Quite frankly, it will be the last time I swim in the Potomac - it was nasty near the entrance. I really felt good out there despite my time. I was with the pack past the bridge and back down. I got somewhat turned when I couldn't see the next buoy because of the sun. I had to swim back to it.

Wear sunglasses.

Everything was going fine except for struggling with the wetsuit

Nothing much

It was freaking out hot there and I went through both water bottles easily. I was tempted to stop and pick up the ones that people dropped. Around mile 10, there was a dead deer on the road that reeked and almost made everyone puke as you passed by. Of course, we had to go by it on the way back. Chain fell off at mile 12 and had to stop to put it on. I was beginning to wonder if Murphy's Lsw was engaged.

Stop and pick up those water bottles.

While it seems like a long time with 2400 other participantsm, it is a long way to your bike.

nothing - maybe have an extra water bottle in the transition area.

My worst time ever for a 10k but with a heat index of 105 - I'm glad I finished. No water near transtition area so it was mile 1 before I could drink. Fortunately, there was water at every mile but it was brutal by the time I got to the run course. I tried to keep a consistent pace however I felt heat exhaustion coming on around mile 3 to 4 so I slowed it down to a walk until my heart rate subsided. Hats off to the volunteers who were there handing out the water otherwise it would have been a disaster.

Met Susan and many of my friends at the finish line. Stretched, drank more fluid and had a slice of pizza.


Heat and humidity.


This race is totally different from last year and has gotten more commericalized and cheap. I understand that it is for charity but when you cross the line they hand you a cup of water that is masquarding as a little bottle at the finish - it is absurb. They then usher out of the finish where you have Jet Blue wanting you to sign up for something but what peeved me the most was the shuttle bus. Last year it was a mess and while they provided more shuttles this year they only allowed athletes to ride. So family members who came down on the metro had to walk 2 miles back to the transition area. Susan and I walked back but watching the families who had to push their strollers back in the 95 degree heat was frustrating -this was shortsighted by the event organizers. Nations was my first OLY last year and it was a great experience - it got me hooked but it will not be on my schedule next year.