This year due to the current being so strong we had to start from the dock (jump in). There was 27 waves and I was in wave 17, I was able to watch others and notice that you could get in the water while waiting for the start as long as you held on to the dock, so that is what I did.

As I was waiting I was talking to a coach and I was asking his opinion on where one should line up and he recommended on the outside as those in the middle have to fight for position. So I lined up in the middle as I wanted to feel what it was like to fight for position. (practice for IMAZ in 7 weeks).

I felt real good in the swim, didn't have to stop and caught my breath, ran into a few other swimmers but nothing major to mess up my stroke. Half way through I notice I was passing people in the wave ahead of me and then 2 waves of ahead of me. Just when I thought I was having an awesome swim someone from the wave behind me passed me.



I probably could have swam faster but it was the first leg, but my thought is with it being the first leg why kill it

In practice I was having problems getting my suit off my arms and was really stressing over this, so as soon as I hit land I was working to get my suit off my arms and be ready for the strippers to get it off the rest of the way.

I was the first person on my rack to leave on the bike.

With IMAZ coming up in a few weeks, my goal was not to push it but to also see what I could do. During those first 17 miles I had to keep telling myself to not go all out and relax.

For once I didn't put my Garmin on the bike instead I left it on my wrist which meant that I couldn't see my pace or time. I did have it set to beep every 3 miles so I knew when to drink. Whenever I saw a mile marker which was at every 5 miles I ate either half of a payday candy bar or 2 chomps. I never felt tired or bloated, had just the right amount food and drink.

Could have pushed more on the bike but with this being my "B" race I felt I didn't need to.

Unfortunately I was not the first one to return my bike on the rack, darn it. Was able to get my running stuff on and then a quick trip to the port a johns and the sunscreen table and off I went.

Not real sure

Things were warming up and it was getting HOT. The goal here was to run to every aid station and then walk thru the water stop. At the 2nd aid station I took a gu and YUCK, I have no clue what flavor it was but it was terrible, and I can handle most gels. Because of that terrible taste in my mouth I didn't want to try another gel, so I was skipping the nutrient on the run.

At each aid station if they had ice, I would put some in my cap to help stay cool as I wasn't seeing sponges. Once I started the 2nd loop, my right foot toes started to cramp up so badly that it was hard to run on. I would only walk enough to get the toes straighten out and then off I would run again till it happened again. Found an aid station with a banana so I grabbed one in hopes that would help but I knew it was too late. The last few miles I was really struggling with the toe cramping, however I managed to push through it.

I felt really good going into the run so I wonder if my nutrient on the run caused the toe cramping. I didn't eat as much as I had planned because of that first gel. For some reason I just tend not to eat much on the run.

Walked straight to the food line and got some food.


Toe cramps and the warm temperatures