Given the mess I got into in the last race, I decided to accept that I cannot out-sprint the aggressive starters and took the start slow and wide to the left. Unfortunately, about a dozen other swimmers had the same idea, lining up outside the cones. After jostling around and wasting time for the first 50 yards, I made a left turn and got to the very outside of the swimmers. This became my passing lane, as I was continuously gliding by swim caps on my right for the rest of the swim. I took the entire course about 15 yards wide, which probably had me swimming close to 500 yards. However, after the first 75, I was in clear water the whole time.

Try to line up even farther left. I wasted at least 30 seconds getting into a position where I could swim normally.

A totally unremarkable transition. 7/13 AG. 74/225 OA.

Nothing.

This was a reasonably good bike. There were very few people in sight when I came out of transition. At one point between the 2 & 3-mile markers, I could see only one rider ahead and no riders behind me (on a straight section about a half-mile between curves). Also, nobody passed me during the first five miles. There was enough wind today to make itself noticed, and I decided to push pretty hard on the outbound upwind leg. Passed a pack of drafters (maybe 6 of them) just before the turn-around. They came back by me just after the turn when I took too long to get back up to speed (taking a drink, stretching arms/shoulders). Since it was rather difficult to get around them (riding at least 2-wide at all times), I hung out about behind them for the next 3 miles. About 12-15 meters behind them, in case the motorcycle came by and decided to hand out penalties to everyone. By the time we got to the bridge, I realized that I wasn't working very hard at all, so I bumped a gear higher and dropped the hammer. Never dropped below 24mph for the rest of the ride.

Try to keep a more consistent speed. Stay ahead of the pack at the turnaround and worry about comfort when the race is over.

Took it easy coming in, as I was a little worried about how hard I pushed my legs at the end of the bike. Things felt good after a few steps, so I picked up the pace once inside the racks area. Otherwise, another wholly unremarkable transition. 7/13 AG. 60/225 OA.

Nothing.

My time here was a little disappointing, but still perfectly acceptable. I was hoping to set a new PR pace here, but between not feeling 100% and the hard push at the end of the bike, my legs just didn't have that last extra gear. It was still cloudy and the first half was upwind, so staying cool wasn't the challenge it could have been. I kept my pace pretty steady throughout.

Although I didn't know it at the time, I was in 4th place for my age group coming out of T2 (2:05 separated 4th through tenth). It was a bit demoralizing, though, to watch 4 guys in my age group go by within the first quarter mile.

I just need to get faster. Still frustrating to be BOP for my AG, but I'm a full minute faster per mile than last year, and still improving.

Grabbed some water, used the outdoor shower and changed my clothes. Wandered around until transition opened, and then got out of there on the double. Home at 10:35.


Another good race at Crystal River. This race was a PR by 0.5 seconds. Overall placing represents my excel file which has the relay teams removed.