Took a little while to get into a rhythm, but then I found a great pair of feet to draft. Drafted out past the first turn buoy and part of the way back then passed my fish and swam the rest of the course alone, starting to pass some of the stragglers from the wave before. Considering my almost complete lack of swim training, I'm thrilled with this swim. I felt comfortable the whole time, navigation was spot on, and was able to push it without really hurting my shoulder. I was afraid--based on the times of my Walden swims--that this was going to be terribly show. It didn't work out that way. I'm bumping up the yardage on the swim, as consensus was that it was a couple hundred yards long.

Besides actually training for the swim, I can't think of much. I'd like to be able to draft a little better, looking forward a little less while still staying on someone's feet, but I can't complain at all.

Up a set of slippery stone steps from the lake then over to TA and across and back the length. I was in and out of transition while some other people were still taking off wetsuits. I was really happy with this; only way it could have been faster is if I could actually run harder off the swim.

Nada.

Needless to say, given the rest of this race report, I was nervous about the bike. I've only got about half as much volume in on the bike this year as either of the other years to this point and no rides over 32 miles! Crazy. I got my bike converted into the aero position a few weeks ago and was never exactly comfortable on it, so a few days ago, I flipped the stem into a more upright position to see if that would do it--and then proceeded to run out of time to take a test ride on it.

So I got on the bike and stayed out of aero for the first couple miles, just getting into a groove and holding a good cadence. Then I finally threw it into the big ring, and tried out the new position.

I loved it! I was so much more comfortable, though surely less aerodynamic. I ended up staying it in most of the ride. I also tried to stay in my big ring most of the ride as well. I never felt out-of-sorts on this ride, always felt like I had plenty of strength but didn't want to push too hard for fear of the run ahead. I passed a handful of people, which was gratifying but probably didn't take in enough water and/or electrolytes. I felt a side stitch growing about 20 miles in, which could spell death for my run. I stopped drinking entirely at that point to see if I could will it away.

Nothing fazed me on this ride. Total positive experience.

Go faster! Seriously, I knew I was going to be slow, but I was hoping to get to 17 mph on this course.

This should have been faster, but I got everything transitioned so quickly I couldn't believe I actually had everything I needed for the run. Jogged out and back the length of TA and onto the run course, stopping to give Anna a kiss and say hi.

Not stand around like an eejut when I've got everything I need!

This was a sufferfest of the highest order. I could feel right out of T2 that I didn't have much in the way of legs after the first two events. But I thought if I just took it easy for the first mile or two, they might come around. I've gotten used to running with fatigue, so I had some confidence. And my side stitch was manageable right in the beginning. I think I made it to the first mile marker in pretty good time (didn't have a watch so couldn't tell), but after taking some water at that station, the side stitch started raging. Had to walk somewhere between mile 1 and 2 as it was such a horrible stabbing pain. I tried everything to get it to go away, and it finally subsided enough to allow some running. Man did it feel awful to start running after doing some walking. Just terrible!

I felt well enough to take a gel and some water at the 2nd mile marker and actually felt good for a couple hundred yards after that. Then it went downhill again. I was trying to catch this man in front of me who was doing a walk/run thing, and I couldn't make up any ground. Had to walk again before mile 3 due to the stitch. Again, horrible, stabbing pain. And, boy, was it hot! I could feel the heat radiating off my face, and I took my cap off and ran holding it so I could get some airflow to my head.

Was happy to see the 3rd mile marker as that meant I was pretty much halfway there. After the first mile, I had seriously been considering pulling the plug on this race and not finishing, I was in so much pain, but I decided to just keep pushing along. Now I knew I was going to finish even though there was a decent amount of distance left to go. Walked again between the third and the fourth mile and almost couldn't get started again. I always forget how stupidly hilly this course is; nothing too terrible but almost constantly a little up or a little down.

Except the water stations, that was the last I walked for the race. In fact, about a half-mile from the finish, I saw another athena jogging ahead of me, and I made it my goal to catch her. Started to kick for the finish, spurted past her, made the turn into the park, saw the 6 mile marker, and knew I had started my kick way too soon. The stitch came back, and I almost fell over. Saw Anna all excited, heard some BT folks, and staggered across the line.

I don't know what to do about these side stitches. Are they from lack of electrolytes? I don't know, but they seriously cramp my style.

Cool-down more like it. Cold wet towel on my neck helped enormously. The finish line people made me sit down on a chair for a little while and gave me some water. Then lots of water and fruit and water.

After eating and drinking a fair amount and taking a shower, I was still 5 pounds under my pre-race weight. Clearly I was pretty severely dehydrated and probably lacked both calories and electrolytes.


Lack of training, mostly. Side stitch in the short term.


As always, this is a well organized great race with lots and lots of volunteers. The venue and course are scenic, and the BT presence is perfect!