I went out kinda easy (tried to anyway). I was concerned about having excess race adrenaline and going out too fast. I just really wasn't sure what to expect once I got on the bike. I did not want to over do it and then blow-up on the bike.

maybe push just a little bit harder.

I was so excited to get on the bike, that I almost forgot to put on my bike shoes. Hey Newbie! Get with the program!! I just took way too long here (43/48). Also the longer run in and out didn't help. I racked my bike the day before and could have had my choice of spots, there were maybe 10 bikes before mine. But nothing I could do about it.

I did practice this T a few times, but need to practice some more. Perhaps, a sticky note check off list so I remember my bike shoes?

I felt really good on the bike. My goal was to average 20mph. I had done some decent mileage in my four months of training, but would shortly discover that I did not do enough high intensity work. I was doing plenty of passion, making my way up through the field until the 18.5m mark. I suddenly had the worst cramp of my entire life. It felt like a bomb went off in my left calf. There was an indention in the middle of the muscle about the size of a quarter and a 1/4 inch deep. I could see it twitching violently at the bottom of the hole. I screamed in pain as I went up the lone climb on the course. I reduced my cadence, and tried to massage the cramp, keep pedaling, screaming all the while. Decsion time - do I pull over, stop, and try to stretch, or just keep going? Just then, I got passed by about 20 bikes, and that made me mad enough to forget about the pain, and get back on track. Yes, it hurt, but not as bad as the reality of losing all those spots in the race. I knew I had to get them back. Fortunately, I now had the downhill to recover on. Back on the big ring, I passed several bikes before the dismount. Unclipped, got off, and hobbled to my T.

Hydrate better on the bike. I'm just not very good at this. I think I will get a aero bottle and holder. Higher intensity training would help

I was in a lot of pain from the cramp in my left calf. I tried stretching it out a bit. Still another slow transition. Crappy spot!

More practice.

Well, the first half mile, or so, the pain in my leg was pretty severe. I finally got up to a half way decent pace about a mile in. I found a real nice guy,Mike,who was setting what looked to be a pace that, with all things considered, I could maintain. We ran together the rest of the race, keeping up a conversation. That right there told me I was not running hard enough. But I was afraid if I went much faster the excruciating cramp pain would return. Right now it was manageable and we were making decent progress. I didn't know exactly where the finish line was. I felt like I could make a good strong sprint and decided to go for it with about a 1/4 mile to go. I passed one more racer in AG, got my name called over the PA (which was cool), and ended up finishing right behind Adrian Fenty, who won the Democratic Mayoral Primary earlier in the week (so, basically he is the Mayor-Elect of DC). I spoke with him for a few minutes, thanked him for supporting the sport and the event, and asked him to help make this a world class event for a world class city!

Just wish I hadn't gotten the cramp. It slowed me down on the bike and on the run. Overall, thought, I was still pleased with my time. Smallwood, here I come!

about four bottles of water, a banana, and a corn muffin.


The !@#$% cramp!! Drink more on the bike.


Considering the hoops the RD had to go through to pull this off, I think they did a great job. There were a couple of snags and a few things could have been better, but I enjoyed myself! Well, I guess that's it. Thank you to everyone at BT!!