Expected to be in the 22-24 minute range on the swim so this was a little of a surprise.First open-water swim, first wave start, so I was a little trepidatious at the start, counted to ten to let everyone get out of the way, but it didn't help. There was a little jostling, at one point someone pushed my head underwater, but not bad at all, never any reason to think about panicking.

Once I got into a rhythm, I alternately swam 30 strokes freestyle and 20 strokes breast stroke to catch my breath and sight the buoys. Worked well, but I was breathing hard at the end.

Comments from the race staff indicate that the course was longer than 800 yards.

Plan is to get some coaching over the winter. I would love to be able to freestyle the whole thing, but my technique is evidently too inefficient to allow that.

Had about a 300 yard run up an embankment and along an asphalt road. I was so out of breath from the swim that I walked up the bank and ran/walked the road. Got socks, shoes, and helmet on easily, then had to run about 100 yards with bike.

Come out of the swim fresher and able to run.

Nice that this was such a familiar route; I did most of my swim/bike workouts on this route so I knew the roads well. They put down a new surface on a part of the road the week before, but opinions were split as to whether that made it better or worse.

Found a good pace early, passed a lot of those smarty-pants fast swimmers! Eventually some of the younger guys in the following wave passed me as well, but it was a good ride. Fastest average I've ever achieved on that long of a ride, tried hard to get it over 22mph, but just too many turns.

Nothing. Maybe push a little harder, but I wanted to save something for the run.

Got hung up trying to dismount, nearly fell before I extricated myself from the pedal. Had to run the 100yds again with the bike, took too much time changing shoes.

Need to practice both transitions, maybe get some tri shoes for the bike so I can do the leave-the-pedals-on-the-bike thing. My Sidis are nice road shoes, but the ratcheting buckle makes it a little harder to get in and out.

Hot.

By this time it's 9 am, the sun is high, and it is hot: 90 degrees, 90% humidity hot. The run is on an airport service road with absolutely no shade. I find a pace just under the point where my diaphragm begins to get a stitch, and try to hold that pace while holding the stitch in abeyance. At the three water stops, I drink a cup and pour a cup on my head. Not much of a kick at the end, just a long steady pace throughout



Nothing. Maybe do the run in late October.

Stop to wait for and congratulate a couple friends I had passed during the last mile, then went for some gatorade. Went back on the course with my family to watch and cheer in the rest of my friends.


Swimming technique? Weather? Overall I was very happy with my first full-distance sprint.


Very well-organized event, put on by local guys who do two or three other events.