The swim just didn't go well. I got kicked, which didn't really do any damage, but it just kind of knocked me out of my rhythm. My wetsuit got a bit smaller I think (Or I've gained some weight haha) and was tiring out my shoulders. I felt very disappointed with my performance. I knew coming out my dreams of a 2:3x were not going to happen.

More open water swim practice. Too much bravado, not enough intelligence in my practice. Looking back I am still quite disappointed, I should have been much faster.

Got my suit stuck over my timing chip. Couldn't figure out why my suit wasn't coming off... finally it hit me and I came out quick after that. Shoes/Helm/Glasses on, running to the mount line, on and out without other athletes falling into me. (That's a first)

Remember what leg my chip is on.

I should have hammered on some of the flatter parts. I ended up with a pretty bad recurring calf cramp in my left leg, which I got tamed the couple of times it hit me pretty fast, but it definitely dropped my speed the last couple of miles. I was also pretty annoyed at some of the drafting going on after the Rev people made such a big deal about it. I had people all over me as I was going up the hills, absolutely no backing off at all.

Better hydration before hopefully would have solved the cramp. Otherwise, be a bit more aggressive with my gearing and maybe risk dropping the chain to hit the big ring on the descents... although my bike comp registered me going 38mph down one "techy" hill, so maybe my life was saved because I didn't.

Forgot to take my feet out of my shoes the last few hundred meters...doh. Cost me a few seconds I guess, still no big worries. Exiting on the run was a bit odd, so although I started going the wrong way, I got called out by an official and quickly remedied it.

A bit better planning on Rev3's part for the T1-T2 area would have been nice. Otherwise, remember to take my feet out of my shoes before the dismount line.

I tried in vain to drop down to my goal pace (7:xx) and managed it for a few minutes, but my calf was having none of it, so I laid back and went into cruise control. I met a guy on the run (forgot his name) who was running the same pace, so we chit chatted (yes, that's how lame my pace was, I was able to hold a conversation while running) as we finished up the last 3 miles or so.

More bike/run bricks I suppose... better hydration on the bike might have saved me, but I doubt it. I just blame weak calf muscles.

Went through the chute, got my chip off, got a shirt, medal, boxed lunch, and met up with my family/friends. Then I was spirited away (after cleaning out transition... I admit, I stole my name tag off my Transition area) to eat lunch with my Mom/family. I know the people at the restaurant appreciated how badly I smelled/looked.


IM Training cutting into my speed... a bit over a month of no running over 3 miles at a time, Needing to HTFU. I dunno, it was just one of those days where a lot of tiny things going wrong ended up hurting in a big way at the end. Still, I broke 3 hours, which I'll take on a day like that.


Rev3... get your Trakkers units working and smaller... enforce the rules you preach, and get a better post race meal. Otherwise, great race.