I positioned myself just to the right of center and one row back of the front to start. Once the gun went off, I quickly swam over the two guys in front and got on some feet that I thought was the AG leader. It turns out, the leader and the 2nd place guy were all the way to the left and took off at a much faster pace. Going into the sun, I never saw them. I rounded the turn buoy thinking I was right behind the leader and tried to just stay on his feet. About 100 yards from the end we came up on a large group from the previous wave and we split. I went left and he went right, then I ran into a wall and the guy I was following was able to get through. Next time, I stay on the feet and don't worry about passing someone for a 5 second lead.

Nothing. It was the unlucky going one way and lucky going the other.

I actually ran the whole way from the swim exit to my bike. I had a hard time getting going with my shoes clipped in. Just hadn't done it in awhile.

Nothing, except practice my speed mount of the bike. I hadn't done one since last year and I was a bit rusty and almost fell over.

After I finally got into my shoes I got up to speed and then hit the first hill. My heart rate was already high and I just pushed it higher trying to climb this first hill. I never really felt settled in after that hill but I was able to pick-up the speed after we crested the first hill and started to move through the field on the straight aways and downhills. The first part of the course was really beautiful riding through tree lined country roads. I was averaging 24-25 mph in these sections but dropped down to 10 mph on the hills. I just could not get up them much better.

More time trialing work before a Sprint. Also need to work on hills and not carrying so much "luggage" uphill. Time to get rid of the "junk in the trunk"

Good T2 here for me. I was off the bike and into shoes and hat quickly. Getting out of T2 was all downhill so it was able to move quickly

Grab hat and number belt and run with them through T2. I wasted a few seconds standing there putting them on.

I suck at running to start with. The issue with my left quad just made it worse for me. I tried to push but just can't seem to contract my muscles in that leg on the run. I also left T2 without my albuterol and my breathing was labored. I felt the heat but it never seemed to bother me as much as my need for oxygen.

Keep working on rehab and don't forget the albuterol.

Found Charles and Jamie and listened to them talk about their speedy races.


Gravity


What a great race to start the season and for someone to do for their first experience in triathlon. I will talk to Adam about making this a mentor/newbie type race where anyone not doing a triathlon for the first time is assigned to someone doing their first tri. They are assigned to them to help them through the experience (not train them). I'll do this race every year now. It's organized and has great post race stuff and you can't beat the company!