Hehe I learned the HARD way what it's like to swim into the rising sun with CLEAR goggles on.
My first 750m was.. the best OW swimming experience I've ever had, I didn't run into anyone and I was going at good pace(I was on target for a 26:30-27min swim). I was thinking the way back would be quicker as i was feeling good and warmed up. Well that was right before I turned around and tried to spot the next buoy, as all I saw was white glare.
So I start swimming did ok at first, but as we start going more into the gentle curve to right (now the left) the sun becomes worse and I can't make much of anything out. So I end up in the weeds/rocks on the side, ok i shrug the first time off and get back at it. Then it happens again, no problem I just go right back to it. Then I swim underneath a dock and come about 5 inches away from hitting a cement pole.

It was at that point that I lost my mental focus and just tried to finish the swim with out smashing my head on something. I still ended up in the weeds/rocks 2-3 more times and cut my foot on something on one of those adventures.

So yea.. I'll always be brining shaded goggles from now on.

SHADED GOGGLES

I took my time and made sure I drank more then normal during transition, so a little slow, but I did more then normal here.

Nothing, I really didn't feel like I messed up here.

At the beginning of the bike (first 10-15k) my head wasn't in the race anymore, add the slighty up-hill false flat that the first 10k is with a couple of good hills too. It put me at a low spot for a bit. But by the time of the turn around I was back to racing and still made an OK bike ride, though I would of liked to be under 1:08.

First/last 10k or so is on rough roads and that's also where the hills are.

Try to stay focus and get into my zone earlier.

Went pretty good shoes bumped on the ground a few times, throwing my back wheel around a bit, but that's not even a big deal.

move quicker? :)

I enjoyed this run and I really didn't think the road was that bad, sure you're going to be several minutes slower then your normal 10k in a olympic triathlon, but so is everyone else. But a few of the steep parts of the climb did hurt my legs pretty good. So when your coming back down you're already darn tired so you don't get to really improve your pace much! :p

I did like this run though and will be the main attraction to me to come back to this race in a couple of years.

I think I should of opened up harder(or gone harder on the bike) but I held back not knowing the course(due to it being hyped up as really tough) and I believe I finished a bit off what I could of done.

I sat down and drank gatorade. hehe


I still say inexperience(more in OW then anything else) I just can't get everything in a triathlon to go my way just yet.

That swim really took me down mentally I knew I had performed really badly(I never got passed after the swim, just passed alot of people) and it just took me a bit to get my head back into the game, my swim and bike suffered becase of this for sure.


They had marines as helpers(aid stations, getting out of water helpers) and man.. they were fantastic.. the best helpers I've seen at a race so far. I can't think of anything really wrong with the race, it was very well put on.

So if you're looking for a fun, tough race this if for you. I wouldn't come here to PR or anything though. :)