The swim went well, I just hammered it. Navigation went well and I think I was pretty fast. Didn't draft, though - too short of a swim to really find someone. It didn't seem worthwhile since I spent most of the time passing people.

The only issue was that they only had two ladders at the dock to get racers out. So there was a long que to get out of the water. It was tough for people to get out, especially some of the women because peoples arms were tired, and the ladders were really crappy with no good hand holds. It was TOUGH to get out. I had to wait for about 3 people. I could imagine the wait when the bulk of the swimmers got there.

I was patiently waiting in line when some guy tried to cut in front of me. NO WAY I was having that! I quickly stuck my left arm out and grabbed the left side of the ladder to block him. Gave him a bit of a nasty look too. If you could have been lucky and get there with no line, it could have helped. I'm sure I waited in line for 30-60 seconds, easy. There is one place I lost more than 7.5 seconds.

Looking at my overall placement, it looks like I could work on my swim. That sort of surprises me, since that's my best discipline. I was good for my AG, though.

Maybe find someone to draft. But it was such a short swim, I thought it better to just haul arse.

Long run to transition and some of the pavement was VERY slick. I had to shuffle to keep from falling. They warned us about it, and I still almost bit it a couple times. Too dangerous, IMO. they should put carpet down next time if they do it the same way.

I KNOW I lost time in transition. It would have been good for an Oly or longer, but I lost too much time with the suit for a sprint. I think the transitions is the most likely culpret for me losing 7.5 seconds. It was something COMPLETELY in my control, and I blew it.

I was still 24 out of 134 in T1, so still pretty quick, but the best was 1:17. I can improve...

I might pick my bike location better to eleminate running with the bike.

Ah, the bike! My goal was to HAMMER!!! And I did. My average HR was right at LT (172). I flew on the downhills, crushed the climbs, just felt strong.

Once again, my overall rank in the bike, matches my overall rank in the race.

I ran into a couple issues. I threw my chain at one time, but I was able to do some fancy gear changes to pop it back on the crank without having to stop. But I did lose some momentum.

Also, I had to brake at the bottom of a hill when a car sort of made a move to cut me off. They had traffic control, but it sort of failed at this time. I had to get on the brakes a little, which hurt my momentum going right into a climb. I didn't hit the hill as fast as I would have liked.

Also, I had a bugger of a time getting into the pedal out of T1. Don't know why. I'm sure I lost a couple second there as well.

The reason I was able to go so fast on the bike? I had confidence in my run. I KNEW (or strongly suspected) that no matter how hard I went on the bike, I would have enough to bust out a 5k. So I just let it all hang out and crushed it.

Didn't need to drink and felt good the entire time.

Work on the transition to the bike.

Decent T2. 22nd out of 134.

Work on getting off the bike better.

I KNEW IT!!!! I knew I would be strong off the bike at this distance...

I few guys flew out of T2 and passed me right away but I let them go. I could have tried to keep up, but decided against it. I figure one of two things was going to happen. Either they were better runners than me and I wouldn't be able to keep up, then end up wasting too much energy OR, they would crap out (sort of what I calculated).

I was right! The 3-4 guys got a couple hundred feet lead out of T2, but I had them all reeled in and soundly behind me by the turn.

I pushed hard on the run and averaged just short of my LT HR (178).

I am VERY please with my time and pace. I always figured I could push for a 21 minute open 5k. I thought I had it in me. To get it done in 22:26 after a swim and bike? I KNOW I can now.

A couple things aggrivated me. Someone passed me with about 0.2 miles to go. But I was pretty maxed out, so I have to give it to them. However, I heard some hard footsteps behind me with about 0.1 miles to go, so I kicked it up a bit. I have to admit, I had a serious side/chest stitch going on at that time.

However, someone sprinted past me and bumped me with about 50 feet to go in the finish chute. Sort of ticked me off a bit. I sort of consider him to be one of "those guys" and said 'whatever'. Great, now he is 26th instead of 27th. Big deal. Maybe he was chasing a PR, but doubtful, this course is not standard, so there is nothing to compare it to.

I guess I think if you are in the chute, just finish up unless you are shooting for an overall place or passing a fellow AGer... But this guy would rather bump into me and sprint past with 50' to go just to get one more spot...

Nothing

Drink and wait for some friends to finish.


Transitions


Ahhhhh. I'm happy about this one. I always thought I could compete in the long events, but didn't think I had much a chance in the shorter events. But I proved differently this race.

I was FOP in the Swim, Bike, AND run (and transitions) and it shows with my FOP performance.

Yes, I missed an AG award by 7.5 seconds (third was only that far ahead of me) and could have done better in transitions, but I learned.

Something has really 'clicked' with my racing (especially biking). I think my leg strength has perhaps caught up with my heart/lung strength. Or maybe it's just "letting go" in this short event and going balls to the wall and holding back nothing.

Just imagine if they had a Clydesdale division!!! I might have done well.

This race just makes me want to drop that last 20 stubborn pounds. I bet it was frustrating for a lot of those lean and trim triathletes to get passed by some tall and kind of chubby guy!

OK, people say I don't LOOK fat, but I'm still pushing 25% BF. Not the 10%-15% like the better athletes.

I just realized I was top 30 out of 134 in the b/r AND transitions (not so fortunate in the swim - odd). That kind of balance leads to good things.

OH YEAH!!! Forgot to mention... I was 2:06 away from first in my AG. That's within spitting distance for sure...