The swim was a 750 meter out-and back rectangle with a beach run start. From watching the earlier waves, I learned that instead of entering the water straight ahead, it was best to make a hard left and run up the beach about 15 meters to get a better “line”. Those athletes that did this had a good 15 to 20 meters on those who didn’t by the time they rounded the first buoy. So I chose to do this. Once again I lined up in the very front of my wave, and most of the guys with me also chose to make the hard left. I was about the fourth or fifth in my wave to hit the water. Since it was a sprint race and only 750 meters, I had to swim pretty hard, but I made a tactical decision not to take the lead. Instead, I drafted off the first three guys who were right in front of me. I did this around the first and second buoys. By this time, we had caught the wave ahead of us and it got very crowded and we were on our own. When I exited the water I figured I was about fourth in my wave. In fact, I had swum a quick 8:52. 2nd in my age group, and 15th fastest swim overall.



Practice finish and run out of water

I continue to struggle with the first transition. running up the beach I was spent! When I got to my bike, I was out of breath and was getting light-headed. This hapened several times last season. I had to sit down to take off my wetsuit, figuring that would help me recover. It was a slow process, and I put on socks, too! I must get a pair of cycling shoes that I can wear barefoot if I am going to wint the USAT Age Group National Spring Championships. Shoes, helmet and glasses on, I “trotted” out of transistion. It was a long run out and I still had not recovered yet. An abysmal 2:51 T1!



Practice T1. Get bike shoes I don't need socks to ride in.

The bike is my weakest leg, but the one I enjoy most. Once out of transition, I found my groove and felt good. I was passing a lot of people and only a few people passed me in the first miles before the hill. Once we reached the hill, I, like all the rest, shifted to the lowest gear, and began my slog uphill. Only, I wasn’t slogging. I’m pretty muscular and strong yet lightweight (140 lbs), and with this super light Jack Kane bicycle, I was a hill monster. I was passing heaps of people now. I managed 11.1 mph on the first mile uphill and 9.7 on the second mile uphill. Zane said that was pretty good for an 18% grade. The descent was the longest and fastest I have ever done, and I reached a max speed of 41.2 mph! And, I didn’t brake! I finished the 17 mile bike in 53:39, 15th in my age group and 130th overall.

I came out of my shoes and then dismounted entering T2. I already had my race belt on so all I had to do was run through the long transition, rack the bike, remove helmet and glasses, slip on shoes, and go. Which I did. I was out of T2 in 1:18, 2nd fastest in my age group and 13th fastest overall.

My goal was to run a 6:00 mile pace. I was happy to have some warm weather to run in and a flat course. I ran the first mile in 6:13. Not bad, but I knew I didn’t have much in the tank post Ironman, post Swimming Nationals, post driving cross country and not recovering/training properly. My second mile was 6:20. At this point in the run, I was leap-frogging with Sarah Schmidt whose bike I transported from Denver. Everytime I would catch her, she would speed up. Finally I passed her and thought I had dropped her, but no! Somehow whe caught and passed me. This went on for the second and third mile. The third mile I ran in 6:28. A tough competitor, Sarah took off towards the finish and crossed the line before me, but I had a faster run split With about a mile left, I also managed to catch up to teammate Diane, who started in the wave before me. She was having a great race (she beat me on the bike!) and I shouted out to her as I passed her on the run. Diane managed to finish 5th in her age group.

I finished the 13.4 mile run in 21:50, averaging 6:20 per mile. That was faster than any of my races last year, so I was satisfied. I had the 4th fastest run in my age group and 27th fastest run overall.



more speed work, mentally prepare for harder effort. Ran about 90%

none


scheduling, Ironman South Africa, US Masters 2012 Spring Nationals, driving across the country, and working during the weekend took its toll.