So I felt good going into this swim. I had a successful OWS a few days before and I was hoping for a performance more up to my capability. I was disappointed again. This is definitely a big improvement over where I was last year. However, I know that if I'm closer to 20 minutes, my overall race performance will be better. This was a frustrating swim for me. Not very happy with it. Live and learn. I'll do better next time.

Sight more. Swim faster.

Stuffed down a few fruit leather thingies before heading out this time. That was a good idea. I feel that there is some free time in my T1 to start getting at. I"ll have to evaluate my process and see if I can get it below 1:20.

Nothing yet. This works ok for me.

I was killing it. Pushing the limit, moving fast, bombing the downhills. I was having a blast. I checked my watch to see how long I'd been riding and I was right at 32 minutes. That means it was time for a gel. I didn't tape my gel to the top tube today for some reason, it was in my pocket. I reached into my pocket on my tri shorts with my right hand and slowed the bike. As I was reaching, I noticed I was swerving off course. I fixed, but overcorrected and hit the brakes to slow down. Unfortunately, it was my front break. I locked up the front tire and sent myself flying of the the handlebars. I hit my shoulder pretty hard and my head hit the ground too. I jumped right up and moved off the trail. I didn't do a damage assessment then, I just opened the gel, and got riding again. The ride wasn't the same after that. I'd lost the edge that I had before and I couldn't force it back. I played it safe even though I didn't want to. I think that crash made me lose a lot more time than it had to.

After the race I checked it out and I escaped with some scrapes on my shoulder and down my left side, but nothing major at all.

Keep the bike underneath me instead of the other way around.

Not too bad. Not one of my faster transitions, but I'll get it soon.

I had someone come up behind me at the beginning and pace of off me. No big deal, I'll just drop them on a flat. I tried and tried and could not drop this guy. I moved over to let him pass and he said that he wasn't ready. I would push it a little on the up hill and he would drop back. Then he'd catch me again on the downs. I couldn't lose him. No big deal. We were pushing each other and that was good. At the second water station, we both grabbed a water and drank. I had wanted to leave before him, but he left one second before me. Literally. He was just up the trail and I couldn't catch him. I let him go, figuring that I just needed to find my rhythm. I did find my rhythm again, but it was too late. He was long gone.

Overall this was an average run for me. 8th overall isn't too bad, and that must mean that everyone struggled on this run course.

Stick with that guy!!!

Sit on the ground...drink Gatorade...eat sandwiches and check results. When I saw I hadn't gotten a podium, I packed and left for my next destination. This was a fun race and I'd do it again next year.


A bad swim and loss of competitive drive on the run.


Again, I enjoyed this race and had a lot of fun doing it. I'd recommend it to my friends. I may even try to get my brother to enter the kayak division next year.