I wanted to try and stick to the plan I had at last week's sprint by keeping things under control and rhythmic throughout the course. I thought it worked quite well last week and figured it ought to work for a longer distance a little better.
The first couple of hundred meters I stayed at a quick but controlled pace and had to keep thinking about it for that same distance until I had a rhythm established. I stayed in this pattern for the rest of the swim and it seemed much quicker than last years race. (I haven't checked the RR from last year to compare the time yet.)
I found a few people to draft about halfway through the race but only because I wanted to take a breather before I passed them. The rests were short, maybe 4-8 strokes at different times, and I only did this 3 times throughout the entire course. I didn't want to get hung up behind anyone for very long after I had already caught them. I did have a guy try to hang with me after I drafted off of him but I dropped him after about 100 yards of coming along side him.

I might have tried to swim slightly harder for whole course. This is a retrospective look form the Monday morning quarterback chair but I am not sure I went as hard as I could have.

It was a decent transition. There wasn't a lot to do but I do remember feeling a little confused about something but even now I don't know what or why I felt this way.

Nothing. Pretty good transition. (With all the competitors the T area is a long one.)

The course dictated some slow downs at many points based on the road conditions. If this were a decent course over the entire length I could have had a better, faster ride.
I should have ridden this a little bit harder than I did. After talking to Lis about the ride after the race she said I looked like I was having fun. Obviously I want to have fun but this is a race, I want to suffer during a race. That's what makes it fun....I guess?!?!
Te first loop was a little slower than the second loop and I wish I had hammered bit with the same level of intensity. The first loop I was thinking too much about leaving some in the tank for the run. I should have rode with less effort and allowed the cards to fall a little differently. I think the race would have had a slightly different outcome in my time.
Another thing that I would liked to have seen happen differently was the end of the bike leg. I followed 2 people into the dismount area at an extremely slow speed. The last .20 miles had me a 9.9 MPH. That is ridiculous!!!! There was no chance for a dismount official to SCREAM stop at me this race. This very likely cost me 30 seconds because I would have been flying into the area at at least 18-19 mph.

Ride harder through the whole course. Doing an even effort should be what I am striving for.

Timing wise this might have been a decent time but I think I made a few minor mistakes. I wasn't confused at this transition. T1 was kind of weird I guess.

I need to start looking at taking my helmet off during the run into transition! (I have never thought about doing this until the writing of this RR.) I can see how this might give me a couple of seconds of "free time" from the overall results.
I also should have racked my bike from the same side my shoes were on. I was on the end of the rack, second bike in and thought it might be easier to throw it up on the rack (hanging from the seat) and run around and grab my shoes. I don't really know if this would have made any difference at all but right now it seems like it wasn't the best of ideas.

It looks like I had only one lap that was out of line. This information helps me settle a little bit on my performance. I have been kind of upset that I didn't run harder but I am not sure I could have done much better.
My pacing was a little weak from the start of the race and I might have been able to cut about :30 off the run overall based on how I felt after the run.
The first mile was a total sufferfest, as it usually is for my races. I hung on and tried get control of my pacing as opposed to a spring race. the first .20 miles of the run were under 7:00 and much of it was 6:45. I knew that sub-seven was not something I could hold over the distance and tried get down to a reasonable effort level before I crashed. I had things under control by the end of the first mile.
During the first mile I couldn't get enough air into my lungs, as is usually the case. I was straining to get enough air and taking deep breaths was impossible to do. I always hate the run start but I love the feeling after I finish to know I left it all out there.
I would liked to have had a better 4th mile but I relaxed a little too much and talked to another runner for about a qtr. of a mile and then dropped him.

Stay focused on my race and stay in my pain zone, not relax and pace the whole run the same.

I gasped for air at the finish, walked around a short while, gulped several small cups of water and Gatorade and then took a cooling dip in the canal.


Personal ambition! I am not really sure what my deal was today. My mind didn't seem to want it today. Lack of sleep last night (domestic disturbance at 3 AM outside our hotel), a lot of traveling and other activity yesterday and poor pre-race nutrition were likely all contributing factors.


I have been stewing about my lack of performance today for a much of the day and taking the time to review my data has helped me reconcile with my results and realize I was not far off my game today. I was disappointed that I didn't have a faster overall time at first but now I understand the bike was a "correct" olympic distance rather than the mile or so shorter than that last year.
My overall placement was really good but my AG placement disappoints me. I really think a tri-bike would have brought me up a place or two. I guess I am satisfied......kinda.....almost.