The staged start with swim lanes assigned to swim times was disconcerting for me. I am much more comfortable with being thrown in a lake and told to swim around it. Here I was with four other guys who were all faster than me and I was hoping to pick up a little time. I was uncomfortable during the swim as I rushed my breathing and didn't get into a comfortable zone like I do in the reservoirs. If a faster swimmer tapped my toes, I had to let them pass at the end of the pool, so I killed 30 seconds or so by stopping and waiting for three passes. Not ideal. I felt slower than I actually was, but I am not pleased. I have not been swimming consistently, and it shows.

Swim more.

There is a quite long run from the pool to the transition, out of the Rec Center,past two parking lots, across a street, and then across the field to the far side where the bike out and my bike were located. I left a pair of racing flats outside the pool so I wouldn't have to run this barefoot like last year.

Nothing.

I got out of T1 fairly smoothly, but my breathing was not controlled for the first twelve minutes. I was already well into a fairly long hill at this point, and I was getting pissed watching one of the faster guys in my swim group pull away from me. I did not feel particularly good on the bike, but I climbed efficiently in lower gears. On the way back, I threw up a bit, but did not stop. I just sprayed my arm off with water and tried to keep up the pace. I was pleased to reel in the fast swimmer on the biggest hill (Chambers Rd.)and I was focused on keeping a fairly easy tempo so I would have energy to push the last couple miles. Right after this hill I saw Kenny (triathlonfun) rip past me on his bike, followed by a couple other guys who were all cranking hard. (No, they were not drafting). I rode the last 1/2 mile in at an easy pace to avoid the meltdown of last year in T2.

Next year I hope not to get pulled over by the chief USAT official while on my bike. As I was cranking up the last hill before the bike turnaround, the race officials on a motorcycle pulled up to my left. I had been riding alone, not within 500m of anybody for most of the race. I slowed down and yelled over to the guy on back of the motorcycle,pulling out his clipboard. I said "what's going on ?" He said" I am pulling you over" I said "why; do I need to stop?" At this point I realize that the official is Graham. Wilson, a neighbor,friend,tri coach extraordinaire, and USAT official. So Graham pauses, and says" I'm pulling you over because you're ugly!" He then laughed at my nearly stopped, puzzled self, and then rode off! Of course this whole exchange was broadcast over the radios of all the organizers, so I got quite the razzing after I finished!

I am not sure. I am dissatisfied with all my biking segments except for the time trial like, bike legs at 24 Hours of Triathlon.

I feel I have made good gains in my biking overall, but still feel very unsatisfied at my time here.

I did this nearly perfectly,until my race number ripped off my race belt on the way out of T2.I was pissed because I had taped the pins on the race belt closed with electrical tape just so the number could not come off. The number was paper, instead of the usual plastic fabric, and it tore; go figure!

Shoes unbuckled, jumped off, carried bike, threw it into rack, helmet off shoes on at same time. Grabbed hat and glasses,racebelt, and RAN!

Nothing, except getting a new race belt.

I felt like my legs were in cement leaving T2. I ran across the park exit right in front of Dick Dime's car. He leaned out and told me to speed it up! I felt pretty wrecked on the way out and figured I must have been running a ten minute pace. I was not a happy camper,and my brain was f*cking with me telling me that this was a hard race. I must have had a low seven minute return, as I resolved to make my legs move on the way back.

I don't know! The 13.1 race distance was a hell of a lot harder, but I had more focus and resolve to do that, than the tiny little training run distance yesterday! I think it's all about being "in the race" mentally.

Felt like sh*t after the race, and staggered around for a few minutes,drank water, Gatorade, and more water. Within half an hour, I was on a massage table in our club's tent, and started feeling much better. The massage on my legs was like nirvana! Afterwards, I sat and congratulated all my club buddies on winning all kinds of medals for their great performances.


My head.


This is a great local race, except for the pool swim. I will likely do it again,but have to prepare more for it, mentally and physically.

I am quite unimpressed by my swim, my bike, and my run (although I salvaged the run),but I was eight minutes faster than last year, and nearly executed my plan to shave ten minutes off.

*Full race details came out today 9/10/07 and I was 16th out of 42 vs 24 of 45 in my age group so I am a little happier about my race.