started in the front on the right hand side of the first wave. Kept a good pace for the first 150 or so yards, drafted off of a really huge, fast guy =)

I then noticed that I was heading straight for the buoy, I could see it clearly. Funny thing, everyone else was going out to the left. I kept going, figuring that I'd save some time by swimming a shorter distance. Turns out that I should have stayed on someone's feet!

Rounded the first buoy and drafted right across to the second. Feeling bad for riding this guy's toes for 100+ yards (and thinking I could make it by him easily) I exited the draft and started to go around him. Thing is, I had a pretty hard time of passing him, we went back and forth a few times for the remainder of the swim. I used some fresh muscles by flipping into backstroke for about 100m, which finally let me break free of the back and forth with my former draft.

I used too much in the swim! I had the training yards but not all the intensity to complete this leg the way I want to. Gotta start doing VO2's and cruises again!

First tri with clipless pedals, I didn't practice! Too winded from the swim... embarrassing!



I 'lost' my race here. I didn't have the wind in me after my strongest leg! Not much I can do but prepare better next time.

I removed my bike computer this year and have been using my garmin. I didn't race with my garmin, so I only knew one thing: go fast!

I passed a bunch of people coming up and out of the park. The first few miles flew by and felt good. My legs felt strong. The portion by the train tracks went well, although I was worried I wasn't going fast enough to average over 20 after I got through the hills.

First hill comes and as I'm downshifting my chain pops off! Ugh... just one of those days. Put it back on as half a dozen people flew by me, I probably lost 1-2 minutes total before I got back up to speed.

Second hill comes and I downshift gingerly and avoid the previous problem. I get to the top of the hill and there is a lady driving on the course! I yell something at her as I went by, she was braking erratically going down the hill... not a very safe situation.

Todd Caputo saw me coming down the hill and told my parents that I was flying =)

Not have a chain pop off! Otherwise was a great ride, would have been 20+mph and beaten my previous (personal) course record.

got out of my bike shoes before dismounting, ran barefoot through the transition area. Tossed off the helmet and put on my shoes... took off

nothing =) maybe get up earlier to get a better transition spot.

Nothing to do but run a 5k... I like this part of the race! I knew my year-over-year PR was out of the question at that point, so I might have backed off a little, but not much. My legs had that "you just busted it on the bike for 12 miles" feeling for the first mile, but were fine after that. I kept a good pace, just a little slower than my normal tempo pace kind of feeling, until I got back to Green Lake. Realizing that there wasn't a mile 2 marker, I picked it up for the remainder.

Coming into the finish, about half a mile out I got passed by a guy in my AG. I shouldn't feel guilty for being competitive in a race, but I had to beat him. I was really struggling to keep up with him, but I turned it on the last 200 yards and then the final 75 yards I pushed *really* hard to edge him out. I feel guilty beating someone in the last 10 seconds of an hour+ event, I really shouldn't though...

Fastest 5k in a tri so far, only 1 minute slower than my standalone 5k PR. Not bad at all!

walked a bit, chatted with the fans and cooled off. Had to leave before I had the chance to chase down Matt of Mike, had to remove a tick from a family member pronto...


physically, I lacked the high intensity swim training. I've been letting the swimming slide too much, too many easy yards! I suspect the swim in 2009 was the same distance as it was in 2007, it must have been a little bit shorter in 2007 (or I drafted better, or something).

I didn't practice transitions, at all. Small mistake, big consequences!

Mentally, I allowed myself to be thrown off by the swim and psyched myself out of the rest of the race.

Losing my chain further hurt my performance =/ Can't have it all every time!


7th time I've done this race, 5th time solo. Great location and staff make it a super event. It sells out quickly, and that's why!