Watch strap broke just after the first buoy (about 100m in). Managed to catch the watch as it slipped off, but had to do the rest of the swim holding it! Also had to stop at each buoy to let the water out of my goggles as they kept letting in water until about the 1000m mark.

New helmet (with visor), practised at home getting it on quickly, wasn't so smooth on race day. Opened shoe a bit too much and strap came off the loop on right shoe. Had to stop to fix.

Kept the pace at a fairly comfortable level and even backed off a little on the last lap. Still finished 9mins quicker than I predicted

Since I didn't have my watch with me for the bike I decided to turn off the cycle computer to make sure the data was saved and then, for some reason, wasted more time turning my lights off (night race, lights were mandatory).

Not worry about the lights or computer!

Somehow managed to get some fine gravel in my shoes which acted like sandpaper. Stopped a couple of times to try to get rid of it but failed.
Haven't run enough this year so faded quite a bit by the last lap.

Run more.

Well organised race and a total bargain at the price!