Determined not to gas myself and come out of the water huffing and puffing. I also waited too long and got in with some slower swimmers and there's really no way to get around them on this course because it is like the beginning of a ows race but it never thins out.

Pick a tri with a swim that's a bit more suited to my strengths. Whatever. I swam it a lot faster last year, but I think the course was even shorter last year because a buoy broke loose in the melee.

My transitions are getting faster as I do them more. I still got hung up on some stupid stuff, but I am getting better about being methodical. Decided for socks on the bike because I was worried about being cold, but it turns out that I should have skipped them.

Shed even more things to do in T1. As I look for ways to speed up, more and more things I used to want to do in transition become less essential. The next thing to go is socks.

Lower seat height+new saddle=faster ride!

Not much. Only got passed by Darth Vader on a black tri bike from hell. It was kind of awesome.

I need more focus here. Spent too much time thinking. Need to practice helmet off, shoes on at the same time and then grab all my crap and deal with it when I am running.

WTF. Dear triathlon, I came to you as a runner, so why is my run suffering. Oh, it's because I hurt myself cheating on you with marathon? Right, sorry, my bad. It's my fault.

OK, I need new bike shoes so I don't have to run the first two miles on numb feet, but I also need to get my run mojo back, and I am not sure if it is mental, physical, or (I suspect) a combo of both. Last year on this very course I ran 745s and now I'm at 8's???? And while you could argue that I biked harder this year, I think the speed increase was from having a new bike. I am just perpetually tight and it makes it a real struggle to hit my stride and carry the pace I am aerobically capable of holding. As it is I have to work harder to stride shorter. However, I was able to pick the pace up significantly in the last two miles, so I am also thinking I held back a bit due to my angst over my physical pain.

Lots of drama!

It got sunny and Batavia throws an excellent afterparty. So you know, it was cheering Babydaddy on his finish, beer, pizza, and hanging out looking at cool bikes.


My tight azz on the run. Maybe a bit of mental illness;-).


Only reason this race doesn't get a 5 is that the swim is silly. Otherwise great race.