Swim was 13th of 26 Clydesdales.

After the start, there was the usual pushing, shoving, crawling and kicking. I was able to establish a rhythm pretty early on. I breathed every other stroke, and sighted every ten strokes. However, I began to notice that there were fewer and fewer swimmers around me, and every time I went to sight, my target was a little to the left. Not much, but every time it was on the left. So I am left to assume that I was swimming to the right the entire time.

About halfway through, I felt my ear peek out from under my swim cap. I flipped over and tried to fix it, only to have the other ear peek out. I have a large head, and the standard cap just doesn't cut it sometimes. After turning the last buoy, I had a bit of some cramping in my right calf, but I relaxed it and kicked easier from the hip and it disappeared.

OK, now I am on the home stretch, and I am trying to use the sun to navigate, as it appears to be behind me. Just find it in the same spot on every stroke, and I should go straight to the crowd waiting on the shore. Only thing is one of the kayak guys is right next to me. I don't think I am looking weak, so I begin to think that he has something to tell me. When I lift my head out to sight, he yells at me to go left, because of the hydrilla. Turns out that we were supposed to keep close to the buoys on our left, because I was too far right and got caught in the hydrilla just before the finish! It was like a scene from a water horror movie where the creature from the deep is trying to drag me under. I thrashed and pushed and grappled my way through, but it probably added about 30 seconds.

Maybe I swam too easy. I guess that I did about 1600 meters with swimming off course, but that still puts my pace to be very slow. I have swum at 2:00 pace in the pool... Open water might be slower, on account of there not being any walls, but it shouldn't be 25% slower.

I finished the swim feeling great. No elevated heartrate. Maybe I could add a little effort and my time and my direction would pick up. Who knows. The good news for me is that my next race is a Half, where the swim is 29% longer and the bike and run are doubled.

Still feeling a little frustrated over the swim, I sat down to get my shoes on instead of standing and going quickly. The insole of my left shoe (second one on) go folded up when I slid my foot in, so I had to take it off, readjust the straps and try again, only to have the tongue get screwed up. Finally got it all on, and I was on my way.

The next races on my calendar are either Half's or Full Ironman races, so I am not going to spend too much time worrying about shaving seconds in transition. But I might should consider shoes on the bike to start. I need to practice that move, though.

Bike leg was 5th in Clydesdales.

Nutrition: Started out quickly and slammed a energy gel, chased with water and Gatorade Endurance (GE). My plan was to take an energy gel every 30 minutes and water and GE every 15 minutes. I did not take all 28 ounces of GE as I had wished, but I got all the gels down.

Mental: I had to keep reminding myself that there was nothing I could do about the swim and focus on each pedal stroke for the rest of the race and make that the best it could be. Also watch so as not to push too hard during any portion of the bike and kill my run. You gotta know the course and the wind to make those choices and I felt like I was well prepared there.

Got into the big chainring right off the bat, and I was going to stay there for the whole first half of the first loop. I was passing several riders, while only being passed by a couple. I did the U-turn at the end of the first half and started back uphill against a slight breeze. I knew my speed was going to be less, and I had to keep reminding myself that was ok, and not to press too hard to stay above my target pace. I marked the end of the first lap, and my time was 35:57 for an average of 21.7 MPH.

I knew the wind was gathering momentum, so I resolved to take it easy on the downwind portion of the second loop. Any time I found myself gritting my teeth, I eased up and reminded my self there was plenty of race left. Coming back uphill, I turned on the effort a little bit, and finished the bike leg with an average of 21.3 MPH. My goal was 20.5 - 21.0. So I was pleased with the bike leg.

As I was coming in the home stretch, I drank a few more gulps of water and GE to try to drain the bottles and up my hydration for the run.

I thought the bike went very well. About the only thing I might change is to drink more at each draw on the bottles and drain my water and GE completely.

We were supposed to wear our race belt during the bike, so all I had to do was rack the bike, take my helmet off and put my running shoes on. Did so, then grabbed my visor and took off. Easy as pie.

Nothing. T2 was as good as I can do.

Run split was 1st among Clydesdales!

In recent longish training runs, I always start out fast and fade throughout, so I made a concerted effort to start slow. I did the first mile in 7:40, which was maybe a little too fast, but I felt good, so I thought I would just try to hold that pace. Second mile was 7:36 and the third mile, which featured the uphill on to the dam portion of the course, was 7:53. OK, now I was feeling very strong, and I knew I had only 3.2 left, so I picked up the cadence. Next two miles were 7:45 and 7:20 and I re-passed a few of the people that had passed me earlier. I had been taking water at every aid station, (and one last gel early in the run) and took some Gatorade after about 2.5 miles. Then, just after the five mile-mark, I took one last cup of Gatorade and took maybe two sips and my body went into full revolt! My stomach was cramping severely, and also my left quad decided to start cramping a bit. Holy smokes, I almost had to stop to walk, but instead, I slowed the pace for about 300 meters until the cramps went away. Maybe halfway through the fifth mile, I felt good enough to pick up the pace again and did so, all the way to the finish.

I am guessing that I was running at 7:00 pace until my body revolted after that last drop of Gatorade. I guess the effort was too hard at that point to try to force anything more into my stomach. Lesson learned: when I am trying to run a hard pace, I need to pay attention to my body. I had felt a little bloated, but was concerned with hydration.

Not take that last hit of Gatorade. Pace was good until that point, and good thereafter.

Drank water and Gatorade in my jumbo finisher's cup, and ate a banana, bagel and a plum. Stood around and visited with my brother and nephew. It's always fun opening other people to this sport.


The swim, the swim, the swim. If I had hit my target pace, I would have been second in Clydesdales and about 75th overall. But new to the sport as I am, I have lots to learn about pacing and sighting in open water swimming. We'll get there, though.


Big fun for my first Olympic race. I can't wait to test myself again at even longer distances. I have 8 weeks until my Half and 37 weeks until Ironman Arizona!