Since the water was supposedly 70F, and I don’t have a wetsuit, and was too cheap to rent one – I went without. Looked like about 20% of racers were without a wetsuit. I was shivering while waiting for the start, but quickly warmed up and was glad not to be wearing one when the race started. My focus was on keeping an even pace, and saving up for the bike and run. Felt I did a pretty good job.

Pretty fast. Under 2 min, I think. No wetsuit def made things faster, as did having an end rack spot.

Baby powder in socks, maybe.

Hop on, look at watch; 33 min. Looks like I had a comparable swim to my last oly, but much faster T1. Was keeping up a pretty good pace (for me), and it felt like there was very little wind. I was still getting passed by a fair amount of people from the wave after mine, though. About 10 mi out, a lost pick-up truck decided to make a U-turn... gets confused with all the bikers on both sides, and sits for a bit in the middle, perpendicular to the road! Yikes! Needless to say, I stopped to avoid a potential car-bike collision. Hit the turn around at 1:12. Wow! I was anticipating a 1:30 bike split, but was on pace for 1:20. Pushed hard on the way back. At the train tracks, heard both rims hit HARD (ouch!), but no pinch flat. Phew!! Try to back off as I’m entering the park, but there’s just too many people to pass, so I push hard all the way.

Slower over the train tracks.

Really fast. Pulling in I heard a guy shout “Go Davis!!” (I was wearing my UC Davis Tri uniform). I put elastic laces and cord locks on my old shoes last night, so it was super speedy, perhaps under a min. Ran out carrying hat a water, and heard the same guy shout, “Fast transition Davis! Go!”. :D

Nada.

Checked watch after I was well clear of T2, 1:55. Hmmm… I might just be able to make 2:50 if I pull off a good run. I’m taking it easy, trying to find my legs, and get passed by a girl with 23 written on her calf. Nooooo!!! I mark her, and begin plotting. It takes a while for me to pick up the pace, but once I do, I’m passing people left and right. Carrying my on bottle, I make no stops, and gain more on my target, eventually passing her before the 4 mile mark. Push a litte harder so she can’t catch me. After the 5 mile mark, I start pushing really hard. I know it’ll be really close if I want 2:50, and I’m determined to try. Gotta make the last 1.2 mi in 10 min. Probably going sub-8:00 pace, and tearing by everyone ahead of me. See the finish and sprint, crossing it at 2:49, almost exactly.

I was stoked – a PR by 18 minutes! Packed up, grabbed some food, and went for a dip in the lake. Waited for results to be posted (never were) and hung around the awards. I felt I had a good chance of placing. They get around to my AG: 5th place… not me, 4th… not me, 3rd… not me (oh no! did I not place?), 2nd… not me… wait I passed her on the run! Holy crap! I’ve never won anything!!


This series is on my list for next year. Awesome!