This swim felt really short. I quickly made it to the front of the group but someone apparently got there before me :) Seemed like it was over before I really got in a rhythm. Exiting the water, running up the dreaded sand, seeing the blue cap that beat me, my wife yelling "Catch him!!" Yeah, and I'm the competetive one :^

Swim faster

typical sucky run up the beach

I have really been working on my biking.... And this was my second race on the Litespeed :) Both help up the speed. It's a pretty technical course, with an immediate climb, then some skinny portions, and some hard turns. My time last year was 33:00. I wanted to beat 30. I think the course was a bit short, however.

I was the most pleased with my biking this year. I only lost one spot, unheard of last year.

This transition area is loooooooong

Out and back up the Strand, my usual running route. Last year the turnaround was just before the bathrooms south of the Manhattan Beach Pier. This year the turnaround was almost at the pier. WTF? I hate when RD's throw these mental challenges into the races.

Coming back, my friend Chris met me about a mile out. He took my water bottle and ran with me (outside assistance? pacing?) He said "you need to pick it up if you want to beat these guys." I couldn't really, then another clydesdale passed me. He dropped off with a couple hundred yards to go and wished me luck.

weight, lack of base, lack of speed training


This is the traditional end of the season race around here. Most everyone does it and it's just like a big party.

Last year I went 1:13:39. This year 1:08:50, good enough for what turned out to be second in the Clyde 225+. Say what you will about the various Clyde age groups, getting on the podium is a goood thing :)