We lined up numerical based on an estimated time seeding, and the race started. Three second intervals between starts, and the line was moving rather quickly. It was my time so when I received the go-ahead, I gave a little run and jump. I spread-out as soon as I hit the water to reduce how much I sank, one breast-stoke got me back to the surface and level, and I started right into my free-style. The instructions were to keep all buoys on your right, so I started towards the first buoy and then noticed that their was a little jetty sticking out from shore, so I swam as close to that point as possible knowing the course hung a left from there. That should have reduced the distance to the first buoy, and then I aligned and started easing out to the buoy line from there. My goal for this race was to swim straight at the buoys, vs going wide and swimming extra distance. I would say my entire swim went very well with my navigation. I swam straight at the buoys without a lot of zig-zag, using the buoys, other swimmers, and the shore line for navigation the first half, and then the swimmers/buoys the second half.

The swim went smooth. I was navigating great, nice steady stroke with a focus on a long glide, breathing, etc. I drafted when I could before over-taking them, and then moved on to the next swimmer and repeat. I rounded the buoys very close, and close enough that my elbow hit one of the buoys, so I was pleased with my positioning. I kept the entire swim nice & relaxed. Most of the swim was uneventful until later on, on the backside when a guy ran into me. I had just checked my position, and I was swimming straight at the buoy, and this guy came out of nowhere from the outside. I guess that he had checked his position, and was trying to tighten up position wise, and hammered me on my left. He hit me so hard it completely jarred me off my stroke. Holy crap, where did he come from? I moved over a bit, and then he hit me again. Forget this, so I took a few hard strokes to make my pass. Again, open water as I worked my way from buoy to buoy. A faster swimmer came up, so I tucked in close to his side in a draft position. I was able to hold that for a while, before he started pulling ahead. When he did so, I moved to drafting off his feet. I pretty much drafted off of him until the end.

The one thing to note was that in the final 200 meters my left lower leg/calf area started to cramp, not bad but it was cramping. Oh no, I was really hoping that would not be some foreshadowing for how the day would go. I started to think if the stomach bug dehydration was about to take its toll? I ended up swimming the final 200 meters kinda dead-legging it, only kicking with my right leg, and trying not to point my left foot since that seemed to make it worse.

The exit was the boat ramp, which was super slippery even though they had put down carpet. The great news was that they had three guys standing in the water helping people exit. I swam until my hand hit, and stood up. They were right there, so I grabbed them, leaned back and ejected myself with their aid out of the water. Cap/Goggle off, and took a quick time check, 27:XX, with a short run up to the mat I hit it at 28:20. I'll take it.


I could have pushed much harder, but I was content with a relaxed swim and my navigation. I only had a few minor off-course moments, but nothing the really impacted my swim.

Found my rack, dropped cap/goggles on mat, helmet on, sunglasses on, grabbed bike, and I was out the door.

Nothing
New T1 PR by 3 seconds

Right out of T1 you had to climb a hill, so I decided to climb the hill before trying to put my feet into the shoes. Topped the hill, and quickly got my feet in, and started to work into a rhythm. The goal was to take it easy, a little pushing, but nothing too much. Again, today was about flushing the demons of Macon out, so I needed a solid run. To set up the run I took a very conservative approach on the bike. I went with one gear up from what I would have normally pushed to ensure a solid run. This was a good call, since I was still passing people at a clip. Headed out of the park and towards the out and back, saw McQ working his way back up the hill. Out to the turn around point, which was a pain since it was at the bottom of a hill. You turned around, and then started to climb. Not a big deal, but it completely killed your momentum. I started working back up the hill, and saw BryanB smoking down the other way.

This course was a bit tougher than I thought it would be. No big hills but it seemed that for every down hill you had, it was followed up with a half to one mile steady uphill grind. The hills were no big deal, but I do not remember any flat areas. I found myself alone for a long while, and then started to reel in a few people. I did play leap frog with a 49 year old guy several times to the point we started making jokes about it. Most of the ride was out in the middle of nowhere, which was nice. Very uneventful ride until you hit the main road, Big Texas Valley which was a bunch of rollers (mainly up hill, IMO), but the killer was the headwind. I looked down and I was cranking out 14 mph, which was dishearting. This stretch was only about 5 miles or so, but it felt like a big kick in the nutz.

