I tried to go out very easy. Wadded out and was one of the last to start swimming. Bilateral breathing the whole way on every third stroke. Took a look for sighting every second or third breath. Had to switch to breast stroke for a few seconds each time I sighted and was taking a breath each time too. That got me a mouthful of water and a short coughing fit at one point. I never felt like I got into a steady rhythm during the swim.
I did smack a foot once during the first 200 yards, but managed to stay clear of contact again until the first turn. Got a kick in the right shoulder from a guy who turned very abruptly at the buoy. I thought I'd left him enough room, but I guess I was too close.
When my wife called out my split time to me on the run up to T1 I was shocked. I was expecting to swim about 17:30 and I came in under 15:30. Sweet!

Try to get into that steady rhythm and not take a breath when sighting. Have more confidence that I can pass someone.

Run up from the water was long. Feet were numb from the cold water, but they felt the asphalt when I got into transition and I had to walk a little. Getting out of the wetsuit and into glasses, helmet, socks, and bike shoes went pretty smooth. I chose to wear bike gloves because the course is very rough, they did take a while to get onto my wet hands, but I was glad I had them for the ride.
This race allows athletes to ride their bikes within the transition area. In my opinion this could be dangerous. However since it was allowed and since the path to the bike start was clear (I was starting from the 3rd rack from the bike start) I did mount within transition.

Set up further back from the bike start. It got very crowded on the racks that close the the "front" (so much for arriving early to transition. I still got squeezed by later arrivals)

I went pretty hard on the bike for having very little bike training leading up to this race. The bike is my favorite part of tri though and it just felt too good to be out there on such a technically challenging road course to slow it down.

Train, Train. Train! Get those bike miles in during the winter next year.

Found someone's bike re-racked right on top of my stuff. Their front tire was actually between my shoes and dead center of my towel. I was "not pleased" and may have been a bit more forceful than necessary when sliding their bike over to get to my gear.
Bike shoes off and running shoes on was quick. I swapped helmet for hat, put on my race belt, and off I went. I tried getting my Global trainer started while walking to the run start but it never acquired a satellite link.

Rack further away from the bike start. There was plenty of room further back in transition. Run right through to run start. Maybe take the time to put on the heart rate monitor.

I started out of T2 and my legs had the familiar feel of rubber bands. I went out a little too fast; probably an 8 m/m pace. 1/2 mile in I had a side stitch coming on so I backed it down a lot. No use, the side stitch came on full force anyway and by the time I reached the first steep downhill I was forced to walk down it. I managed to jog to the aide station at mile 1 and grabbed some Gatorade and drank it while I walked. Then back to an easy jog while walking the steeper uphills and downhills. At mile 2 while running across a sandy/muddy stretch of shoreline I stepped on a buried rock with my right foot and it gave one way and my ankle gave the other. I stumbled sideways and at that instant my right quad just above the inside of my knee cramped. From here it felt like I was climbing stairs for 30 floors. I stopped 5 different times to try and stretch out the cramping muscle. I felt pretty miserable at this point about how bad my time was going to be but there was nothing I could do but "soldier" on. Once onto the flat last 1/2 mile or so the cramping was under control enough to finish pretty strong. I even "raced" another guy to the finish at a full sprint. He beat me by 1/2 a step and we high fived after with big grins on our faces.

Train for steep uphills and downhills. Wear trail shoes. Could definitely used more aggressive tread.

Walked around, drank water, then a chocolate milk. Tried to keep the cramping leg stretched and moving.


The cramping on the run and lack of trail run training.


I really enjoyed this race. My goal time was to beat 2:00:00 and I did that so overall it was a success.
The trail run was tough on me, but I could see myself doing the event again next year.