Maybe it was just me, but I swear we were swimming upstream. I never really felt a push of the current and after I finished I looked out on the water and it looked like we must have been.
Ok aside from that I felt I had a good swim, I never got out deep, but wasnt as close to the cliff as in years past. Never really had alot of people around me to draft off of. I generally passed anyone who I did come near, although someone SCRATCHED the hell out of my neck at some point. Got slightly congested at bridge 2 but no worries.
Felt like I pushed pretty well, wish I could have drafted more.

Try and draft more, get deeper if there is where the current is. Talk more and find some faster swimmers close to my start spot.

If youve ready my reports-Rule #1 break 1:00.
Not gonna happen at TN. The run from the water is a curve to a triple set of stairs, pathway to the street, across the street, up the block, turn into transition, run ALL the way down transition, and then down your rows, get your bike and down the row across transition out and to the dismount line. So I looked at previous years T1 times and said--fine break 2:00
Didnt help I missed my row by one-CRAP was right. Killed umm 5-20 seconds looking for bike.
Dangit there goes 2:00!!!
(fastest T1 in 3 years)

Triple check flow to T1!!!

Hmmm. I checked hard pace and not enough drinking becuase looking back, my run sucked. Opinon is I bombed my legs on the ride. Didnt feel like it at the time but I guess the heat, wind, and lesser volume of bike training has impacted me more than I thought.
Uneventful ride, passed alot of people, mostly on hills. Had some gusts challenge my steering, ran through the gears nicely and felt like I had a complete ride.
Looking back 2 bottles (smaller 24ozers) not enough for this heat ride.

Larger bottles, more volume in training.
(slowest in 3 years-windiest too)

See Rule #1
Found rack much faster, was trying to break 1:00. back a little tight, legs a little gummy. I do socks for 10Ks. Had them rolled to put on quikly-they felt good going on, left one took too long. Had to kneel and get left shoe on. Ran out of T2 to the water table.

Find shoes that I dont need socks-THAT I LIKE.
Grrr, 13 seconds for socks-probably not.
(fastest T2 in 3 years)

