Started too fast. Took awhile to feel settled into a rhythym. The swim felt pretty foreign, much different than the pool. I just need to practice open water swimming much more. It felt long and I was pretty fatigued, but still better than last season. I also need sighting practice, but didn't get too far off course. Unlike last year, it was nice to see people around me (even if they were passing me) for most of the swim (rather than being all alone at the back). Note that swim time include running up the 60 steps of a beastly hill.

Start slower. Come in with more open water practice.

Major hill with steps up from water--this was tiring. Got suit off OK. Put shoes on before mounting bike.

Maybe pause and take suit top off before attacking stairs.

My computer had 24.96 miles with an average speed of 20.6. Not bad. Only passed once, by a duathlete.

Not much. Took quite a bit of Hammer Gel and my full bottle. Hopefully soon I'll have the equipment to carry more fluid on my bike.

Had just a little trouble finding my race number belt (under someone's wetsuit). But this transition seemed pretty quick otherwise. Also had to remove a vest I wore cycling.

Not much.

Felt decent, but going up the hills was difficult. This run course was super tough, but I still would have liked to have been a bit faster.

Maybe could have pushed just a little harder between hills.

None.


Swim endurance and lack of experience with open water swimming in wetsuit. Some fatigue on bike hills. Also fatigue on run hills.


Great venue. Beautiful transition area, swim course, run course. Bike course OK. Run was tough, but enjoyable and pretty. Awesome potential for this race in just its first year. My first and maybe last time to win my age group (overall winner was the one guy ahead of me in my age group).