After my last swim http://www.beginnertriathlete.com/discussion/forums/thread-view.asp... I had reason to possess a little trepidation. However, the water was much clearer and much warmer, so those two things were erased from the equation. Second, I had decided just to swim easy and let the rest of the swimmers clamor around - just stay out of their way, and that seemed to work. I got into a nice rhythm and kept it. I would sight occassionally, but most often used my fellow swimmers as a reference. I got off course a little to the right once or twice, most notably at the "turn buoy". I had to make an effort to swim to the left and squeeze between the buoy and another swimmer. From there, I put my head down and swam straight on in to Sydney! When I felt my hand drag bottom, I stood and started to run. Final note: My time for my previous 500 meter open water swim was 13:34. This swim was 100 meters longer, but TWO MINUTES FASTER!

Here's the other thing. There were no waves despite the 120 (?) or so competitors. Furthermore, the starting area was pretty narrow, so this made for a crowded start. Maybe I would be a little more aggressive at the swim start and try to get myself positioned for a draft. But the bottom line is that my goal was to swim the entire distance freestyle and I did that. The time took care of itself.

Because I was able to pick my spot, I positioned my bike just off the entry from the swim, where I would get to it right away. I had to run the transition are with my bike shoes on, but that was ok. Here's the interesting part. These times from here on in are approximate, because my Chip screwed up. All the times I have were taken from my Timex.

If I had gotten there earlier, I could have placed my bike nearer the bike exit/entry, which were on the same side. That would have allowed me to run through the transition area without my bike for longer.

After we got started, a few stronger riders passed me, but I passed way more than I got passed. Noticed that I forgot to hit the Lap button, so I hit it again at 0.5 miles. Therefore, my time for the bike is "extrapolated". After a couple of miles, we hit the dam road, with the wind full in our face. I managed to keep about 18 mph against the wind, but it was a battle. After the turnaround, I held about 24 - 25 mph with the wind. Then, the course goes past the road to the transition and down a big hill. After a mile or so, you turn around and head back up the hill. The bad news is that after mashing up that hill, the road back to the transition is downhill, so it doesn't do a whole lot of good to spin down it. SOOOO, your legs are toast to start the run. Luckily, it's just a sprint, right?

I took a couple of miles off between 9 and 12, so I might try to focus a little more through the race. I guess I was afraid of the cramps that I experienced at the beginnings of the runs of my other two races, but there were no cramps here.

OK, got my feet out of my shoes prior to the final turn. I was able to run to the rack, and I only had to put on my socks and shoes, then grab my visor and race belt and I was off!

I thought I did the transition pretty well. I am still mulling obtaining some shoes that I can wear without socks to cut that step out, but have not gone that direction just yet.

All right, all right, I kinda lolligagged it for the first mile, and turned in a 7:10. I reminded myself that this was the run and a short one at that, so I started attacking a little better. The second and third miles were at 6:46 and 6:40, respectively. At the finish, the announcer, who knows my BIL, called out that Uncle Phil was finishing, but Uncle Phil was outspent by Uncle Brent for this race. Good stuff.

Attack more on the beginning of the run.

Grabbed some apple and a bananna, which I shared with my 2-year old. Then, waited around to hear the results. Oh yeah, one slice of pizza, too.


I'll just come out and say it. The swim. But let's not forget focus during the whole race.


The only bummer was that as we waited for the results, they announce the third-place Clydesdale, and his time was slower than mine, so I thought I had second, but they did not announce me! I went and talked to the race director afterwards, and my chip did not register at all. I was listed as "DNF". HOWEVER, he took my word on my 1:12:01, and said he would submit that to USAT, and then he gave me a third place trophy! Woo-hoo! Overall, it was a great race, and I am pleased with my performance on all three segments.