I am not a fast swimmer so I was shooting for around 40 minutes. My performance was limited by two factors. First I got a chest cold about a week before the race and was still congested and coughing on race morning. Coughing underwater led to more time with my head out of the water and a slightly slower than desired overall pace. Second, I consciously swam the cross wide to avoid contact since I was having some trouble with breathing to begin with.

Swim tighter to the course.

Out of the water and then a short run between a crowd fence and a water retaining wall to T1. This was a fun portion because it was the first chance I got to really feel the energy of the crowd. Opted not to use the strippers and was able to remove my wetsuit pretty quickly (probably a wash with having laid down for strippers). Sunglasses and helmet on, shoes on, quick spray of sunscreen and off.

Nothing, I was very happy with how T1 went.

I really enjoyed the bike. I had ridden the course earlier in the year so I had an idea what to expect. Climbs all felt good and descents were a blast. Grinding out the flatter miles went fine. Due to the number of bikes I was often feeling confined by drafting rules. I am not sure if I just try too hard to follow them when in tight packs or if that is normal. I was right on with nutrition, although on the lower side of right on, and got a little behind on water due to forgetting about the last aid station. I thought I saw a sign saying the third aid station was the last so I only grabbed one bottle of water since I still had a quarter of a bottle of nutrition in my other cage. Slowly drank that bottle thinking it was all I had for the rest of the race. When I came upon the fourth aid station I quickly finished my nutrition bottle and grabbed another water, but didn't dare chug both bottles to get back on track so I ended up about a bottle behind where I should have been.

Plan aid station pickups ahead of time better.

Number belt on, socks and shoes on, hydration belt on and I'm off...However, over hydrating on Saturday caught up with me a fourth time and there was no line at the port-a-let so I stopped quickly. Hydration belt off, number belt off...Bathroom...Hydration belt on...Number belt on...

If necessary plan bathroom break better and not put belts on only to take them off again because of trisuit. Also, would probably not use a hydration belt in another WTC event as they have so many aid stations on the run.

First lap of the run was great I felt great and was holding my ideal pace. Saw an aid station and they had a sign for bacon...really bacon...Okay I'm feeling good, my stomach is usually rock solid to real food...Grabbed a slice and off I went. Continued on feeling great. Gu's and Chomps were getting old and I lost nutrition on the first lap of the run. By the beginning of the second lap I was crashing, the thought of Gu was disgusting, but I needed energy. I tried Coke and was pleasantly surprised that it went well. Although my time was suffering from too fast of a start to the run and lack of nutrition I was still running and going to finish.

I would force myself to run slower on the first half of the run and need to find a better nutrition (maybe Infinite?) that I don't mind for hours on end.

Walked to the food tent, grabbed a plate of food, sat down with my family and enjoyed the feeling of having finished my first 70.3.


Overall it was my first 70.3 and I didn't know what to expect. I finished faster than my "realistic goal" and about 20 minutes slower then my "best day goal". Nutrition on the run was the only real limiter.