This was the longest distance that I have ever swam and only the second time I've done an OWS. Because of that, I started way back and right in the wave. Add to this that I'm a terrible swimmer and my 10:18 finish feels like a miraculous thing. There was no way that I could keep my freestyle stroke for the whole race, so I did a bit more than half in a backstroke. Checked every bit to make sure I wasn't going off course and I didn't hit anyone while swimming, so I'd say that this was the absolute best I could hope for.

All that being said, I definitely need to train more. Other than that, I think I stuck to my plan perfectly and wouldn't have changed a thing.

This definitely could have been faster, but I followed my plan and had everything well organized enough that it went smoothly. I flew out of my wetsuit and was thrilled with that. Might have taken me 10 seconds to get out of it at my bike.

A lot of things. I tried the rubber band with my shoes clipped in technique and it didn't go very well. I also forgot to unstrap my shoes pre-race and failed to see that my helmet wasn't fitting properly. Wasted a good chunk of time dealing with those issues, but really don't have anything to complain about.

...Then it all started going to hell. My chain came off 6 times. 6 TIMES. This is not an exaggeration or misread. Of course it came off on the uphills where I was in my 50/11 gearing, so it wasn't catastrophic in and of itself. Frustration set in, but I think I toughed it out pretty well.

I passed every single person in view on the bike. I was passed each time my chain came off (by the same groups of people), but I recovered to overtake them each time. By the time I got to the end of the course, there was no one near me and no one in front of me. That felt really nice since I knew that I put out the best effort that I could with the circumstances.

Overall, I'm not thrilled with this ride, but due to my circumstances, I handled it well. I feel like I could have finished under 50 minutes and that would have been really nice.

Really pay attention to my early morning set-up and start a checklist of things to go over. Like bring my water bottles. Oh yeah, I forgot those at home.

Did very well here. I was in a flat-out sprint with my bike and everything played out as it went in my head. Only 10 seconds off the fastest t2!

I can't think of anything.

If not for someone passing me and thus causing me to run him down for 2 miles, this portion would have been a debacle. My left calf was cramping and twitching something fierce, there was zero left in the tank and I started running seriously about 4 months ago, so I had no concept of how to push through the last 5k of any race. I walked for about 50 feet while I tried to find my toes, which were completely numb and then decided that I would not be happy if I walked another step.

All in all, I'm fairly certain that I put a strong negative split on that last half, thanks to the guy that was pacing me. Leaving it all on the course is something that I'm a firm believer in and I accomplished that.

I'm not sure, but it's clear that I have to do something different. I won't be happy until I'm safely in the mid-teens on my 5k's, but all I can too to get there is too train more.

Which I'm going to do. :D

Warm-down? HA! I would have had to be warmed up first. I just found my family, gave them hugs and kisses and sat down for a quick bite to eat. My insolence will be paid for tomorrow, I'm sure.


Lack of training. I'm not making any excuses here.


The flip flopping on the changing bike course was absolutely ridiculous. It was changed twice in a week and while it affects everyone equally, it's not fair to those of us that trained on the wrong courses. Their reasons must have been pretty good to do this to everyone, but it's just not acceptable. They need to be better organized.