Not bad considering I didn't spend any time in the pool last month after I strained my neck. Could have stayed in freestyle longer, don't know why I switched to breaststroke, but after I switched I had trouble switching back.

More freestyle. Less pre-race injury. More time in the pool.

I was on the first rack out of the water, which meant the longest run down the gravel road with the bike. Glad I didn't decide to make this the first race with the shoes already clipped into the pedals.

Change my last name to be able to rack closer to the exit. Really, not much. Better fitness would have allowed me to run with the bike a little more, but I'm working on that.

Ok, this wasn't a "tried for the first time on race day" kind of thing, because I'd done it on some of my long rides, and I'm not sure that it just didn't happen from the swim but...Had a carb+electrolyte replacement mixture in my bottles (was trying to avoid energy crash post-race, I know I don't need nutrition in these shorter races). Had a stitch and a stabbing pain in my right shoulder (that goes along with stitches) for the first 7 or so miles. In all reality, I thought this bike segment was really slow, because I felt weak the entire time.

Just use water, or water + HEED.

My bike is ignorantly tough to rack. No matter how I try to do it, it still ends up with both wheels on the ground.

Should have had my lace locks locked open, so I wouldn't have to mess with opening them and then pulling my shoes on. Should have put on my race belt as I ran through trans. instead of pulling it on first, shouldn't have bothered with the hat since the glasses cut the glare plenty.

The level of suck in the run was all mental. Felt like I was falling apart.

Spend less time talking to other racers and focus on dumping what energy I have left into the run.

Walked from shade to shade. Drank recovery drink + water. Ate a banana. Grabbed my stuff and left.


Lack of swimming in the month leading up to the race. Lack of focus during the run.


The only thing that I would like to change would be to see a paved road out of the transition area. Other than that the race was about perfect. And I don't know what people expect from post-race activities...they had food and beverages, what more do you need?