I came out of the water with split emotions -- first of all, I MADE IT! I didn't have to stop, didn't switch strokes, didn't thrash wildly. Awesome! Hey, I just learned how to swim 18 months ago. But then I looked at my watch and said "Ouch." I figured that, even without a wetsuit I could hold a 2:00/100yd pace. Where did I go wrong?

I started off with a nice even pace and kept right on going. I usually have a lot of leg drag, but because I had been suspecting that this would be a no-suit race, I had spent the last few weeks swimming without one, and it paid off. I may have zig-zagged some, but I think I kept a fairly straight course and didn't have any major navigation problems. Navigation was easy with all the people out there.

I could definitely tell that I was getting passed a lot, and I could tell when one wave would finish and the next one would come, as there would be a lull for a few minutes, followed by the rush of a new pack. I was still able to draft for a bit, but I need to work a lot on that. I passed a few people, so I know I wasn't THE slowest swimmer there...just close.

Last 200 yards everything got crazy! I guess people were really making a final push for the finish...I hadn't experienced that before. Someone whacked my legs 4-5 strokes in a row so I just started kicking like a maniac. Shortly thereafter, I took a pretty good whack to the right eye...dunno if it was the same person or not, but hey -- you can go around me, but not over me, ok?

Need more practice, more yardage. Crank up the intensity of my workouts a bit...I'm at the point now where the form is good, and I can start to think about speed (just a bit). Practice drafting. It'll improve over time. Can't say I was disappointed, but hardly thrilled either.

I am fast here -- w00t!!! I have worked very hard on my transitions and it pays off consistently on race day. I did a dry run before the race, had my racks counted out correctly, and found my bike quickly (aided somewhat by the fact that almost all the bikes on my rack were already gone!). With my shoes clipped to the bike, I just had to grab my bike and hustle to the mount line. Hopped on whilst rolling and on my way. Got my feet into my shoes without incident.

Age group: 10/106
Gender: 67/1015
Overall: 79/2000

Couldn't go much faster...no change.

Not bad...was shooting for 20mph, and I think I would have had it...but, after crossing the Ford Bridge, I saw my buddy on the side of the road -- with a flat! And of course, he hadn't brought a pump or tube and I knew it. So, without even thinking, I slammed on the brakes to help him. I had a CO2 pump, tube, and tire irons taped to the bottom of my seat/seat post. He tore the tape off, while I kept saying "Hurry hurry hurry!" It cost me maybe 45 seconds tops, but it killed my momentum. Then again, he had been sitting there for 20 minutes already...

Continuing on, I was coming up a bit short on water between refueling stations. Should have brought another bottle, but live and learn. Near the end I could feel that I was running a bit low and that the heat was starting to get to me. Did more gliding than I would have liked to, but then the course allowed for more near the end also.

I think this is the moment I was most proud of in the race. I could have blown right past him -- hey, he should have been prepared, right? But that's what friends are for. It was all instinct, and I'm glad that even in the heat of competition I didn't put winning ahead of helping a friend. He owes me for a tube and CO2 cartridge though...not to mention the skids on my brand-new tires! ;)

Another fast one! I like it. Had my feet on top of my shoes coming into T-2 and hopped off...almost too fast, but I made the corner safely. A quick jog to my rack. Helmet off, socks and shoes on, quick swig of water and off we go!

Age group: 10/106
Gender: 196/1015
Overall: 256

Had more fluid/nutrition available for consumption.

SO HOT!!! Oh my goodness -- the run absolutely destroyed people, myself included. I was able to run the entire way, but only at a very slow pace (approaching the "Ironman Shuffle"). Just focused on making it to the next water stop, and dousing myself while there. Drank a little Powerade, which tasted heavenly. I refused to walk, although it was so very, very tempting.

I REALLY needed to pee, and very seriously contemplated going on myself -- didn't want to stop, couldn't find a portable, but also couldn't find a spot devoid of spectators to embarass myself in front of. So I held it, and it hurt. Not as much as the incredible heat, though.

Saw a few friends after lap one, and again down the homestretch. Really needed the cheers at that point, so I got my arms up to make the crowd make some noise. Cheer, damn you! Finished by going backwards through the chute -- why not? I figured.

Train in the Amazon. Did the best I could, considering the conditions. Better race nutrition may have helped somewhat, but really it was just brutal out there and I was glad to make it through in one piece.

Made it to the finishers area and things got hazy. Found lots of water and a piece of shade and got down on my hands and knees. Kept pouring liquids over my head and back but wasn't getting cooler. Other people gave me their water too -- I must have really looked bad. I felt it too. Stayed down for about 30 minutes and then started to come back around. Would have liked to enjoy some of the delicious post-race food, but the thought of a steaming-hot plate of Fat Lorenzo's pasta and pizza on a 100F day just made me dizzy.


Besides the incredible, blazing heat? I am really kicking myself over my slow swim time. Had I knocked even 5 minutes off of that, I would have come in under 3 hours, which was my "B" goal for the day. My T's were quick and my bike/run splits were right in the middle of the pack -- if I can continue to improve my swimming, I'll quickly move up to be the MOP'er I long to be. Since I am so new to swimming though, I feel confident that I will continue to see rapid improvements.


Thank you to the 1300 volunteers! What a race -- a major production. I was a little disappointed that only 33 of the 44 promised pros made it to the start -- I thought it made the pro field look to thin. The TV coverage was ok, but NBC could do a much better job. I have mixed feelings about the Equalizer format and the time-trial starting format, but if it does good things for the sport then I'm for it.