I think the swim went the best of any of the three legs. Considering my swimming abilities currently this was just about the time I was shooting for. My goggles slipped a couple times and I had to stop to adjust them and I didn't do a very good job of drafting or handling the congestion at buoys.

I just need to get more comfortable with swimming with other people. Drafting is something I need to work on and bi lateral breathing is a process I need to get down better.

Since it was a clean transition it wasn't as fast as it could have been. Plus the long run up the hill didn't really help. Wetsuit removal was great along with cap and goggles. Running with the bike and then hopping on and getting started was good as well.

I messed with my sunglasses to much, they were originally on the top of my helmet but came off when I took my helmet off. I then tried to put them back on the helmet and fumbled with that for a few seconds and finally put them on my face. I need to organize my bag a little better as well. Towel on top, to wipe off real quick. Dump out helmet and shoes and throw in wetsuit, then put on helmet shoes and go.

For how hard I have worked on the bike and how much I thought this was my strength the bike just kicked my butt. The winds just took everything right out of me and I had hardly anything left for the run. It seemed like every time that I thought I should be getting a tailwind and finally be done with struggling in the headwind it started blowing in my face again. Never really got away from it except for a few short stretches all the way to the finish.

The biggest thing that hurt me was my nutrition. I ate immediately after getting out of the water. I was still a little nauseas from the swim and the food I ate was awful plus I ate it just before a tough uphill section! Never again will I eat "chocolate" flavored power bars. I was so stupid I ate a bar I hadn't tried before and a drink that I hadn't used before either. I was just scared that I wouldn't have enough calories so I got stuff and just chugged it down without practicing it before the race and it killed the rest of my day. So next time just be smart with what I eat.

I was just so wasted from the ride I wasn't terribly motivated to push myself in T2. I wasn't careful and as precise as I should have been. Again the clean transition through me off as I fumbled with what stuff I should pull out and put in the bag. I also somehow shredded my elastics when I cinched up my shoes. Luckily it held, but it could have been an even tougher 1/2 marathon if I hadn't lucked out with it holding.

Hustle off the bike, and be more precise with taking stuff out and putting stuff in the bag. Just be calm and don't rush and things will actually go faster. Start panicking and you are bound to screw something up and slow yourself down

My stomach was still rebelling against me. Was burping and cramping pretty much the whole way. Barfed about mile 7 and had a few unpleasant moments in a port a potty around mile 10. My stomach finally settled down a bit and I was able to run somewhat consistently the last 3 miles until my legs started cramping up really bad with only a mile or so to go. Limped across the line finally finished.

More Vaseline or lubricant application for my feet, armpits, nipples, and inner thighs. I got kind of wet cooling myself off from the bike and started chafing as the run progressed.

I was pretty much dead, a post race massage and a few mouthfulls of powerbar drink and pizza was about all I could manage.


Mainly nutrition I think and also just my inexperience with the distance.


It was an awesome race and very well done. The only thing that limited my experience was my performance. I am not sure how I feel about the late afternoon start though, I think those winds started picking up as the day wore on and we ended up riding through the hottest part of the day. But I guess thats part of the challenge and Ironman and Boise did an amazing job with this race.