Oh good lord. So out of T2 I grab 4 cups immediately with a walk. 3 for me and one for my face/head. I dont feel thirsty (not that its a good indicator anyway) but Im trying to shove fluid in knowing the run is going to have me soaked-ITS HOT OUT by now. On my belt Ive got my PB GU gel and gum and Electrolyte fizz tab. At mile 1 I check my pace
Mile 1 7:30-perfect
with the walk to start the run I figue its a sub7 actual run. The aid station is 100 feet after that. I do the 3 cup of water walk and begin running again. Things feel ok. I gel to get in in "before its too late" hmmm I LOVE PB and have tried this packet before. Before I thought man I wish it were thicker like real PB and its a little salty-ok I still ilke it. THIS DAY I feel like Keanu Reeves NEO when hes in the custody of Smith and they seal his mouth shut-WHOa this is THICK. Since Im not completely congniscient I convince myself the thinner one from before was a mistake-WRONG. I gum it down and hit the next aid station for 3-4 cups while walking.
Mile 2 7:33,
things feel ok-except for the HEAT and the "dry mouth". From 2-3 the twitching of the quads begins, I give it about a quarter mile before I stop to "pre-stretch" and prevent the inevitable. I also know the mile 3 is the turnaround-HALFWAY!!! As Im stretching I have to pee-great, well proper stretching legs wide, yeah I could so I did-in the grass. Got back up to speed but still the feeling was in a hurry on its way. Started throwing tablet chunks into my mouth and with water at ice/water station-in HOPES to get it in early and prevent. No hope now.
Im stretching at mile 3, longer now trying to shock/stop the quads from seizing up. Its galloway walk run now. Each time though I am able to get back up to speed. I have questioned why I can hold a fast pace longer than a steady pace before cramping up.
Mile 3 9:10.
Its a walk/water/stretch/run from here on in.
Mile 4: 9:44
I see a female runner pass me and think I can hang with her, Im hoping her pace will be fast enough to keep me from cramping, I dont know why it works but it does, I figure I draft off her for more than a half mile, but heven her pace is too hot for me and she pulls away. My breathing is crazy and I have to slow down. Here comes the twitching again. I stretch and make it to the aid station. More more more more more.
Mile 5: 9:31
Along mile 5 I repeatedly see the same blond (Ann Urmanski). We rotate the "lead" over and over. When she passes I feel its time to stop stretching and run, I get ahead and cramp/twitch-stop to stretch and we repeat. I run the hill but have to walk the top. Im beat now just so tired and want to be done, so dry so hot and just tired of the cramp/twitch fest happening. Then there goes Ann, dammit now I have to run again. Then stretch. I make this a good one knowing its the bridge stairs and downhill finish. I crush the bridge, hit every step, encourage a runner dying with me as I pass him at the underpass I work the downhill. Im focused on a female runner with a skull on her back and pacing/chasing her (she isnt getting closer) I feel the twitching, I can SEE the FINISH. Im 40 yds from the FINSH-BAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAMMMMMMMMMMMMMMMMMMMMMMMM
Right hamstring STOPS me HARD! First time hammy has twitched or cramped-NOOOOOOOO the finish is RIIIIIIIIIGHT THERE!!!!
Im doing everything in the middle of the road (BUT MOVING FORWARD) trying to release/stretch/mobilize it. A fuinished runner walks onto the course and gives me his water-I finish that, no improvement. The crowd is going nuts and just crying for me I hear it I see it I FEEL it. Its been >1:00 ++++++.I CANT MOVE!!!
I get a step or 2 and CANT MOVE. I stretch pull grunt, want to cry--ITS RIGHT THERE!!!!
Out of nowhere I hear come on from behind-ANN literally GRABS my waist YANKS me forward as she runs and FORCES me to move forward. She DEAMNDS I stay with her, after 20 yds the hobble is fading and I have a "stride" she says "now finish, your faster than this-GO!" I finsh! TURN AROUND AND YELL CONGRATULATIONS, HUG HER, AND THANK HER!!!!!!! THANK YOU AGAIN ANN!!!!
Mile 6.2: 11:58

NO COMMENT
(2nd fastest in 3 years)

STRETCH
Go find Emily and Izzy.
FOOD and DRINK--pickles!!!! HOT SAUCE!!!
On hand there was oranges, bananas, pizza, pork pulled sandwiches, cookies, crackers, moon pies, granola bars, coke, and BEER.


CRAMPING


I think in years past Ive rated this race a 5. This year a 4 and slipping fast. First off I was denied a bottle of water by a volunteer during the expo the day before. Apparently those were specifically for the volunteers. I RESPECT the volunteers whole heartedly and would carry a case from the truck to refill the cooler, if needed. but to deny an athlete a bottle of water IN THE ATHLETE TENT-really are they that scarce-RUDE.
I am also a SWAG SNOB, mostly BECAUSE OF THIS RACE. I was disappointed by:
The cheap swim caps-(AWESOME last year-even for a cap)
The POSTCARD we were supposed to attach to our stem-with safety pins or zipties that they ran out of. (sticker last year as part of the tritats kit)
The ONE volunteer signing athletes in.
One water bottle and one gel
The tritat package was smaller-only numbers for arms and leg. (last year was cap sticker, body sticker bike sticker, emergency bike sticker, wristband, team in training sponsor sticker...)
The QR bike was a giveaway before, this year a raffle.
No finish line medals or anything-ok a bottle of water. Last year there were SWEET METAL refillable water bottles painted with the race logo and sponsors. This year nothing.
I do this race for:
1. The brutal heat challenge
2. The course (great orginization, great volunteers)
3. The SWAG-Loved the neon green T this year.WHITE BOOO!
1-Check
2-Hmmm check but slipping (slow registration, rude volunteers in 2 places)
3-Definitely no check
Im not sure if Ill go back. My schedule may have an opening in 2013.
CONGRATS TO ALL FINISHERS
THANK YOU TO ALL VOLUNTEERS
THANK YOU TO ALL POLICE involved.