This swim made me realize how much I need OWS training. I kept thinking that I would surely come out of the water just under 30 min. I spent most of the time between two packs of swimmers and sighted off them b/c I couldn't see a thing.

The buoys were very narrow and short, tough to see unless you were close to them. To make things worse my goggles were fogging up a bit. I had to correct my course a few times but luckily was close enough to the group in front of me to sight off them. Follow them and hope they go the right way, I kept telling myself.

Getting out of the water wasn't easy. The carpet covering the boat ramp didn't cover much and the ramp was slippery and rough in some places. Had to have some help from volunteers to get me on my feet after slipping. I acutally sliced my heel on a rocky part of the ramp, didn't notice it until after the race.

Get more OWS training and latch on to a pack of swimmers to make navigating easier and get a chance to draft.

Nothing remarkable.

Move faster.

Good ride. It was very flat and I didn't even change gears that much. Got passed by two and passed two. Drank the entire 24oz bottle of water/Nuun, had 1 gel @ 10 min and another @ 55 min. Pretty solid ride although I probably could've pushed a little more, but still a good time so I can't complain. Dismounting with shoes still clipped in went well.

Go faster.

Fumbled with getting the socks on. May look at going sockless over the winter.

Lose the socks? Move faster.

Good run. Grabbed a cold sponge at the first aid station and re-wetted it at the other stations. Drank from just about each station, mostly water, some Gatorade. Didn't pick up the pace until the turnaround and then again with about 2 miles left. I doubt I could've made up the distance but the guy who placed 2nd in my AG was about 1:30 ahead of me.

Pick up the pace sooner.

Light jogging and stretching for a few minutes. Drank water and gatorade and ate the post race meal. Finished 3rd in AG and 7th OA, Mary was 3rd in her AG, too.


Didn't officially taper for this race so there's a chance I could've gone faster with a proper taper. Used it as training for the upcoming HIM.


Great race, especially since this was its first year. Other than small buoys on the swim everything was good. The number of aid stations on the run was perfect and made it easy to live off the course in the heat. The bike and run were flat and the location of the finish was good and easily accomodated spectators. Good food, plenty of volunteers and cool gator-head trophies for the overall winners (not me). I would recommend it and do it again.