Swim went really well. The start was a little crazy. We waded out to chest deep water for the start. Once started it took about 25m to find some open space to get into a rythm. Once in a rytm everything feel perfectly into place. Felt like I was going pretty straight out. Did not draft on anyone but did catch a few packs in front of me. When I was coming back to shore and stood up I felt like my chest was being crushed. The wetsuit became very constricting and I was half way panicing to get it off my chest. Not used to swimming in wetsuits.

Try to find someone to draft off of instead of pushing through myself. Learn the feeling of the wetsuit around my chest and try not to panic and spike heart rate getting out of water.

Realized half way through swim leg that I had forgotten to take my GU before race. Reached in bag and right after stripping wetuit off to get GU. Ate GU while getting helmet and shoes on.

Remember to take GU before race.

I never had to get out of the saddle to get up them, very few times even had to come out of aero to crank on the pedals. There was an awesome downhill at mile 9. Got low into aero and just pushed it down the hill. Was just shy of hitting 40 mph on the downhill and was fun as hell. Allowed my to just hammer it into the T2 transition knowing it was just a couple miles left.

Push a little harder on the hil climbs.

Transition went really well. I was able to take a few breaths to calm down heart rate before heaidng out on run. Did put socks and shoes on. Grabbed, race belt and off I went.

Possibly learn to run without socks on sprint distances.

Run went great. Exiting out of the transition I was working to get legs loosened up. It took about a half mile before I was able to get into a rythm. The overall pace plan was for 7:15/mile for the run. First mile went out at a 7:02. Was feeling good and passing a couple people. At mile 2 I looked ahead and saw a guy with a 32 on his calf. Knowing he was in my age group I fought to catch him before the steap climb leading to the turn around point. Passed him right at start of the climb and used the turn around to pull away from him. Mile 2 pace was 7:50 due to the climbs. Mile 3 started and I was using a college level racer as my rabbit, he was trying to play games by passing me fast then going slowing pace and back and forth. Decided to end that and used the gradual climb to pull away from him. Mile 3 pace was 7:19...finished with last 1/4 mile at a 6:20 pace.

Not much, maybe work on bike to run to get legs to loosen up sooner.

Not much of a warm down. Walked around talking to friends I had not seen in a very long time and enjoyed the social aspect of racing.


Clemson Triathlon is definitely a good race. Very well put and on and very well organized. Definitley enjoyed it.