This sucked! This is my first pool swim so I didn't know what to expect. I think it was much worse because it was a reverse tri and the swims weren't seeded. I got behind this guy and could not go around him because there were people coming from the other direction. I tried to pass him once but almost head-butted a guy coming from the other direction. He promptly told me to stay in the right lane. I wanted to club him! I really think that if I could have held my breath long enough, it would have been a great strategy to go UNDER him! (I was seriously considering this!) What was really bad was that I would get to the end of the lane and hang onto the wall until he was about halfway to the other side, then I'd take off and catch him before he made it to the other end. Finally passed him with about 150 yards to go, and by that time there weren't as many people coming from the opposite direction so I was able to pass a few more. When I got to the ladder at the end of the swim there were about 5 guys just hanging out waiting their turn to get out of the pool. SCREW THAT!! I forced my way to the front and actually elbowed a guy out of my way! (Haley would have been so proud of me!) By the end of the swim I was so frustrated I just had to take it out on someone! ;)

Most of this swim was breast stroke or treading water because I was waiting for an opportunity to pass someone in front of me. In that I couldn't get into a consistent stroke, it was by far the worst swim I've had in a race. Considering the conditions, I'll rate my performance as good.

This is the true T1, after the run.

I had the shoes clipped in, but I had some big problems getting buckled in. I probably wasted more than a minute fiddling with them. Since that was after the timing mat, it helped in making my bike leg suck!

Get some tri shoes with one velcro strap.

This would have been a blazing fast course had it not been for the wind. Even if the winds had been from the south it would have been a lot faster. There was a stretch of about a mile that if the wind had been from the south I would have gained a lot of time.

Like any race, I would have trained more. But considering the wind conditions, I think I did okay.

This is the true T2, after the bike leg.
I had to take off my cycling jacket and long tights, which added to the time. Also, I forgot my goggles so I had to run back and get them after I had almost made it to the natatorium. Stooopid! (although, that time was probably added to the swim.)

Don't forget my goggles.

Yeah, I ranked 18th out of 18. Gotta problem wit dat? Everyone knows my run sucks, but this is the best run on a tri since my first race in June of '06. Really only because it was the first event of this crazy reverse tri stuff. Actually, this was a good run for me. I only missed by 5k PR by about a minute, so I'm pleased.

Train more. (It'll come)

Walked all around and did stuff. B.S.'ed with some BT'ers. The usual deal. We had a BT pizza and beer party at my house after the race. The only regret is that I wish we would have arranged a meeting with all the BT'ers that did the race.


Bad knees, still. Also carrying around an extra 20-30 lbs.


Aside from the slow run (which will improve over time), the slow transitions, the shoe problems starting off the bike, and the crowded pool cost me probably two or three places in my age group. I wasn't contending for hardware, but the weather's better higher up the ladder! It's good to know that what cost me time are things that are very easily improved. Now, to improve the run and bike....

I'm not sure that I'll do another one of these races. Only if it's in Allen and happens to fall on my race schedule in the right spot. One funny thing about the organization of this race was that there was NOBODY MANNING THE DRINK STATION at the halfway turnaround of the run! The cups were still in the plastic wrapping! Also, I overheard several different people saying that the volunteers weren't the sharpest tacks on the bulletin board. The ending was hilariously anti-climactic. As soon as I broke the plane of the door of the natatorium, someone said "Okay, your done." Okayyyyy.