The start of the swim was pretty miserable (although I am sure it could have been much worse!) I could not get into any sort of rhythm because the person in front of me was going at that annoying speed where it was too fast to pass him comfortably with on-coming traffic, but slow enough that he surely has a hand print embeded in his calf! ( not sure if that is considered rude or if everyone know it just happens)

Once I passed him, and another guy at the same speed, I got into a groove for a bit. During the last 300 m. I passed the next guy, but it took a pretty quick sprint to pass him. I was huffing and puffing for the next few laps. I thought to myself "not very smart", but it turned out okay.

My time was good, but without the extra bodies, I surely could have done much better. Then again, maybe they slowed me down enough to not go TOO hard.



Be more patient perhaps at the end of the swim.

Transition was fine. I was a bit dizzy from the last part of the swim, but it didn't slow me down too much.

nothing

Hopped on the bike and started feeling the wind and immediately started looking for someone to draft with, but nobody in sight. Two guys came up behind me and I went with them for about 5 minutes, but their pace was a bit too strong for me so I let them go. Then another group came to save me. Thier pace was also just a bit beyond my comfort level. This time I decided to go for it. If I pay for it on the run, so be it. The difference between being on my own during the bike and being with a fast group was simply to great to pass it up.

Unfortunately I only took a couple of turns at the front of the pack, as the pace was hard as it was in the back of it. I also kept falling off the back without realizing it and then having to push extra hard to get back into it. I finally started focusing a bit more so that would not happen again...and it didn't. Towards the end the group made a big push to catch another group ahead and we got them! It felt so good, but I was done...not too much left on that bike. Thankfully, it was just before T2.

Not sure.

As always, the guy putting on the socks and tying his shoes gets passed by many during T2 (that was me)

nothing.

Definitely jell-o legs in the start. I really felt the hard bike effort at first and I almost began to cry (in a manly, triathlete way). I just slowed down and told myself to stay slow until I felt better. Worked well, after not too long, I started feeling a bit more comfortable. My plan was to run the first two miles smooth and easy, the third a bit harder and the last 1 and 1/2 pick up the pace and start passing people. Splits were: 9:10, 8:23, 8:25, 8:00, 7:07. Felt good and strong for most of the run. I think I paced myself very well. I always wonder if I could have pushed a little harder the whoe run....


nothing

walking, stretching, drinking water and gatorade, cheering on my wife.


Not sure. I was happy with the race. Maybe the crowded swim.


I am looking forward to doing a race with a distance that I have raced at before. It has been tough always not knowing how much to conserve and how much to let go. Today, I surprised myself with my strong run after a hard bike effort, maybe I could have run harder with a lesser bike effort...who knows. That's the beauty of being a newbie, every experience is full of learning.

The race was fun!