Even though the water was pretty smooth I still did the entire swim with my head above water. I can do the breathing fine in the pool but get me in a race and I'm too pumped up to relax and get a rythm going. Gotta work on that. I did well but I obviously could have done better.

Try to establish a rythm and get the breathing down.

This went way better than my previous race. I ran from the swim to transition and then ran with the bike which helped. I didn't use the camel pack and didn't waste time putting bike gloves on.

Get a pair of velcro bike shoes. Doing the laces takes up so much time.

The out leg was almost all uphill so the first 6 miles or so were really tough and I was getting passed a bunch. It was my first time with the Klein bike and it helped with speed but is just different and I gotta get used to it. Don't like the seat. Since then I've taken it off and replaced it with the seat from my old bike. Much better.

Practice practice practice and I'll get faster.

The run from the dismount area to the rack was painful. My knees were just screaming at me. Other than that it was good.

Not too much. Maybe get some of those laces you don't have to tie. I saw a lot of people with those.

As always it was tough starting out but once I found my pace I was pretty good except for the cramp I had. It started in the bike segment and now was just there being really annoying. It was a stomach cramp. Maybe the apple I had before the race or the Gatorade I had during the bike. It really seems like Gatorade messes me up every time I have it. Do you think that might be a sign to try some other sports drink??? That was just one more thing to have going through my brain. I fought through it though. I wasn't going to let that stop me. There was a guy that passed me with about a half a mile to go and then slowed a little and just hung out in front of me. With about 50 yards to go I snuck right by him and crossed the finish line just ahead of him. You snooze you lose. hee hee.

Change up what I eat before the race and try a different sports drink. Other than that I felt pretty good. My pace could have been faster but I think that will come with more training.

Walked around a bit. Had some snacks. Great spread! They all kinds of homemade cookies and brownies. Also had hotdogs. I know you're supposed to eat a little something right afterwards but I am just so not hungry after putting my body through that. I forced myself to eat a little. Stayed for the awards ceremony as my buddy picked up a third place trophy for our age group. The only time I saw him during the race was at the start and when he whizzed by me on his return route of the bike leg.


cramping up. It hurt me during the bike and run. Hopefully tweaking my nutrition will help with that.


what a great organized race. You can tell it's thier 26th annual race. They have it down. They had some nice entertainment afterwards which made me feel like I was in the movie "A Mighty Wind" So folksy. The area was beautiful as well. I will most definately do this race again next year.