Started out in the front row on the far side buoy, not the optimal line but there were about 20 of us at this buoy and 150 at the other, so I could take a bit more distance to not to be stuck in the big scrum.

Started off really strong, maybe too strong, arms started to feel a bit heavy by the first turn. Eased off a bit for the rest of the swim. Had my typical issues running into people. One guy I just couldn't shake, I would try to go left and right and he would still be in front of me somehow. I even stopped to let him pull away and seemed to catch right back up somehow.

I think it was the same guy but got kicked pretty good in the gut just as I was putting my face back in the water after sighting and felt like I inhaled a good portion of the lake. Pulled up and coughed for what seemed like 2-3 minutes but was probably closer to 30 seconds.

This completely broke up my rhythm but got back into it to finish.

Extremely happy with this time, sub 30:00 even with the stalling/kicked/etc. almost 7 minutes faster at Rev3 but pretty sure that course was short or there was some serious currnet there.

Nothing

Haven't really worried much about transitions this year, focusing on getting myself comfortable for the ride/run more.

Sloppy transition, tape on cleats worked well, was able to easily clip in.

Switched out my double for a compact crank for this race. Heard from quite a few people that it was really hilly.

Hills weren't nearly as bad as Rev3, there were a lot of them but not that steep.

Still working on riding the right wattage when hills are concerned. LS was easy, never came out of aero and stuck to the watts range. Hills aren't that easy.

Pretty wet course, saw a few bodies here and there that had wiped out. Played a lot of cat and mouse with riders up hills, let them go up and then I caught them going down. Had quite a few problems with people not moving back over to the right after they passed, had to check up my speed quite a few times from folks that I guess thought they were going fast enough not to be passed on the downhills.

Had to scream on your left a few times to get people to move over. For the record I saw in a thread that people were worried about the Women in the wave in front of us being the cause of that but not a single woman I passed was guilty of that, all guys.

Saw Nick (brownnugen) on the ride, we passed each other a couple times, he must have been faster getting out of T2 since I think I got there first and knew he would blow by me on the run but didn't see him again until after the race.

Still not overly happy about this ride, faster than Rev3 and had plenty left in the tank so should have probably ridden a bit harder.


Ride harder, not be so mental staring at my pm.

Butt slow. I had brought a 2nd pair of socks in case my feet were soaked from the ride but never set them out. Had to find my bag, dig through it to find the socks.

Sucks to lose time here but I think the dry socks were worth it.

come up with a faster plan.

Actually was pleased with the time. Haven't run any hills whatsoever this season. But again my run times are killing me. Droped 11 spots in my AG on the run.

Lots of brutaly hills, right out of transition big steep hill. Running through the neighborhoods ran up one hill and said quitely f$%k when I saw another hill around the corner, lol heard someone behind me say the exact same thing.

Learn how to run faster.

Crossed the line, ran into Nick and we walked around for a bit to try and find food. Saw Shelly and chatted, she had a flat and had to DNF : (

Went to transition to get my stuff and load up the truck, ran back to the finish to make sure I met Sam, got there just as she was crossing the finish line. We walked around a bit also so she could get some food. Chatted with the FEXY/Reston crew a bit, then headed out to go to a company picnic.


Kind of bummmed about my overall time but HIM, Oly and Oly in 6 weeks I think took a bit out of my legs. Plus I am not nearly as fast in reality as I am in my head...


Good race, funny doing IM brand, Rev3 brand and Columbia so close, none of them were "perfect" as in everything they promised worked as advertised. Columbia was supposed to hand you a card when you finished with your splits on them, never did that.

But they were quick at getting results up. I think they were the most organized of the 3 races.

Think I want to do this one again next year to see if I can have a better showing.