First OWS of the year. The wind was a cross wind and gusty, so going out it was from my right and going back to shore from my left. Several times anxiety set it and I needed to stop recollect myself and continue. Once I relaxed again, the swim was good.

Overall, I felt the distance was not a problem, it was more the waves, temp and swimming in a crowd that bothered me. I know that this will get better the more OWS and group swims I get.

Gotten out to do a true open water swim a couple times before the event. I didn't have my rental wetsuit until four days before and had nowhere to OWS in that time frame.

The first indications of later problems hit in T1. I had a sharp side stitch in my right rib cage area as I was running into T1. It went away when I stopped to put on shoes and stuff.

Didn't have shoes attached to bike, only using road shoes, so pretty difficult to put on while riding.

Sidenote, I "lost" a Nike visor because i left it on my aerobars and didn't realize it until out on the road. It was flopping around to I just tossed it to the side of the road near a bunch of spectators.

Not really much other than maybe getting Tri shoes and having them on the bike.

I felt like I was consuming enough to drink as I wasn't thirsty at all, however after the race I realized I only drank 1 bottle of GU Brew and half bottle of water. I had 1 GU packet on the bike and really didn't want anything more.

Overall I felt I really had a good bike. I definitely could have gone harder/faster, but I was still anticipating a really hot run, so I wanted to save my legs for the run.

Stick to my nutrition plan a little better.

I put on socks for the run, didn't wear them on the bike, so that slowed things down a little.

Not much, just get faster

Here is where the problems happened. The side stitch from T1 came back with a vengance at about 1/2 mile in. I stopped running and walked while taking very deep breaths and it seemed to go away. Started running again and it came back along with a friend, cramps. I made it to the first aid station at 1 mile and took on water hoping it would help, and it only got worse. Finished the run by running .25 mile then walking .25 mile. I could tell I really needed liquid, but my stomach physically wouldn't let me. The cramps and side stitch kept getting worse as the run went along.

The really frustrating part is that my legs felt great, I had no cramping or tiredness in the legs and really felt like I could have run a hour or less on the 10k.

Don't know, still haven't figured out exactly what went wrong and caused the problems.

Drank what water I could, and tried to walk out the side stitch and stomach cramps


The side stitch and stomach cramps on the run.


Ultramax runs a great event from the very beginning to the finish chute. Times were instant, as soon as you cross the line, they have someone printing out your split times and handing it over. Free hamburgers/hotdogs, free beer, water and pop.