The swim was at a reservoir with really calm weather. I was hoping for a rougher swim to gain time on the less experienced swimmers. We have some runners here, so I have to earn my time where I can!

However, the swim was pretty calm. I started in the first wave, which was an elite wave where there was a $100 prize for winning, so I figured some fast people would come out for it. After the first turn I was separated from the front 3 and the rest coming 4th out of water in the elite wave.

My swim is getting better, but I have to learn how to hang with the front swimmers. I have the ability to swim fast, but I can't be afraid to attack. More threshold swim training will help with this.

No complaints here.

I gave up some time here as one of my straps got undone through the loop in my shoe, as I was tightening them! That snafu cost me about 10-15 seconds, but worst things have happened.

nce I got my shoe straps tightened, I chased down two of the racers who beat me out of the water. I came into T2 2nd off the bike, but the guy who was ahead of me was already a minute or two out of transition. However, you never know what can happen, so I kept pushing.

I had my magnet come off my disc, so I had to do my bike split by feel completely. Not the end of the world for a sprint, but I probably gave some time without the ability to manage pace better. I've bought a Garmin Edge 500 now to fix the need for a magnet.

Also, I need to learn how to corner better. It's a running joke that triathletes can't handle bikes, but for someone who rides his bike as much as I do, I should really be able to handle a turn without slowing below 20MPH. I'm wasting a lot of effort having to accelerate back up to speed.

My transitions seemed to be among the fastest. No complaints, once again.

First place ran an 18:55 off the bike, so he was a quarter mile past the turnout before I saw him after I left transition. I had a fast runner manage to catch me about half a mile out from the finish. I did everything I could to claim back 2nd, but he was finishing strong, so I held on and lost to him by 18 seconds.

If I want to compete with the fastest guys around here or anywhere, I must work on my run! I'm doing a run focus this coming off-season.

Overall I felt like I gave the race my best. The two top finishers and I all beat the course record time set by the winner last year, so I'm happy with that result.