When I turned into the park I saw McQ, so I yelled something at him and headed back to T2. Since I knew the dismount line was at the bottom of the hill I side-mounted at the top of the hill and came down coasting. Dismounted and headed to my rack.


I could have easily pushed harder on the bike, but I need to flush out the demons of Macon, so this race was all about taking it easy and just having a solid swim/bike/run day.

Threw my bike on the rack. It was great since they were tall, so my bike would roll right under the bar with a quick lift it was racked. Sunglasses off, helmet off, sunglasses back on, sock, shoe, sock, shoe, race belt and I was out.

Nothing

Again, the goal was to flush the demons of Macon on this run, so I climbed the hill out of transition, and set it into cruise control the entire time. I passed several people on the out, but never got excited and stuck to my discipline. No pushing, just a nice and easy trot. The run course was open, but since it was overcast it was a very pleasant run. If the sun had been out this run could be very tough; however, it was not so no big deal. Again, the run course seemed to be either up or down, but no big hills either way. Slow and steady climbs, or descents.

I worked my way out to the turnaround. Right as I reached the turn into the marina, I saw McQ coming out the other way. I said something along the lines of "badazz McQ" as we passed. Made my way towards the turnaround. The arrow directing which way to go was not all that clear, since the road split. From where you were you could not tell that the road looped around and back out, so I followed the road where other runners were coming from. I got in a position where I could see the road looped around, and another runner yelled that I should be on the upper road. Not knowing what else to do, I cut through the woods to the upper path, and then looped around past the aid station, and then back the other way. As I topped the hill, I tried to help instruct the next runners which way to go so they did not repeat my same mistake.

Passed a few more people, and then found myself alone for a while. I started to cheer on the runners going the other way. Saw BryanB and gave him a high five, since he looked to be having a strong day. I worked my way back up the hills, just taking it easy, and back into the park. There was only one guy left in front of me, and everyone started to cheer about catching him. I hammered it to get right on top of him, and realized that with his starting position I had already beaten him. With the large downhill to the finish, already beating his time (placement wise), there was no need to risk injury going down the hill. I could see McQ right there so I threw up my arms and starting waving them around like a dumbazz, just having a good time to the finish line.


I could have easily pushed harder, but figured a solid run would do more for me than a pushed one on this day. It was all about having a good time, and solid day.

No real cool-down. McQ and I chatted about the race, and shortly after BryanB came in. I did a very light stretch, drank water, ate some chik-fil-a nuggets they had, and chilled. I decided to get some Gatorade, and it was treating me right, so I kept going back for refills. After everyone had cooled down, we headed to the lake to cool off and wash off. The running joke was that as you finished the way the finish was set up, you could continue to run down to the dock and cannonball in. Well, a cannonball was calling my name so after BryanB jumped in, (with a little push from McQ to cannonball him) I waited until he surfaced and then yelled out "CANNONBALL" as I cannonballed BryanB. Next thing I know here comes McQ with his own cannonball. I swear races are worth doing just for the swim afterwards, man it was nice.

We swam around for a while, and chatted with a few of the other racers, and then went up for awards. BryanB needed to bounce, so he headed out before they started awards. McQ and I goofed off until awards. It was been a while since I have laughed that much, that guy is a maniac. :)

Anyway, it was a great BT day! McQ took 2nd OA, BryanB took 2nd in his AG, and I took 1st in my AG. Solid results for everyone, and a great day!



I could have easily gone faster, but I was ok with an easy day. I got everything that I wanted from this race, which was just a solid day with no issues.


These are my favorite type races. Just over 100+ people, laid back, and fun! I will definitely be back for another race up in Rome. It was organized well (only hiccup was on the run), just enough aid stations (IMHO, you do not need a lot for an Olympic), and all the money raised went to a good cause. Plus, I got to hang/race with my buddies.