The water was not warm, and the wind was blowing, so I was happy to be wearing the mandatory wetsuit plus a new neoprene cap - if you're going to be swimming in cold water, GET A NEOPRENE CAP that fits properly! It makes a huge difference (going to use the cap in the Hopkinton Season Opener 2010)

I decided to try and do a good but steady pace in the beginning and push it at the end depending on how I felt - the strategy was to breathe every 2nd stroke, left then right, and then step up the pace near the end and breathe on every stroke. Turns out I ran into quite a bit of traffic at the end so I could not swim all out but frankly I don't think it made much difference in total time.

Nothing much. Maybe push just a little bit harder. I wish waves were spaced far enough so that we don't always have to swim over the preceding wave, but I suppose that's the way it is.

I did not wear socks, and the wetsuit came off easily... so my transition should have been fast. But it was not. You really want to know why... it's because I freaking doodle with making sure I am comfortable (such as wiping myself off with the towel, cleaning my feet off etc), instead of just getting on with it. Seriously, I just need to get my butt kicked... no excuses!

I don't know how to write a book. But not drying myself off and not putting a jacket on, then deciding to take it off might help. Duh.

This course was the most hilly I have ridden in a race. Some people said it was harder than Timberman but I have not seen that course. I liked the course, but it was not suited for my style of riding which is momentum based (you know, the heavy dudes like me carry much more momentum on the downhill and flat sections, but lose it on the hills..) hehe. The volunteers, police and race organizers really did an excellent job of keeping the road open and probably as good as it gets for a race course.

Nothing really. I had good fun.

I wasn't tired at all, so I just hung around waiting for redsoxchick and friend-of-harpoon to finish, then went to the lobster bake.


Nothing. I just need to keep on training and improve over time.


Lobsterman was great! I'll be back for sure, except next time I'll be doing the run portion too. My only minor complaint was having to wait a long time for beer :-)