My first olympic distance race. My first wave start (okay, they were "mini" waves, but still). What really helped to keep from getting anxious was the knowledge the canal was only 4 feet deep.

And actually, by the time they got to my wave, I was actually feeling rather confident - very weird. I had seeded myself as a "slightly below average" swimmer, so I had fun looking at the other below average folks.

Just before the start, I decided, since no one else was doing it, to take the front-middle position, like I'm Michael Phelps all of a sudden.

Then the announcer counted down, said "Go!", and we were off.

And it wasn't that bad!

In the first 200m a few others and I had separated from the wave, and from that point forward there were no issues with any crowded swimming. I was able to get in a rythmn and it began to feel like just a normal training swim.

It was really fun hearing the cheers of family members that were able to walk alongside their swimmer the whole way.

It was also really cool to swim under the numerous bridges and walkways. Totally changed the atmosphere of the swim for a few seconds each time. Felt like Venice . . . except it was Indianapolis.

And then I was at the sprint start and knew I only had 500m left. I was starting to get a cramp in my right calf, but I focused on good form, and no over-kicking, and was able to limit it reasonably well.

Got out of the water feeling reasonably strong.


Random Thoughts During the Swim:
1. So this is what Indianpolis folks do with their goldfish when they get tired of them.
2. Poor ducks that enjoy calm water 364 days a year. Must of thought it was Armageddon.

Not much. I can only hope to continue to get faster in the water.

Umm, yeah, what the heck was I doing? Admiring the view? Maybe I was just startled because for the first time, most of the bikes in the racks around me were still there.



Oh yeah, maybe leave the gloves at home, and learn to ride sockless.

Started out thinking, "Wow, so this is what a flat bike route feels like!"

Okay, it was flat in terms of elevation, but the conditions of the roads were simply deplorable. Chock full of potholes, gravel, and glass, and with two bumpy, non-perpendicular railroad track crossings. I saw more folks fixing flats than I've ever seen on a course before. I stopped counting at 20.

Also saw the result of one guy biting it on one of the track crossings. His back was simply shaved right off. Looked like a pizza waiting for toppings. (TMI?)

Was up to almost 19mph a third of the way through the second loop. Then the wind and the heat kicked up, and I slowed down significantly the rest of the way.

I think I handled nutrition pretty well. One GU 2 miles in, and another at ~mile 16. Alternated between water and gatorade.

Coming towards the bike finish, I knew the run was not going to be fun.

Dismounted okay, and my back, surprisingly, wasn't hurting THAT MUCH (usually can't straigten all the way up immediately). Maybe the 1000mg of Ibuprofen helped.

Random Toughts During the Bike:
1. Holy potholes batman! Indy, stop spending all your money on Lucas Oil Stadium and get the public works folks out there to pave a few streets whydontcha.
2. Is that ANOTHER rear disc wheel passing me? Oh good, it's just a jet passing overhead.
3. I HATE the guy that just passed me on a hardtail MTB.

As usual, more T.I.T.S.

So, I realize that starting 400 positions back caused me to be in the last group of bikes on course (well, there were still PLENTY on course), but as I get to my rack, there's a couple of gals just nonchalantly hanging around it.

As I approach them the fail to move, so I yell, with much race-induced adrenaline, "HEY! There's a race going on you know!"

Oh, that'll teach them.

They did get out of the way, but not without glaring at me.

You know, just stop lolly-gagging around.

My the time I got to the run it was in the mid to high eighties, with copious humidity. I made it just over a mile, to the first water stop, before I had to take a walk break.

And I just kept getting slower. At the end of the loop, there was a little girl volunteering , maybe 9 or 10, that was directing me to head right to go out on the second loop. As I turned, she took off like a rabbit, obviously demonstrating how much faster she was than I, and beat me to the bridge. Put a smile on my face, and I told her she was really, really fast. She said, "Yeah, but I'm not running as far as you are!"

Huh, pretty sweet.

I took some comfort on the second loop, that nearly everyone else still on course was in the same predicament. We were ALL suffering, and misery loves company. I kept passing a guy who would pass me, and then seize up with cramps in his legs. The first time it happened, I made sure he wasn't having a heart attack. It became old hat after that.

With a mile to go, I was finally able to slowly pick back up the pace. I was disappointed not finish sub 3hrs, but also wasn't surprised. I just didn't have the necessary run volume in place.

Random Thought During the Run:
1. Okay, so it's kind of cool to be running behind the zoo, but holy animal piss batman. It sure smelled like the monkey cages hadn't been cleaned in a while. Just what I want to smell as I'm starting the run . . . and the second loop.

More run volume.

Felt pretty light-headed just as I finished, so I found a chair under the food tent, grabbed a water, and sat down to collect myself. I was wasted . . .

And then I remembered . . . I rode to the race . . . and I'll need to ride back.

So I took off my shirt (yeah, I'm THAT manly) and packed everything back into the backpack, and headed back to the hotel. The breeze I was able to generate felt pretty darn good, but not as good as the cool shower I was able to take before checking out.

Then got the car and drove 2.5 hrs home.


The heat and humidty, but mainly just level of fitness. It will progress.


A great event at a terrific downtown venue put on by the Tuxedo Brothers. That canal swim was fun and unique, and I'll definitely do this one again. Maybe the City can get some paving done before then.