Dawn said go out strong, but I don't think she ment sprint....oops. Went out with the top 3 swimmers for first 150ish then near disaster struck. Started hyperventalating and took the entire first leg to get it under control. Extremely frustrating watching slower swimmers pass me (40+) of them! Every time I'd put my face in the water I thought I was inhaling the lake thru my nose. Nearly the worst feeling of my life. For a brief time I wasn't sure I'd be able to finish the swim. Finally got my head right (thanks GOD!!!!) and was able to swim. I had positioned myself on the inside line for the swim so no one was near me. The back stretch (longest leg) was smooth and I was passing most of the slower folks from my breast stroke excursion. Made the final turn and headed home. With about 2-300 remaining I started kicking and got my legs working. Swim till I hit ground then a few more strokes. Up and out to the wetsuit strippers....first one of those, worked well.

Go out slightly slower and concentrate if the breathing issue pops up again get longer strokes in!

got cap and goggles in hand, my suit unzipped and off the shoulders and used the strippers for the first time ever....not bad. got thru the rocks to my bike, race belt, helmet and off to the mount line. cleared the line by a few yards and did a step over mount, slightly slow getting feet situated but it worked ok both feet in the shoes prior to exiting the park. Unfortunately had a little gravel in the shoes with me, not fun!

I think a better rack might have been further from the exit but still on the end, no real change needed

Lap split ave MPH
1 00:16:45 5.00 17.9
2 00:15:21 5.00 19.5
3 00:14:02 5.00 21.4
4 00:14:57 5.00 20.0
5 00:16:04 5.00 18.7
6 00:15:24 5.00 19.5
7 00:14:49 5.00 20.2
8 00:15:25 5.00 19.5
9 00:16:16 5.00 18.4
10 00:15:54 5.00 18.9
11 00:17:23 5.00 17.2
12 00:04:03 1.45 21.4
Interesting ride. I was 9th out of the water but must have left a few in transition. Had 1 rider in view for the first 18 mi and finally passed him, he later ran with me for a little. Got passed a short time later by a different rider who said "it took me 20 mi to catch you". He and I exchanged positions several times and I finally called him out for "drafting", then I never saw him again....till the run. Figured out how to pee on the bike....very important but not nice. Pushed the pace and lost my nutrition on the course somewhere...

Push a little harder on the "good portions" of the road, if you know where they are...Actually get more calories in earlier

hit the dismount line with no issues. jogged the bike to the rack. took my time getting socks and shoes on (feet were numb from the vibration) and grabbed my visor, swapped race belt and out the area. Took longer than it felt, standard!

pick a different location

Half mi splis pace per mi
1 00:04:03 0.50 08:07
2 00:04:28 0.50 08:56
3 00:04:11 0.50 08:22
4 00:03:58 0.50 07:56
5 00:03:50 0.50 07:41
6 00:03:43 0.50 07:26
7 00:03:45 0.50 07:31
8 00:04:01 0.50 08:03
9 00:04:00 0.50 08:01
10 00:04:13 0.50 08:28
11 00:04:13 0.50 08:27
12 00:04:07 0.50 08:14
13 00:04:04 0.50 08:09
14 00:04:01 0.50 08:02
15 00:04:06 0.50 08:13
16 00:04:32 0.50 09:05
17 00:04:05 0.50 08:10
18 00:03:51 0.50 07:43
19 00:03:55 0.50 07:51
20 00:04:02 0.50 08:05
21 00:04:22 0.50 08:46
22 00:04:18 0.50 08:37
23 00:04:24 0.50 08:49
24 00:04:14 0.50 08:29
25 00:04:06 0.50 08:13
26 00:02:04 0.29 07:14

Took about 3/4 of a mi to get my legs under me. Ran across the dam with 1 of 2 guys who passed me on the run. It was the same guy from the bike leg who I caught early. He was training for TX also and reminded me not to blow up this far into the race. I got across the dam and realized even though I used my new found bike pee skill I needed to go again. 30 sec later he was around the corner and I was trying to catch up....took all the way to the half way point of the run. tried to eat alittle power bar and realized it wasnt going to go down so I started working on the one gel I had with me. On the long downhill there were 3 guys running about 25 sec ahead of me. After the trip thru the neighborhood only one was still in front. The guy who I beat (2nd in AG) was the first to go, when I saw the 40 on both calves I decided to bury him right there. His gait was way off and he was hurting. The Drafter was the second to go down. As I ran by I said something like I'm a slow runner and he said the same, then I pulled away from him quickly, guess he didn't rest enough in the draft.... Entering the aid station near the frontage road I took my 3 sports legs....they may work, legs felt great. On the last mi prior to the park a guy blew by me, he finished 6 min ahead of me and was really moving on the run. As we hit T2.5 and started the second lap Mr TX was walking up the hill, I decided to make him work and ran to the top. Half way across the dam I passed a lady who was a talker, when TX passed her I knew I had a little lead. On the long uphill I extended it a bit and then pressed the downhill. I passed several others on lap 1 but never saw TX again. After the race we talked and he said he was trying to match my pace but just couldnt. That felt good. At the frontage road stop I took a gel with caffine just to have a little more kick for the end. When I reentered the park I looked back over my shoulder and the vol said he's not even around the corner. Pressed the last half mile and really enjoyed crossing the line without worrying about finisher position. There was no-one around me at all. Only after crossing the line did I ask what my time was. Never looked at the total time at all on the race, bike or run.

Have a few extra gels in T2.

Walked around and talked to the Trisition crew and waited for Coach to finish. I didn't get chicked!


Breathing in the cold lake, pride....harsh road


Poor post race support and a long wait for awards, not really cool!!!!