What should have been a great swim didn't start out that way. I am pretty confident with my swim. Although not super fast, I can hold my own in a pack - or so I thought. Started just inside the far buoy 2 people back. First 100 yards were fine until we hit the next buoy. All of a sudden I was being hit, swam over, dunked.... Didn't expect it. I panicked. Maybe not a full blown panic but I couldn't get my face in and breath. Had to breast stroke, side stroke for a while. Still couldn't catch my breath. Of course all the thoughts go through my mind like "I can't finish doing the breast stroke", "Should I swim to shore", "How in the world can I do IMFL". After floundering for a while I swam over to a kayak and held on for less than 10 seconds. That's all it took and I was off and everything was OK. Looking at my finishing times I was only 1 - 2 minutes slower than I could have swam the course so it didn't take much time off overall. But the panic came so out of the blue, I never thought it would happen in a race. Just took a hit to my confidence.

Come to find out, I was just on the inside of the buoy and there were a few people just outside the buoy. When we hit the first marker about 100 yards out, they forced everyone back into the course. Well guess who was in their way? Yea me. 5 or 6 people just blasted me from the side. Ever fed the fish in one of those Koi ponds? How all the fish are all over each other? That was us. It wouldn't have been so bad but it was just a surprise coming from the side like that.

Overll a great swim course. Point to point and fast as all get out.

Move more toward the middle as there really wasn't that much traffic except where I was at. At least everyone else was going the right way :)

Pretty quick transition - wet suit strippers. Not much happened.

Not much.

Overall a good ride. Rods a bit bumpy in sections but a pretty good ride. Most of the ride was overcast so that helped. Disappointed the water stations were a bit pushed out than what I expected. The first one was at mile 20. Would have brought more water if I had known.

To me the course was hilly. Not the steep type of hills but ones that go on forever. Long up hill followed by a slight uphill for another mile or so. I am from S Florida and to me a hill is really an overpass :) But wow, those downhills were awesome. So much fun! The last 10 miles or so were fast. A lot of fun to finish like that.

Did see quite a few "packs" come flying by. How they didn't get penalties is beyond me.

Not much. Might have pushed just a bit faster. Oh yea, I need to drink a lot more on the bike. I tend to not drink as much as I should.

No issues - stopped to go to the bathroom on the way out of transition as I didn't want to stop on the run. Didn't have to go that bad but thought I'd be sure.

Nothing

I liked the course. The way it was situated you got to see a lot of people. Started first loop a bit too fast. Caught up to me about mile 3. Had to walk a few times as I was feeling miserable. Thought I was going to throw up. After the second water stop with ice water I felt a bit better. First loop was tough for me. Second loop was much easier as I went with a run/walk. Run for awhile then a walk for about 30 steps. Helped a lot as I was feeling much better and could run most of the way. Thought the second loop was faster but it wasn't. Just showed me how fast I went out at the start.

Pace myself better and don't start out so fast (for me).

Finish was crowded. I could barely move let alone get anything to eat/drink. Found some team mates and talked for a little while before I went across the street to take a shower. Nice staying across the street from the finish. Shower then back to watch the finish and grab a piece of pizza. It started raining pretty good when I was in the shower so by the time I got back the finish area was much more empty.


Heat - it was pretty darn hot on the run.


Overall a very nice race. Good organization, great swim, OK bike and a nice run. And hey, Mike Reilly was the announcer! I don't like having to go get the bikes after the race but what can you do? I'd go back.