So I retained my confidence from my varsity swimming years in the same way that my ability wasn't. I start at the front of the pack, but immediately feel hammering on my feet. Fearing the worst, I sprint out ahead of the group to avoid swimming under-water if you catch my 'drift'. Spotting the buoys was awful as my goggles fogged up.
Greg's rule states that your ego is proportional to the number of years you swim, and I wanted to win the 9-10 min swim to prove something to someone.

Train more, find an open water group. Swim more slowly, find a drafting pack.

I blame it on the BT forums telling me I should attach my shoes onto my bike. Or should I blame it on not rehearsing? Mental rehearsing is good enough, isn't it? ah crap. Since the transition is a matter of various to do lists, here's what wasn't that great:
-heart rate strap and watch go on during the swim, not spending 5 seconds on each item.
-shoes are put on in the t1 area.
-don't fiddle with sun glasses, gloves, or the like
-wear a loose jersey... those jersey pins are amazing.

and what I did enjoy:
-putting on socks
-changing from fastskin to bike shorts

So the lack in milage shows as I slowed down often, and had a bad avg speed. Coming out of the swim in a good position only made me notice how fast the elite people were speeding past me. My only pride existed in that no one riding drop bars like me passed me. My riding position was as comfortable as it was aerodynamic. Hills were becoming slower as my cassette was becomming not large enough. So just get to the T2, and start the run

Well the float on my mountain bike pedals is so small that my shoe came off. Shoes come off, bike on rack, throw pump and tube on ground, running shoes, finish water bottle, run.

did my own pace... and that pace almost escaped me. Especially on the gradual uphills. My second brick of my life. Hardest run in my life. Most notable event was how the duathlon turnaround was 1.25k before the triathlon... very discouraging. I was being plagued with a bad foot this week, and decided to run anyway. It felt fine until working this afternoon.

swam 800m


training milage