At the time, it felt like just an OK swim. However, results show I was doing better than I thought! Didn't draft well; couldn't seem to find decent feet to follow. Occasionally a little outside the direct line; however, fairly straight overall.

Pretty good transition. Suit stuck on heels a bit, despite plenty of Body Glide. Got into sock and shoes well, food into pockets, and out of transition. Got onto bike well, but took a couple tries to get actually clipped in.
AG: 9th
OA: 43rd

Started off pushing a bit. Caught Dennis w/i a couple of miles and realized I should probably back down a bit. Still stayed pretty steady the first half. Started getting passed more during the second half - the later waves were catching up. Never felt like I was taking it easy, but wanted to ensure I didn't blow up before the run, either. Push a bit more the last 4 or 5 miles.

Need to work on my bike power this winter; push a bit more on the bike. Was getting a little uncomfortable staying aero; need some stretching/yoga and/or maybe new elbow pads.

Good dismount and run through transition. Helmet off while running. Glasses fell when I had to lift the bike over the curb, but I was able to grab them quickly. Shoes on and grabbed hat and number to put on while exiting. Photographer at run out caught me fumbling to get it all put on.

AG: 1st
OA: 2nd

Nothing.

Decided first loop was going to be a warm-up. Started off a little faster than intended, but HR was OK. Focused on keeping it steady and in control. Started picking off the runners ahead of me.

Started picking it up a bit in the second half, but backed down a bit when HR/breathing got too high to control. Ramped up a bit the last three miles, and kicked the last half-mile for a strong finish.

Overall, it was a steady, negative-split run, and better than I'd hoped given recent training, so I'm happy overall.
Saw Gerald several times - by his second loop, he was pushing hard

Probably should have ramped up just a little bit earlier and sacrificed a little of the final kick for a slightly faster pace during the last couple miles.

Water, Gatorade, and chocolate mile in the finisher tent. Waited for Gerald to recover, then we walked over to the massage tent. (They were great!) Back to finisher's tent for another drink. Waited for him to recover, then walked him over to the massage tent.

Other than the massage, I kept moving and didn't really sit down.


Hesitence to push the bike harder b/c recent mid-day running hasn't gone well for me and I wanted not to blow up on the run.


Excellent, well-organized, well-executed, and non-pretentious race. Was great to be out there alongside the full IM racers, though I'm glad I wasn't doing the full IM. (Don't know if I could mentally handle 4 loop bike and 4 loop run courses.)

Police and volunteers at every intersection and business driveway on the route, so I felt very safe. Covered bleachers for the spectators at the finishing line was a nice consideration. Expo was pittance compared to IM-branded events, but that was fine with me - the RedMan gear they had was nice, and I'd rather have an affordable race than the branded one.

Temporary tatoos for body marking was very cool. Finisher shirts were nice. Food and drinks afterwards included a nice variety of snacks (pretzals, cookies, candy, granola bars, peanuts), fuits (oranges, grapes), PB&J sandwiches, and drinks (water, Gatorade, various sodas, chocolate milk, EAS MyoPlex).