I usually have a great dread for the swim before I start. The same today but as soon as I got into the water, I said to myself that I really needed to slow down and swim. I could do it and I didn't need to be so nervous. I kept a steady stroke and passed a few people. My estimated swim time but me pretty far back but those that signed up Friday or Saturday were in the very back and, because most were faster than me, many of these caught up with me and caused a little congestion. I finished good and felt good coming out and heading to transition. Last year I didn't feel so great coming out of the pool. Very light-headed. I also decreased my swim time by 44 seconds over last years time.

The only problem I had in T1 was that I had left my Garmin buckled and had to unbuckle it. I started to put on my socks without wiping my feet but realized that the small gravel stuck to my feet needed to come off.

I did and felt much better on the bike ride than I did last year. There was still a decent amount of wind going out but I was able to get some good speed on the downhills going out which I never felt I could last year. Passed several people. One guy with toe straps kept trading places with me. Coming into the last section in the neighborhood a guy passed me like he was on fire than slowed a bit. I felt I could pass him again but the turns in the neighborhood prevented that so I had to slow a bit more than I wanted to. Came into transition pretty smoothly. Last years race included T1 time with the bike leg. I beat that total time by 4:21.

No problems in this transition.

Kept a steady pace throughout. There was what looked like a father and daughter running together that passed me soon after the run start. I was able to pass them after the 1st mile. Passed a few others and was feeling pretty good. My stomach started grumbling around mile 2 and I had to stop and walk a couple of times. The father/daughter passed me again at one point but I passed them again. I saw that my average time was creeping up so I decided to push a little harder the last quarter mile to try to get it back down below an 11:00 minute mile. My stomach issues stayed at bay that last bit and I finished with a strong sprint. Beat my last year's time by 3:18.

Nothing. This run felt pretty good.

Made a bee-line for the bathroom!