This is the hardest I have pushed a swim. I may have gone out a bit fast, but I knew some of my training partners were ahead of me and I wanted to catch them for a draft. I caught a few different folks, but could not establish a good draft. After rounding the second buoy, I got a bit off course and was veering left.

Maybe hold back just a bit at the start.

I need to practice my transitions more (which means practicing them period). This one was going ok. Shoes on quick. Then the helmet went on, but when I went to strap it, the strap felt wrong. Pulled it off and that knocked the sunglasses off and onto the ground.

Practice, practice, practice.

Getting more comfortable on the bike. This was my best bike leg yet. In arrow most of the ride. Feeling more confident on the downhills.

Just keep riding to improve.

Terrible. So, I clipped out of both pedals approaching the dismount line (or so I thought). I must not have clipped my left foot out completely or it clipped back in as I went to step off. Anyway, I went down on my left side pretty hard. The volunteer ran towards me asking if I was ok. Just my pride was hurt asside from some scrapes. I yelled, "I'm Fine" jumped up picked up my bike and ran it into transition. The fall flustered me a bit through transition, but I pulled it together pretty quick. My hip was hurting and I thought that I had probably ripped my tri suit, but a quick check revealed that I didn't. That settled my nerves and off I ran.

Practice, practice, practice. Oh and not fall. This time I had the Garmin turned on and put it on while running, which save time. Next time, I will put the race number on while running also.

I was a bit worried how much I would have left because I pushed the bike harder than normal, but I thought, I have been doing HIM training, so I am going to push everything and see what I've got left. A test of my endurance, I guess. To my suprise, I felt pretty strong on the run. I had some abdominal cramping at the start, but I had a Gu and that helped. This was close to my Galena pace. It helped that I could see some of my friends and swimming partners up ahead to try and catch.

Not much I can think of.

Walking around talking.


Lack of tranisition practice and falling off my bike at dismount. (FAIL!)


I had a blast!! Loved my hometown race!! There was a bit of a mix-up for the first finishers at the run turn-around that caused some controversy, but that was a bit of a fluke. I felt bad for Jeff Paul, who finished second overall as a result (But first in most everyone's mind). The race director made it right by splitting the first place money, and apologizing. Again, this was just a fluke and this is still a great event run by a great race director and his team. Lots of volunteers, all very friendly. A spectator friendly event also compared to some other triathlons I have competed in.