Started out wih the chop and made good time to the first turn buoy then it went down hill the chop was coming from the right which is where I am most comfortable breathing I just struggled a little, had to stop for a minute and gather myself. This was my first deep water start and with this many people, although I'm comfortable in the water I think I got a little shook up. I also realized my arms were super tired I think my suit is a little to small and that had a lot to do with it. My breathing felt okay I never felt super winded,I fought a hamstring cramp on the last leg but it never amounted to much I just had to straighten out and it went away. I swam until my hand touched jumped up unzipped and was into transition.

Get more comfortable around a group of swimmers practice more open water and get a better fitting suit.

My watch fell off as I took off my suit so I had to stop and grab it turns out the band disconnected from the watch. The strippers had my suit off instantly and did a great job, I then walked to my bike trying to fix my watch I just need to not worry about it. I slipped my bike shoes on and put my swim stuff in the bag being a clean transition everything had to be put away in your bag. I stopped against to mess with my watch and never got it fixed I shoved it in my singlet and took off.

Everything this was a horrid transition.

Great ride wih the exception of 2 things first as I was leaving transition there are 3 speed bumps in an effort to not launch my nutrition bottles I was a little too cautious then after the first bump I looked back to check the bottle and ended up running off the road and into the guard rail on top of the dam. I sliced my right hand open, not to bad but enough to bleed I also jammed my left pointer finger and think I may have dislocated it. Little it's still pretty swollen a couple of days later. I was a little shook up going into the downhill off the dam and just tried to focus. I got settled in and in to the bars to finally start riding. As we came to the first significant hill I dropped my chain and had to stop to fix that. Once I got going I settled into a groove and got comfortable I ate my gu's where I needed to and took in plenty of hydration. There was a bit of wind and it was rather gusty at times but I think I did alright for the remainder of the ride. I tried as best I could not to draft but the hills were horrible I just stayed left and passed people then would duck in where I could. I rode as clean as the course allowed I saw a bunch of Marshall's and never got anything so I guess I was alright.

Not crash not drop my chain and focus better

Another bad transition I hit the stop line and Unclipped then proceeded to run in my shoes bad choice on my part I felt my left ankle twinge a little then slowed to a walk. There were too many bikes on my rack so I had to make room. Threw on some sunscreen my shoes and was off.

Leave the shoes clipped on and rack faster

Oh boy here we go. The first 2 miles felt great right where I needed to be, then the side stitches set in and I could not get them under control I'd run as far as I could then walk with my hand jammed in my rib cage trying to work the cramps out and settle my breathing. I would work I'd run about a 1/2 to 3/4 of a mile and do it all over again, at the 5K to go marker my back spasms flared up and I dealt with that but I knew I would finish and at this point it was all I was focused on.

I don't know train harder, deal with the pain better all I could think was just finish.

Water And laying down found the wife and son and relaxed for about 15 minutes


All kinds of things, I stepped up to this distance to fast and needed a better base I think another year and I would have been okay.


My first 70.3, am I disappointed in the time a little but with all that happened I think I did okay I had fun and learned a lot. I need a stronger base I don't think I was ready for the distance to be competitive but I was excited to finish.