Started the swim about two minutes later than everyone else because I was in the bathroom when the horn sounded. Had to catch up to the pack (75-100 meters)and then fight my way through. I got very closterphobic when I started through the pack and had to stop for a few seconds and stand on some rocks to get my bearings. I felt dizzy from wearing the swim cap and very disoriented. I moved the cap off of my ears so water could get in and then I was fine. It was a looong fight to get by everyone, but I finished somewhere in the MOP.

Definitely make sure I have gone to the bathroom well before my start. Don't where swim cap over my ears.
Seed myself where I should be... and stick to the side.
Make sure my suit is sealed properly... leg full of water is not condusive to a fast swim.

My transition felt really good. I hadn't practiced transition at all, but getting out of the wetsuit was no trouble as I have been doing it for years.
I don't have any trouble running in my bike shoes, so I don't see the point of starting with my shoes in the pedals. Maybe that will change in the future, but for now I am quite comfortable putting them on before.

Nothing so far.

Bike felt so good. I passe a lot of people and no one passed me. I think I could have gone a little harder, but I was worried about having wobbly legs on the run.

For sprint distance races... go hard. I could have gone harder and should have. HTFU as they say

Not a bad transition, again I hadn't practiced at all. I think it went really smoothly except that I forgot to take my helmet off until I was almost out of transition. All the spectators laughed at my "oh shit, I forgot to take off my helmet!!!"

Take off my helmet.

The run felt really good. I wasn't sure how hard to push as I usually run longer distances and haven't relly tried to push a 5k before. Now I know I can go a little harder. I only got passed by three people and the third guy made a really good pace car for the last kilometer.

Use my watch to try to keep my pace just under 5min/km

My first race, so it isn't really fair to rate it. I had a blast and it seemed like they really had things together. Other people I talked to said it was a really well run race.