Although the 9:15 may look a bit slow, it includes the run from the beach up the hill to transition. I was actually fairly pleased with the swim. We stared waves every 4 or 5 minutes apart. It was sort of funny. I was thinking that I usually do fairly well on the swims so I got in front and in the middle this time and then... those people took off like there was school of sharks behind us. I was thinking, there is now way I can keep up with these guys. They must be really fast. I think I was in last place of the pack of 20 within the first 50 yards. I decided to swim my pace and let them go. It was pretty amusing to see that before we ever got to the first bouy, these guys were doing the breathstroke and whatever to catch their breaths. By the time we got to the second bouy, I did not see anymore red caps and I was swimming with the yellow caps. I even passed several blue and dark blue caps. I am not so sure those people even finished. Anyway, I felt good on the swim. I wish they had the timing mat at the water instead of at the transition area so that I could see what my speed was because it felt pretty good.

Nothing, I was satisfied. I am glad that I let everyone leave me at the beginning. I think I was at my edge before the breathing problems hit you like they did all those other guys. I would not have missed that for anything. It was so funny to see how fast those guys were going at first, feeling like "wow, I am a really slow swimmer compared to these people", and then within just a very short distance, catching them as they are all struggling to to breathe from their 40 yard sprints.

I do not know why I am so slow in transition. You would think that I wore my wetsuit, but I didn't. I did see a guy near me come in after I did wearing a wetsuit and leaving transition before I did. I actually thought it was kind of funny.

Nothing, at this point, I still do not really care about transition time. That is probably why I am so slow at it. I would like to have a video of me in transition and compare it to other people because I do not feel slow... I just am.

I enjoyed the bike course. It certainly is not flat as the race website describes it though. I really enjoyed it though. I passed a lot of people and had very few people pass me. I had several women pass me like I was standing still though. They started at least 4 mintues behind me in the next swim wave and caught me fairly early on the bike. I only had one person in my age group pass me on the bike although, I was 10th out of 20 on the bike. All in all it was a descent ride for me.

Again, I am just slow in transition. All you have to do in transition fromt he bike to run is change shoes and take off your helmet. I guess I just do not do those things very quickly.

Hmmmmm? To be honest I was a bit surpised that I was only 16th out of 20 when my average speed was 9:08/mile considering that is basically where I had been placing with much slower run times, oh well. I cramped just a little when I first started running, but I was actually pleased with my run time considering where I was just a couple of months ago. I am actually passing people while running. That is a welcome change. :) I only had one person from my age group pass me on the run. I have a loooong way to go, but I am improving.

I had a good time as usual. I hung out with a lot of friend that I have made over the last couple of years. We had a great time. That is why I do these races. That and to give me something to keep me working out and in shape. I am satisfied with my progress since my main goal is to get in shape. Over the last couple of years, I have progressively gotten in better and better shape. I started working on swimming, then biking, and now I have started on running. I really only started running about March of this year except for doing triathlons. I am going to start trying to get a little better at each thing slowly now.

This is my last race of the year. I have had a lot of good times with some great people while I have progressively gotten in better shape. The thing that I am most proud of for this year is lowering my cholesterol from 236 to 177. The doctor did not think that I could do it without drugs, but I did. Good health and good times are what the sport of triathlons is to me.