Very good swim for me. I kept the pace nice and easy b/c this was my first 1500m OW swim. Mostly stayed to the outside but found a few people to draft on from time to time. Only negative was this one swimmer who I caught around the 700m mark. I first discovered him when he SOMEHOW hit me on the left side of my face with his hand, but he was swimming on my RIGHT side. Luckily it just jarred me and I had to slow just a bit to get my breathing back under control as I swallowed some water. I still don't have a clue how he did that. Anyway, from this point until around the 1100m mark, I could not shake this guy. We have all talked about diagonal swimmers...this dude was the epitome of that! I am not talking about just drifting off line, I am talking full blown coming at me sideways! He would ram into me from the left...I would back off and let him pass...he would then swim way out and then come back and hit me from the right. I tried to slow down, speed up, move away, but he kept finding me. Finally I had enough...his back and butt came right across my chest (yes, he partially swam under me) so I shoved him down and away from me and then I sped up for a while and never saw him again. I know it was probably wrong, but c'mon no one swims that crooked!

Try to lose crooked swimmer earlier. Could've pushed a little harder but happy with my time.

This is still by far the longest transition I have ever seen. I actually mapped out the run distance and it is .28mi long! Ate half a clif bar.

Eat more...I'll get to this later.

I love this course. It's got two long gradual hills and one steep short one. The rest is downhill and fast. I was slightly slower than last year but not by much and I only did 16mi last year. Pretty good time considering I didn't put much effort in the bike recently.

I could not have pushed too much harder, except the last mile or so but I was trying to save some for the run. I would eat more on the bike and drink more.

Not as long a run in on this one. Went smoothly. Took a few extra seconds to stretch.

Bring some gels and eat them here.

The first 3 miles of the run were going well. I was running around a 9min pace and was only 3 short miles from the finish...then came THE BONK. I have heard about it but have never experienced it. Just as I finished mile 3 I could feel my stomach growling. I had eaten breakfast, then 3 clif shots before the race, half a clif bar in T1, and then one clif gel on the bike. Apparently it was not enough. I grabbed a pure sport (like gatorade) at the first water stop after mile 3, but it was too little too late. Around 3.5mi, my legs suddenly felt like led and just would not move anymore. I was light headed. I began walking and would then force myself to run a little bit. I had to push on my legs to get them moving again. I spent the last 2+ miles alternating between slow running and walking. Every water stop I was downing cups of pure sport and pouring the water on my head. After several stops I was feeling a little better but now had the sloshy stomach. It was terrible.

I had done well all race and then got hit like this on the last lap. It is very frustrating being so close. I was on pace for around a 2:53 when it hit me. I know I should be proud since this is my first one, but I can't help but be a little disappointed. I did enjoy the race (except the last 3 miles!) and feel blessed that I am able to compete in one of these. I just have to chalk it up to a lesson learned.

Eat and drink more before the run.

Crossed the finish line still light headed and a growling stomach. All I could think about was getting some food in me and sitting down, which I did. Even after eating a lot after the race, I went home and weighed myself and had lost 4.5lbs.


Not having enough fuel/energy for the run. Also my rib injury. I luckily didnt feel it today but it hindered my training recently.


Great race great venue.