This was my first mass wave start. I positioned myself to the outer half near the front. It was a cluster f.... at the start and people were getting in my way. I couldn't get into a groove and that screwed with my breathing and HR. Finally after the first buoy, I found clean water and cruised from there. I wanted to be out of the water in under 15-15:30 and did that as I was exiting the water in 14:55. I was a little slow getting to transition though.

Overall a good swim for me. I just need to get more time in OW and continue to improve.

T1 went OK. My wetsuit came off easy but when I went to put on my helmet, my straw came out of my aero bottle, so I had to pick that off the ground and put it back. I had my shoes clipped in and had a rubber band holding them off the ground. That worked great, although I need to be able to get in my shoes faster. The course had a few curves to start, so I struggled to find enough time to get my feet in my shoes.

This turned out to be a good bike for me. I passed a ton of people and think I was only passed by one person. During the first 5 miles, I felt sluggish. I was thinking, wow, this is going to suck. But as the course started going downhill, I was able to get my HR in check and started hammering. I lost a little energy as I headed south on 36. My hydration choice on the bike, was the new Lime Accelerade. And it will be the last. It is just too sweet for me. I took in less than half of my aero bottle on the course, which is much to little for me. So I think that cost me some on the run. I had a GU with me, but I didn't take it.

More training.........

Coming into transition, I pulled my feet out of my shoes but actually lost a shoe before the mat. I said, f... it, I'm not stopping, this is a race. But luckily, a volunteer followed me in and handed over the shoe. Everything else went good. I took a water bottle out with me, as I can never get enough fluids with the cups. That worked great. I tossed it out at one of the aid stations.

Not my best run, but about where I thought I would be. It was getting hot, and I don't think I got enough fluids on the bike. I was tired at the start and the small hill didn't help any. I got into a nice pace midway through and back to the finish.

Well, I need to start doing some intense bricks - hammering the bike for 25-30 miles, then moving right into a tempo run for a few miles. I hope that helps the legs. I also need to continue with the track workouts. I think they will help.

Drank a lot of fluids (not beer) and talked to Ken, Dillard, Adam, Ryan and Julia. I hope I am fast as those guys and gal some day.


more training.......


Great race..........