Settled in near the middle outside right of the group at the gun. Waded out and kept telling myself to go slow. got into a nice steady rhthym and then got hit in the head and almost knocked my swim mask off. I had to stop and get the water out. I settled down into a nice easy pace concentrated on glide and before I knew it I was passing some of the people that had passed me earlier and I was at the first bouy. Navigation around was ok but I could have swam it a little harder. I continued same pace until the final turn and started to get a little more aggressive with my stroke. I was feeling strong so I continued with a little higher turnover. Overall i felt great about the swim, especially compared to the one in June.

the this point i wouldn't have done too much different. I wouldn't have standed up in the water util I was a little closer to shore at the end.

I must have been a little colder or nervous than I thought. i fumbled the my socks and shoes. It took alot longer than I would have liked to get shoes on, headband, glasses, shirt and helmut on. Sucking down gel pack and accelerade added more time than it should have.

i think experience setting up transition gear will help. having a cycling shirt with gel packs in pockets and waiting until i'm on road to drink might help.

I felt good on the bike throughout. i was passed by alot of riders. I increased my mph form 15.4 in june to 17.0 Pleased with the performance, but I need to get alot stronger on the flats. Only one rider passed me on a hill. Stayed in big gear alot of the time, never in big gear in June.

I think I could have pushed a little harder on some of the hills and the flats and still be able to recover run strong run. I would like to have computer on bike so I would have a better idea on how I'm doing.

Not too bad. having to tie double knot in shoes was frustrating.

get different lacing system for shoes. should have ran with get pack and sucked it as I ran.

I got my legs under me pretty quick. It didn't take a mile before i had an ok pace. 1st mile was probably around 8:30. i was passed by one guy and one girl at the beginning of the run. After them I didn't get passed. got drinks at both stations. slowed almost to a stop at first one and drank most of cup. 2nd mile was fast and breathing inceased. passed alot of people. at the end of mile 2 I saw Tom at the crest of a hill. I pushed hard and came up 2-3 second short at the end. I felt good enough to lengthen strides on decents and allow myself to run fast. on steep climbs I shortened strides dramatically and big increase on turnover. i think the run went great for my current fitness level.

I think utramax puts on awesome events.