The whole point of doing this race was to get in a swim that would somewhat mirror Timberman. It's a lake and almost HIM distance. So, it's completely the same. OK, not at all but it worked out really well. I'm sure that it was a bit short. There is no way I was well under 1:30 per 100. I was really happy with the swim though. I am in love with the new wetsuit (or first wetsuit I should say). Anyone on the fence about buying a real suit go do it immediately. The closest thing I can say is that it's like paddling on a surfboard instead of swimming with jeans on. Beyond the suit, I drafted pretty well a few times, did a great job navigating and hugging the buoys really tightly, and most importantly felt amazingly comfortable and had a great time out there. I can't wait for the Timberman swim whereas a month ago I was a little frightened. Oh yeah, I also passed about 5 people at the turn around. I have to thank the BTT OWS clinic for that. I swam all the way up until grabbing sand, popped up, ran around the turn around, and dove into the water. A lot of people were walking/wading back in.

The one thing I noticed I wasn't doing enough was really stretching out my reach. Keep training at Walden.

Went well. A bit of a run from the water. I had an injured toe so I did put on socks. That took a good 15 seconds or so. Otherwise I didn't waste much time. I may look into starting with shoes on the bike.

Shoes on bike, no socks like usual, and run a little harder throughout.

Happy with the ride. I wanted to average over 20mph and did that. People say the roads were a little bumpy but it was really only in one spot. Unfortunately, I saw a guy go down hard at that spot. I just need to keep getting out there on the bike. I want to get up to 22mmph in the olys next year.

Train more but happy. I'm definitely improving.

I didn't take the shoes off on the bike because the run to transition was through roots, bark mulch, and then a swamp (aka transition). Since I was running in the same socks I didn't want them to get wet. They still did.

Not have a hurt toe and not wear socks and take feet out of the shoes on the bike. Otherwise everything went very well. I so love my Zoot shoes. They go on in under 4 seconds - not kidding.

What they didn't say is that the first bit is through a trail (which is fine with me) and then when you come back you see the finish but have to go through a Freddie Crougar loop through the woods first - I'm cool with the trail run but I didn't time my kick so well. Actually it tricked me into timing it perfectly because I was able to hold onto the pace through the finish but it hurt pretty bad. I was holding off this guy who tried passing me for the whole access road into camp and the Freddie Crougar run. Maybe it was Freddie behind me - it sounded like him.

The run sucked. The lack of sleep and terrible nutrition the day before caught up to me. I also forgot to bring a GU on the run. I wanted to avg under under 7:30. Disapointed but it was an important golf event for my brother and my wife's cousins wedding so there was nothing I could do.

Bring a GU and not drink and golf all day before.

Walk around and eat everything in site. Thanked the BTT member who ran the swim clinic. Got to see Beth finish and hung out with Colin and fam.


The day before.


Better than I expected. Everyone speaks ill of FIRM but it was fine. My only complaint is the transition area swamp but the weather wasn't their fault.