Overall this is a nice first tri of the year.  Probably should have tried a swim in the tri top prior to race day!  I expected your swim to be off the charts, so I'm guessing that shirt had quite a bit of drag to it.  Great bike as always.

Not sure what to say about the run.  I had cramps for the first time ever on my tuneup run for the half marathon just this weekend.  I figure I had eaten and drank too much pretty close to the run (within 90 minutes) and that was the reason.  Did you eat or drink more than normal close to the race?

Jonathan, I've experienced that tri top parachute thing...even from tri tops I'd been using--the material eventually relaxes.  In my case I ditched it and raced sans top. 

If it's not tight enough around the waist it's a balloon, if it's too tight around the chest it honestly restricts breathing in a way that interferes with running performance.  This is obviously dependant on an individual's build, but the best solution I've found so far is to just buy the top a size too small and count on a front zipper to open up and expand my chest when I get off the bike.

A couple of important questions....were you saying you were trying to EAT in this race?  Heck, you shouldn't even have taken water!

And when you say your sides cramped...you said muscle.  So are you actually saying that you got a charlie horse muscle spasm cramp in your obliques or intercostals?  I've only had this once before and I was almost needing an ER trip (because my legs and neck and chest and arm muscles were also doing it). 

This looks like a good race.  It sounds like you were pretty comfortable with most aspects of the race.  It also sounds like some small errors that cost you too but they also sounds like they were unforeseen as well.  The whole tri top is something I never would have thought about.

The running cramps are something I don't think I have experienced.  I have had my own issues with stitches but it sounds like you may have experienced something different.  I am wondering if you may have been a little dehydrated through the past week and it carried over a little into the race.

Placing 4th in your AG is very respectable and I will be happy to be able to place that high in many of my races this season.

Solid race Jonathan. This is what the first race of the season is for, working the kinks out.

Last year for my first tri of the season I wore a tri top and shorts for a pool swim. When it was time to warm up I pushed off the wall - my shorts pulled down and my shirt went up. I went straight into the locker room and changed into a trisuit that I threw in my bag at the last minute. I know just what your talking about!

Your bike leg was smokin fast and it sounds like your run is right there.

Now get back to the wedding plans .

Karl, thanks man...it's a good start.

Warren, yeah...I expected a faster swim also.  The guy in the lane with me expected to see much faster numbers as well..the actual swim was probably right around 8:10 minutes.  Which only puts me at 1:33.  That's all right, but way slower than I have been seeing in practice.  Not sure what the deal is there.

Jeff, answered your questions in the group forum, but yeah...almost like a charlie horse in my abs.

Dirk, you're absolutely right. Small errors that just added up.

Dina...that's right.  Just have a lot to iron out.  We'll get there.  And yes....back to wedding planning.