I started out slow because I wasn't sure how the altitude would affect my breathing. I wanted to draft but there wasn't anybody in front of me to start. I loved the fact that the water was fresh water not salt. That was great! I rounded the first bouy kinda wide but missed all the congestion at the bouy. I wasn't sure how I was doing but wanted to keep constant. Next thing I know the guy beside me pulls up and dog paddles, then the next guy starts to breaststroke, that made me feel really good. I rounded the last bouy, started to head for shore then started to pass people who were 1 and 2 waves ahead of me (4 and 8 min). I exited the water then had to go a 100 yard boat ramp, the two flights of stairs (that sucked) at that point I couldn't catch my breath, but managed to make it to the bike.

Nothing

Could not breathe in T1. It took a lot of time in T1

Try to spped up a little.

I was really surprise that I only got passed by 2 guys (one wasn't racing)
I passed a lot of people. Saw a bunch of people throwing up. This was a hard race.

Practice more on hills. Try to ride more at altitude.

Again, Never so happy to be off of the bike. Still breathing very hard, never really caught my breath.

Nothing

I was very happy to be off the bike and was willing to take as long as I needed to finish the run. The run started out with a downhill. I was behind this guy and was just trying to keep the deadleg shuffle going. After the downhill I started to reel in the guy who was ahead of me. By the top of the hill I had passed him. I was running at a comfortable pace but couldn't catch my breath. During the downhill the guy I passed, passed me back. then during the uphill I passed him back and said "tag your it". We continued to pass each other back and forth and passing people along the way. We made it to the turn around and I realized I hadn't been passed by anybody else yet. I am not a good runner and I get passed all the time and don't ever pass anyone. So far in this race I had passed more people on the run than all my races combined! I started back up the hill then got passed by a few young women, not in my AG so I didn't mind. Then a volunteer said there was 3/4 of a mile left. I felt pretty good, then started to run. The guy that I was trading places with, pulled up with a cramp so I left him for good. With about 1/2 mile left this guy (the 3rd place guy)flew past me. I wanted to run with him but he went by with such authority that I knew I couldn't keep up with him. I kept running smoothly then realized I had caught my breath so I started to run and not shuffle. Another guy passed me and I wasn't sure if he was in my AG, so I kept him in my sights. We started up the last uphill and he started to slow. When we got close to the top I started my kick. I passed that guy with the same authority that I got passed with earlier. I got to the top of the hill and started looking for the finish line. I saw my wife and she it was at the bottom of the hill. I was flying down this hill and people were yelling " its 500 yards, its 600 meters, you have have 200 yards left" All I knew was I couldn't see the finish line. I got to the bottom of the hill and people were saying turn left the you are at the finish. I turned left and still didn't see the finish. I passed the grandstand and the announcer said my # and name, so I kept running in full sprint mode. The course flattened out and I started to get tired. I kept listening for the annoucer to say the name and # of the guy behind me, but he never did. I really started to slow down looking for the finish line, then all of a sudden I ran past the guy who was tearing off the bottom of the race numbers. That's when I knew I had crossed the line. I was so thirsty and coudn't find any water. I asked some guy where the water was and he said it was back at the grandstand (about 200 yards away). I must have looked like hell because he gave me his bottled water. I didn't want it but he insisted. That is what is so great about the people in this sport. I ended up talking to him a few more times after the race.

I should have run with the first guy that passed me. He was going so fast that I knew I couldn't run with him, but he ended up only 1 min ahead of me. I also should have run more during the race instead of comfortably shuffling a long. I was happy because nobody was passing me and if I had raced more I would have been closer to 3rd place.

Nothing!!!!!


Altitude and hills


While I was racing I had decided never to race this one again. After I finshed and rated my effort and how tired I was and the feeling of accomplishment I had. I knew I will do it again next year.