 T1 from last year. So I made up that time I lost in the water.

Go faster.

My goal for the bike was to be out of T1 and on the bike 30 minutes in to my race. I looked at my watch coming out of T1 and it read 34 min and change. I knew I had a lot of ground to make up. I was shooting for 2 sub 40 minute loops which put me finishing the first loop no later than 1:10 into the race. I finished the first at about 1:11. Made up some time there.
Staying in areo was tough. My shoulder was still bothering me and I often had to put more weight on my right arm and shoulder than my left. I was in aero about 3/4 of the bike.
The second and last lap was uneventful, I passed 4 people but 4 people also passed me. As I made the final turn into the straightaway towards transition I saw my parents again. Another big wave and a loud "Hi Mom" to my mother (she likes to be recognized). The spectators and athletes around me laughed. I was coming into transition- feet out of shoes and riding on one side of the bike- when the bike in front of me stops abruptly before the dismount line and gets off. I made a little adjustment so I wouldn't hit him and he moves to the left, right in front of me. I hit the breaks and jump off the bike and my back wheel goes up in the air several feet. It hits the ground hard. When I try to push my bike toward transition the rear wheel won't move. I ended up picking up my bike and running with it to my spot.
Great bike for me. Last years time was 1:17:54. A difference of 4+ minutes.


Nothing

OK T2. there was not alot of room on the end of my rack for my bike. I ended up hooking the break shifters over the bar and going. having to run carrying the bike slowed me some.

Nothing

My goal for the run was to be out of T2 by 1:50 into the race. As I ran out of T2 I took a peak at my watch and it said 1:48:XX. I gave myself a little mental pat on the back and focused on running. About ¾ of a mile into the run the course goes through a nature path. It was a wet, soggy, muddy mess. I think it slowed a lot of people down. I ended up walking for a minute here. At first I tried to avoid the major mud puddles but eventually gave up and ran through them.
As I made turns and passed water stations I’d give my self time goals for the second lap. Pass aid station #1 at this time, make this turn by this time, etc. At one of the turn arounds I saw Jeremy coming toward me, high 5, Jay. I made a note of where he passed me on the run last year and was determined to hold him off this time. (I’m a better swimmer than him and we’re about even on the bike, but he ALWAYS gets me on the run.) He eventually got me with about 1 ½ miles to go. Much better than last year when he caught me 1 ½ miles into the run.
At the beginning of the second loop my wife, kids and parents were there cheering for me. I blew big kisses to them. I did manage to open up a blister on my left heel during the second loop. My sock had slipped down and my shoe rubbed a small section raw. I met all of my time goals on the second loop and crossed the crossed finish line in 56:08. This is the first time I’ve broken 60 minutes on the run leg of an Oly and I also set a new PR. My run this year also shattered last years run time of 1:05:04.


Nothing. This was a good run for me.

I crossed the finish line and went to the water station. Jeremy was there holding a water cup for me. A great sporting gesture from my main rival and best friend. Thanks, Jay.
I ate some food and drank some water, got back in the lake and cooled down some. Took some pics with Jay and my family.
A note for those who think I came off as a bit of a momma's boy here. I'm trying to convince my mom to do a sprint duathalon so I wanted to show her that I was having more fun than I actually was. That's why the Hi Mom's and big waves to her.



A lousy swim.


Great race Fat Rabbit. I've herd rumors that you're going out of business, say it isn't so.
This race was a PR for me. I shaved 13:58 off last years time! Mostly on the run.