Triangle course keeping the buoys on you left. I lined up in the front of the pack and swam straight for the first turn bouy. About 100 yards into the swim I felt my wet suit pop open in the back. There was nothing I could do at this point except keep swimming. Thankfully the Velcro held the suit on around my neck.
The timing mat was about 50-75 yards from the swim exit so the swim times look a bit slower than what they actually are.

Buy another wet suit before the race. I love the suit except of the break open zipper. I worried about it coming open every time I use it in a race and it finally happened. Needless to say I am buying another one that does not have the break open zipper that Quintana Roo uses.

Pretty simple, suit off, glasses on, helmet on, bike off rack and run to mount line.

Nothing.

Strong winds. I was the second person out of the water in my wave and it stayed the way throughout the entire bike ride. I could see the leader ahead of me but could never gain any ground on him. The guy behind me stayed about 300 yards back the entire time.
At the turn around I saw all the runners were not far behind me but I was hoping to keep a big enough gap to hold them off on the run.
Very strong head winds on the return. The last 3 miles were pretty tough. Head winds and serious crosswinds made me wish for the first time ever I would not have used my wheel cover. I was getting blown around a pretty good bit.

Not use the wheel cover and use the Zipp 808.

Very simple again. Rack bike helmet off visor on, shoes on, run out of transition while putting on race number belt.

Not use the visor. The wind was very strong almost blowing it off several times. I had to hold wile running into the wind.

Started out pretty good but took a while for my run legs to show up to the race. About 3/4 mile into the run the guy behind me finally passed me. At the turn around point I saw all the good runners were about to catch me so I decided to try to hang on the best I could. Several more guys passed me until the 2 mile mark. My legs showed up and my pace dropped to 6:35 range and then the calf pain started. I tried to hold my pace but he pain was getting worse every step. With about a half mile to go one more guy passed me and at that point I slowed down almost to a walk. I could see the finish line on the other side of the pond so I tried to keep,my pace around 7 min miles. A few spectators started yelling that a runner was coming up behind me so I decided to push through the pain and not let that guy catch me.

More speed work. Almost all my runs have been at a heart rate of 140 or below.
Not hurt my left calf. (Soleus muscle)

Drank a bottle of water and iced my calf while watching other participants, friends, and family finish the ace.


Injured calf.


Very organized from packet pick up, parking, body marking, and bike check in.
Food was great but there was hardly any left by the time I made it to the food tent but that was my fault because I waited to the last minute.
Plenty of volunteers and porta potties, no lines to speak of.
Saw the Bears. No one organizes transition better than Momma Bear, period!
Great course and race! I highly recommend it!