I started on the right side of the beach in line with the 1st buoy. No running along the side as has been done some many times before. You actually have to swim the whole course now. I started pretty well but at the point of turning the corner it seemed like a 1000 guys were there at the same time. We were like sardines for several minutes but then opened up some. Up to the point of the 1st turn buoy I was moving pretty well but my head started hurting due to the goggoles being to tight. I tighted them just before the start to stop the leak. It got progressively worse to the point I couldn't think about anything else. Then I got nauseated and hot. The water temp wasn't that cold and a full wetsuit heated up fast. At the halfway point I was barely moving, stopping to loosen my goggles every 100 meters or so and was really thinking of bagging the race when I got to shore.

I have done this same course and swam it 7-8 min. faster. I would make sure my goggoles are not so tight and maybe even skip the wetsuit if the water is as warm as this time.

I walked to the bike thinking I was still going to hurl any minute. Wasn't sure I was going to keep going or not. I took a long time but eventually figured I might as well see how I felt on the bike, I could always turn around, right.

Move quicker which is not hard if I feel well.

After climbing out of the canyon and out of the park I started to feel okay again. Started concentrating on my race plan and to not overdo it at the start. I wanted to keep watts in the 195-205 range for the 1st hour, then 210 range for the next hour, and finally 215-220 range for the rest. This went well and I felt pretty comfortable passing lots of folks on the way.( being in the next to last wave and a bad swim gives lots of people to pass ). It was interesting coming back because water was all over the roads but it was never raining where I was at anytime during the race.

I would push the pace a little harder, maybe 10 watts per segment. I don't think I kept to my nutrition plan as close as I should either.

Since it had rained everything was wet including my shoe. My soaks had also gotten wet during the bike. I looked in my bag for a dry pair but couldn't find them so went without socks. Usually not a good idea for this long of a run but.... Made a quick pitstop at the porta potty and off to the run.

I was moving through transition pretty slow not wanting to slip. I guess I would move faster, usually T2 is pretty quick for me.

Got going pretty well and had pretty much recovered from my disaster swim. The plan was to try to keep an 8:30 pace for the first half and then edge up to 8:15 then all out for the last 2-3 miles. First thing I notice is that my HR monitor wasn't working and the pace function of my watch wasn't either. Had to go on RPE and general timing from mile marker. I was a little fast around the lake and going up the first hill decided I was using to much energy so walked to the top. I ended up walking all the hills since I wasn't running much faster but burning cals. like crazy. It was fairly cool until the last 4 miles when the sun came out and got hotter and humid. I did cramp some but only lasted 15-20 seconds and I was able to stretch it out quickly. I pushed the salt tabs generously.

I would pace this a little more evenly to start and even though I thought I had enough sodium I guess I need more.

I was a little light headed when I got back so I sat in the medical tent for awhile with some ice towels. Didn't even think about an IV.


Headache and nausea during the swim. Some cramping on the run.