Swam into one olympic-BIG guy who was ahead of me, about half way thru my distance...think he "stopped" to look for buoy. 5-10" estimated loss.
I'll need DIVINE help/intervention if i'm ever going to do 7min/low 8's on the open water swim. Maybe master swims will help 15-30 seconds, dunno but, GOD "in me" &/or waves &/or current help would be more miraculous/beneficial. Don't you agree?? O ; )

dunno; can't over-train this "limiter" as its only a 400m, 1-2min minimal-maximal(i.e. 7-9min race time/% of total race-time) window of opport/gain; know what i mean?? Will keep an eye on this "limiter", i guess.

didnt "flow" as well as hoped in T1. must improve my set up for flow purposes and execute the practice plan. Factors in avg (i say avg as many poor/long T1 times were had by all/many, per this days event)T1 time were: long, soft-sandy run/approach to TA; poor breathing patterns; standing at rack sucking on drink/bottle instead of running with it to bike-out gate; stopping at bike out gate exit to mount when shoulda known theres "always more" ground/distance to cover ("hey fella...over here!").


take more Ginko B; No seriously, practice, pray, and experience more Tri T1's is all you can do. (the rest is already aforementioned above)
Maybe a low 2 min T1 was possible here for me but, alas....

Me & Jesus were flying out there on the bike! renting a pr of Zipp 808's & lowering the aero bar sure helped too. i "saw" some 40+kph speeds as well as some "maintained" 37-39's too...way above my training avgs. Traffic? coulda been alot worse. Bike trng seems to be paying off. Could of gone faster/harder but wouldve cost me something on the run (more than it did?).

KNOW the bike course, COLD! (e.g., surprise turns, cornering speeds etc)
o/wise, not much one could do on this course much better other than exert more effort on race day (or training?). oh..yes, remember to bring water bottle (not leave it at T1) so not to be gulping in/at T2...("sheeesh!")
Start n finish gates posed lost time also as i really did a 33:50's bike but sped in much too fast at the end & tried to start too early before those
(dreaded?) lines/signs.

methinks 00:57 - 01:10" was best/possible here. TA times Cost me being 3rd/4th for my age grp in hindsight (20/20, i know). [Also: I pray other tri athletes of the future will get more space to work in/with too but, aint happening here or any big time/crowded Tri event, anytime soon.]

1. gotta practice racking on a pole to flow smooth/quicker...can u believe that??? 2. gotta "flag" my rack-region?? 3. gotta run w/drink & chuck it on the side somewhere as best hitch/ditch plan. 4. maybe use a "binbox" like my "neighbor" next to me did...hmmm....

hurting & slowed as expected by the sand but, 25:30 not too bad all things considered for a Tri 5km, ex-post facto Fast bike time. Can/will do 23'/24' on a better run course/venue. Calf-Cramp "whispers" at the end didnt help the speed "cause" either...but hey, "it was what it was".

IF siesta really mattered more to me, would train on sand more often if only to have more confidence/experience on surface. Now that I "know" this course (experientially), i may use it as a boot-camp training type course in the future for other venue events.

walk around mon'....dats all a body can do!


without question TA times are costing me 2mins per event, easy. Shaving another say, 30" each on swim/bike/run, may get me in contention for a win/place/show, depending on venue &/or strength/field of competitors.
Yet i may be already in plateau region for results...dunno...time & future
events/venues may/will tell the tale. Results dont lie...OR...do they??
(hee hee) Only Our Great-Good LORD knows the answer(s).


Consistent 4th place in all events except...T1/T2..."arrgghhh!"
Hope God tells me to volunteer for any Tri's i cant/wont do;
the Late set up of Buoys & the LATE starts for all concerned, as well as beach/heat conditions tell me that no way, NO WAY (!), i'll ever do an august olympic distance Tri at Siesta; again i say NO WAY!
O/wise, i am appreciative of all the volunteers who did show, and did
try their best for us particapants. Gods blessing to all!