750 meters looks longer with 2 foot waves. The gun went off and I have never seen such a crazy thing at a race than that. I just waited until all those nuts moved out some and a lane opened up for me. Even though I waited I caught up to the water peloton pretty easy. Probably because they were all fighting each other. I got kicked, bumped, grabbed by the shoulder and pulled back, and someone grabbed my ankle with enough force to loosen my timing chip...I stopped to check it at least 4 times to be sure it wasn't about to fall off.

When all that wasn't happening it was fun to swim in the 2 foot waves. Luckily, unlike Derek Zoolander, I am an ambi-turner so there is no trouble turning my head the opposite direction that the waves are coming.

I use this skill to get me all the way back to beach...

Hmmmm, I really thought this went well. I would probably be more aggresive. It seems that I was trying to be to nice... Hell I even apologized to a couple people when I smacked them...and tried to pop up and go around people rather than just zip up the side.

This was a pretty long run from the beach to the trans...I would guess 200 yards but it is over a shelly beach, then grass, then up and down a rocky and painful levee.

Other than the long run it was pretty uneventful. In my head I go over what I am about to do and think "here comes the bike!"

Nothing.

The one small problem was the wind... luckily we had it at our backs half the time. Just enough stuff to make the 20 miles challenging and not boring. I ran out of water at mile 12ish. Usually I don't drink much on the bike but I am using the profile water bottle now and it rocks. I drank the whole thing that fast. Toward the end I started to think "Here comes the run!"... Something clicked and I had the Beatles song "Here comes the sun" ... Here comes the run, and I say, it's alright.....

Nada. Except maybe go faster. Well that and carry some more water. I felt good the whole time... got off the bike with great expectations for the run.

I have to bitch here a little bit. The guy that was racked across from me put his bike right down the middle of my towel. I had to rack my bike then run around the other side and lift up his from tire to get to my running stuff he was pinning down. I guess I just need to be faster so people get to t2 AFTER I do.

I could have been out of T2 in under a minute if it weren't for that bike on my gear. It didn't make or break my race but I had to move another riders bike which kinda slowed me down mentally as I was trying not to drop it or break it.

It was hot now. About 90 degrees. I was a little behind on hydration and started to feel it at 1.5 miles. I walked/drank through all the water stations and slowed to a shuffle. I had no idea what my time was because I didn't wear a watch. I probably could have used a few calories here also but it wasn't critical. A slow sweaty run was what I did and got to the finish line.

Bring more water on the bike. And work on my run with a little heat training.

Um I was trying to cool off at the end ... not warm down. I got some crystal clear, mountain spring fresh ABITA water and went to my Expedition and turned on the AC. Then 10 minutes later back to mingle and eat some red beans and cookies. It was hot so people were starting to leave and I had a 2 hour drive home (which usually sucks) so I packed up and headed back.


The heat hurt my run. I got passed by 3 people in my AG on the run on the way back in but didn't have it in me to try and catch them. I tried to focus on what I was doing as opposed to what everyone else was doing... It all worked out.




Notes: Will (rocko) didn't race. But he stayed to watch and yell. I didn't think it would be a big deal to have someone yelling for you but when I rode by and heard my name it was actually pretty cool.

I think I have a bruise on the bottom of my foot from those levy rocks (swim to T1 run).

I didn't get to see Darius.... I was looking for someone hobbling or wearing a cast or something but didn't.

I like time chips.

I like not wearing a watch.

I don't like 90 degree heat.

Didn't get to meet and BT members but at least I knew some were there.