Holy good lord. This was my first open water swim and @$%#^- those people are nuts. On my way out to the first bouy I got a foot to the face and a couple to the ribs. When I got to the first bouy I was trying to swim around it and seriously some chick grabbed my shoulder and literally pulled it down and then pushed off me - this really irked my, reminded me of being a goalkeeper and the stupid strikers putting their hands on my shoulder so I couldn't jump up to get the ball - at this point I was pizzed and started slapping at the water pretty furiously, when I was out of breath I realized that wasn't helping any and I peaked my head up found an opening and swam into it. I was probably half way to the second bouy before I finally found any rhythm and got comfortable which only lasted a hundred yards or so before I was caught up to a mess of other swimmers again. I swallowed more than my fair share of lake/pee water -GROSS - and at one point I did panic because the chop got me and I couldn't get a breath, but I was able to calm myself down and get back in the game. When I hit the second bouy based on my experience at the first bouy chose to pop up and aqua jog around the bouy - this I'm sure slowed me down but at least I didn't get as mad. Swimming in toward the beach someone literally tried to swim over the top/side of me (I got mad and pushed them off me opps). Made it out of the water and up the hill.

My swimming has slacked a little bit and I need to incorporate more drills to build some speed and stamina. Outside of that, well I can't exactly simulate race conditions with stupid people trying to drown me at the Y - unless there are any folks out there in South Dayton who would want to come and try and swim over the top of me (ha ha ha). The first open water swim is down and aside from slight moment of panic when I hit the chop and got a mouth full of water I really didn't panic as much as it seems others have so I'll take it.

At least this time I was able to get my feet into my cages - unlike Miami where I almost fell over.

Nada

This bike course was a piece of cake compared to Miami as far as hills and general course go. I do remember feeling discouraged while on the bike because I felt like I was going really slow at times - this though of course wouldn't be because of gnarly head and cross winds - sheesh - i felt like Dorothy and Toto at one point. I got passed by quite a few but mostly dudes, on those fancy bikes with those funny wheels that make the cool sounds, I passed a few too and had a couple ladies that I kept playing leap frog with. I guess for as little time as I have actually spent on the road - I can't complain about this.

More ride time, more ride time, more ride time.

Yep, given that I don't wear bike shoes this was fast - get off bike, run bike to rack, rack bike, throw helmet down, take off - wahla - finito bambito.

nada

Looking at my time, the run went better then I had thought, not as fast as my time at Miami but still under 9:00/mile which is awesome considering most of my training runs seem to average around 9:30 miles. The course was fine, the only thing that sucked was running in really soggy shoes - nothing like the toes squishing around and as if your legs and feet don't already feel heavy after getting off the bike adding heavy shoes really sucks - on the bright side even though I chose to go sockless - as the were soaked from the torretial down poor prior to the race - No Blisters :)

More real brick practice - I really didn't do but maybe one bike to run brick between Miami and Deer Creek, I think it would have been helpful had I been more prepared to handle that.

Hmmm....tried to hang some of my stuff to dry and found some fellow BT buddies and hung out.


I think my confidence was lacking because the week and a half prior to deer creek my training schedule was goofy due to work travel etc. It wasn't that my fitness level was depleted but mentally I was feeling a little weak and I think this contributed to my overall readiness for the race. I was stoked to see the official results because my posted finishing time on site at the race was 6:00 minutes slower than what is posted on the results page, I remember looking at it and thinking it was off because I had started and stopped my watch and my watch showed 1:30:30 so now seeing the results and being at a total time of 1:30:11 and being 7th and my age group is awesome. Only 4 minutes slower than my Miami time and the swim was 350 meters longer and I know the transition were greater too.