2:38 faster than 2006. Definitely more comfortable in the water than last year - really no breast stroke or side stroke this year. But didn't really ever get into a rhythm either. On the leg back into the beach my goggles suddenly fogged up and I couldn't see anything. Stopped to take them off and spit into them to clear them out. Thing of course entailed taking my swim cap off. So as I was bobbing in the water trying to deal with my goggles I realized that I might look like I was calling for help, but fortunately no one zoomed over. It was a struggle to get the goggles and cap back on. But sighting was now possible.

1) Figure out what the deal with fogging is with these (Aquasphere mask) as I haven't had this issue with others.
2) Decide from the outset what breathing pattern to use. I switched around a lot between every third stoke, 3-4-3-4 (what I use in the pool), 3-2-3-2, and no pattern in particular
3) maybe practice taking my cap and goggles off and then getting them back on in the water
4) more OWS practice

1:16 faster than 2006

Practice getting wetsuit off more quickly. I've started to work on the shoes on the bike thing but am not comfortable enough with it to do it in a race yet.

2:50 faster than 2006. Never really felt comfortable here. I haven't been able to fit much riding in this spring so combined with having a new bike I'm not as strong here as I know I could be. I did do well in keeping my cadence high.

More time on the bike.

0:01 slower than 2006, but that's deceptive since I put on socks here this year instead of in T1 like I did last year. I did forget something though - my race number belt and that would come back to bite me during the run.


1)Not forget things.
2)I tried running without socks a couple of weeks ago and got blisters, so I nixed that for a while, but I think I'll be able to switch to going sockless down the road.

0:20 slower than 2006 (but I ran further because I'm an idiot!) So I ran out of T2 feeling pretty good. I had kept my cadence high on the bike so I just focused keeping that turnover going. Got about 200 m into the run and realized that I had left my race number belt in the transition zone.

Started to run back to find an official to see what I should do. Then I changed my mind and turned around to continue the run. Ran for another minute and changed my mind AGAIN - just kept thinking about the USAT official at Saturday's meeting saying "You must wear your race number on the front during the run". Ran back to the top of the finishing shute and asked the volunteer there what to do. He thought about it for a few seconds than told me just to go ahead and do the run. AGGH! I can only imagine what the spectators were thinking!

The funny thing is that I felt pretty strong here and much more comfortable than I did during the swim and the bike. The heat didn't even bother me all that much. I'm amazed that I was only 20 secs slower than last year.


1) Not forget my race number belt
2) If #1 happens, just keep running!

Walked around a bit, drank some water, met up with my fiancee. When I went to get food she got roped into being a volunteer for Eco-Cycle and had to hang out by one of the composting/recycling stations and tell people which of their trash went where. At least that gave her something to do while I waited for the transition zone to open after the race.


Lack of consistent training, especially OWS and the bike. Work has been non-stop craziness since November. That's not going to change anytime soon, so I'll just have to do the best I can.

I really am happy that I was over 6 minfaster than last year, though!


Great race - it's a textbook study in how to organize a race. Now if they would only plant some trees along the run, it would be perfect!