I was very unfocused for the swim. I could not see the buoys well, went out too fast and passed a lot of people, then after the first turn the rest of the swim went downhill. I did some backstroke for a while. Lost the pack that I was with and had some 15-19 AGer climbing up my butt (I was in the "survivor" wave, the first wave out). Not a stellar performance by yours truly.

Since I was so "ho hum" about the swim, I decided to experiment with different breathing patterns. This was fun for a while. I usually breathe bilaterally, after every 3 strokes. I tried doing 2 to see if the extra oxygen would help rev me up. It worked but I got off course.

Basically, I treated this like a dip in the river on vacation that I had to get through before a picnic or something. I would focus on applying some of the techniques that have worked in the pool. I'd do more OWS. Panic in teh water is not my problem, distraction seems to be. I like open water and it puts me into "summer vacation" mode

oh we won't even discuss this transition. I was still in la la land from the swim.

uh...focus?

The course was beautiful. I shook off my swim state and got a bit of the eye of the tiger going. Scar was responsive and raring to go, due to the nice bath and lube I gave him the night before the race. I felt great. The course couldn't have been kinder. I passed a lot of people. In general, because I was in the first wave, I didn't have any problems with people riding all over the road on the first lap. The second lap was a dift story, some people do not know how to stay to the right.

Done more of what I did. I had a lot of 22mph sections going, but distracted briefly in several sections the first time around, and didn't push. I think I have the furthest to go with my biking, I'm not sure I can improve swimming and running that much, but I now have a taste of the way I need to go on the bike.

again, a crappy transition. I was dreading the run and it showed in how long it took me to put my shoes on.

I dunno. uh, speed it up a bit?

felt like the Bataan death march. I was relatively focused for the first half, but I felt awkward and slow. Legs weak and crampy. Second half I walked a bit, although I really didn't need to. About 100 yds before the finish I did manage to speed up to try to get some final speed in, but a major cramp seized my right inner quad and I hobbled to the finish line. Nice.

MORE BRICKS.

met the Ex-Hubby (and best friend), walked around to get rid of the cramp, ate a bit, sampled the goods, then we left, picked up another friend and ate a huge lunch.


Attitude and lack of training. Need I say more?


Nice race. I think they did a good job and the setting couldn't be better.