I don't know how my time was as good as it was. It must have been the current helping out. This felt like my worst swim ever. I could not get any rythm and resorted to breast stroking most of the way.

I need to get some OWS practice. The only time I get in the open water is race day. Not a good plan

From this point the race seemed to get better. It's about 1/4 mile from swim exit to transition (It didn't take this long to walk from hotel room to transition.) Coming out of the water was a little crowded, but the wetsuit strippers were quick.

I think the only thing that could help would be some swin to bike bricks to get used to running after a long swim.

With my shoes already clipped in I did, what I thought was, a nice running mount (not a flying mount) and got up to speed fairly quickly.
Heading N on 146 for a short ride before turning south for a 10 mile ride into a headwind. I can't be sure but I think my average speed was around 14/15 mph. My goal on this part was to not burn my legs up. I stayed in a comfortable gear that I could maintain a 90-95 cadence.
It got bunched up a few times and I saw the officials writing some numbers for drafting and blocking penalties.
After that turn back onto 146 it was smooth, and fast, sailing. COming over the bridge I got up to 31mph and coasted for a while. Kept my speed around 24mph+ all the into Kemah.
Before the final turn to the dismount line I rode with my feet on top of my shoes and hopped off the bike right at the line.
The turn west was a welcome relief with the wind for a couple miles. A u turn back into a head wind then north back to Kemah.
The

I was happy with this ride. I took a drink every 10 minutes and had a gel at 10 and 50 minutes into ride. Came out feeling good.

I have been doing three bricks per week since February.

Keep doing bricks

I wanted to make sure I din't go out too fast and blow up on the bridge. I think all those bricks really helped. Came out of T2 strong and relaxed. Just before mile 3 I felt like I had a pebble, or something, in my shoe. After the aid station I stopped to take my shoe off but I didn't see anything fall out. Put it back on and ran some more. Stopped again and took my sock off this time, still nothing. Put shoe back on and hoped pebble (or whatever) would move and continued on the rest of the race. Going over the bridge the was easier with the wind than the return. As soon as I got over the bridge and passed the final aid station I started picking up speed and ran to the finish.
Once past the finish line I took my shoe off again and saw that it was a blister on my foot. This is the first time I ever got a blister on my foot. The only thing I can think of is the new insoles I put into my bike shoes didn't allow my feet to dry enough on the ride.

I'm not really sure, maybe not stop and take shoes off. Also, I am definitly going to wear socks during the ride at IMTx.

Walked around and got some food. Watched some of the finishers then I went to the hotel and took a shower.


Me. Stopping on the run probably cost me a couple of spots in my AG. It was 2 seconds between me and 8th place and 30 seconds between me and 7th place.
I stuck with my plan on the bike and run. The swim was my only dissappointment.


All in all I am very pleased with this race. I beat last years time by 7 minutes and set a new PR for Olympic distance by almost 3 minutes. It was, also, the first time I got into the top ten in an Olympic race.