It was a beach start and it seemed like you could run for quite a ways before having to swim. Once swimming the water was fairly rough and fairly crowded. I spent more time swimming over and around people than I would like, but for the most part was able to stay calm and keep the pace steady. The only real problem, aside from the kick to the face, was when after making the turn to swim back I could not sight as between the chop and the sun I could not find the buoys.

Not much, the conditions were not ideal and I made it through. Maybe next time try the tinted goggles when knowing that you will be swimming into the sun.

Visited the strippers, always fun, and took care of the wetsuit.
Debated putting on socks ... then put on socks, shoes, the rest of the stuff, grabbed the bike and ran

Going into the race this was my concern as due I did not get in the long training rides that I would have likes, and actually only rode outside 3 times this year (including last week's race). With that in mind, and the "do not eat the paste article" I put a heart rate cap on and staying at or under it for the entire time. I was determined not to eat the paste and to have a good run (unlike last year). For the most part the strategy worked, though I was a little worried while riding into the head wind all the way out ... kept telling myself not to eat the paste, and remember the wind will be at the back on the way home. Over all, very happy with the ride it went better than I expected.

try riding outside some more ... I will wish I had north texas weather for training next year

Get out of bike shoes, get into running shoes. Take running shoes off, remove grass, try again.

Learn to put on shoes without getting grass in them.

It took until mile 7 before I started to get comfortable on the run and I suspect that I ran a negative split. I held back as much as I could until mile six trying to keep my heart rate in check, and then allowed it to rise gradually until the end. The aid stations on the run were fantastic; every mile and very well stocked.

Run faster, earlier. I was worried about running out of gas so I might have been a little to conservative for the first half of the run.

Grabbed a couple of bottles of water and then borrowed a cell phone from a stranger to call my wife as it was hard to find her in the crowd at the finish line.


This is a fun race and finishing in Jackson square is something else. The crowd support in New Orleans is fantastic.