Well, this was a decent enough swim because it felt good (especially after the obligatory wetsuit pee). However, I think that I swam it like a wounded salmon, with a sort of floppy back & forth motion. In my third year of this thing, it's still my best swim (31:35 ('06), 30:25 ('07), 28:41 ('08)) so maybe there's hope.

I think that I may be able to swim harder without drowning, actually.

This was the 12th fastest T1 in AG, so that's cool. Sort of fuddled around with the wetsuit around my ankles, but eventually the thing got away from me (sort of like that Venom creature in the Spiderman movie). Improved a little over prior years (1:43 ('06), 1:43 ('07), 1:31 ('08)).

The ride felt pretty easy, although climbing Old Stage in normal gearing should have induced cardiac arrest. Once over the hill, the fun begins; at some point my cateye recorded my maximum ride speed at 44.4mph. I'm like a freakin' Prius! Again, I'm shaving time off my race (1:25:55 ('06), 1:17:45 ('07), 1:15:59 ('08)), although admittedly the Specialized Transition T-Works, aero bars, and Zipp wheels probably helped....

Probably could have taken this up a notch, but really wanted to have run legs. Also, I should have brought my own sports drink instead of forcing down warm orange Gatorade endurance formula, even if it was free.

This was a tie for 3rd fastest T2 in AG, so there's not much more that I can do to improve this bad boy. Jumped off the bike at the dismount line and my right bike shoe blasted off the bike. No time to stop meant wandering around trying to find it after the race finished. Brand new Zoot shoes were killer fast to get into.

Again, improvement (1:38 ('06), :57 ('07), :38 ('08))

Like...nothing?

This run actually felt great. I saved enough from the bike to putter along at under 8 minute miles. Didn't even wet myself! Took water and ice every chance I could to keep cool, which turned out to be smartish. Calf started hurting at mile 5, but kept running through finish.

Again, marked improvement over prior years (52:15 ('06), 49:20 ('07), 48:03 ('08)).

Hadn't run in weeks leading up to the race due to calf injury. Maybe next time I won't get hurt, and will actually run a bit before the race.

Crossed the finish line thrilled with the time (I was hoping to come in under 2:40). Actually sort of felt like I could do the course again (albeit much slower the second time), so that's good. Watched the pros compete at the end, which was an incredible thrill.


I sort of need to get faster in the water. With more training and no injury, I think that I could shave a couple of seconds off this time.


This really has to be one of the best run, most exciting triathlons in the country. There are so many competitors that it's astonishing. Great fun, and it's nice to pull out a third personal best (2:53:07 ('06), 2:40:12 ('07), 2:34:50 ('08)) while getting speedier in all stages of this thing. That, hairloss, and my growing spare tire all seem to improve with my advanced age!