I screwed up in my thinking. I was set to start from the same area as my warm-up, but people were going around me to the strarting line and Billy had been pushed left, so I moved right and when I started I compensated a little right. On breath to my right I thought I saw a boat heading toward me, but it was the boat tied up beside the start, I had swam diagonally to the right, towards a spot Billy's swim coach had warned us to avoid!

When I corrected I found Billy, which I did not expect, he had swallowed water on his 1st breath, so now the pack was leaving both of us behind. We didn't panick and took it easy getting to the area protected from the wind. The swim actually felt good, but I'm amazed how easily our wave left us. I did get to draft on some of the other waves as they passed me.

Even though he'll read this, I have too admit, once we were heading for the left turn I had gotten ahead of Billy. I stopped to look a couple of times and then decided I would try to beat him to the ladders. Unfortunately, he took the turn much better, I got caught in a current pulling me past the ladders and it took me forever to make the last 75 yards! So good job Billy, you got me! :)

Long barefoot run to transition is included in the time.

Not change my mind at the last second before start.

Maybe I need to practice barefoot running.

My head was not in the race, I think I just took my time. I rinsed my feet before putting socks and shoes on. I even decided to rinse my trishorts some so they wouldn't get too stiff from the salt.

Hurry!

Dead last on the bike. My legs are my limiter, my knees start to hurt if I push a bigger gear. I felt bad when we hit narrow coned ares going up the bridge, I didn't want to hold people up so I kept dodging right at breaks in the cones. One guy complted moved into the right lane to pass me, I hope he didn't get caught.

The roads were very rough for the 1st half, I saw one guy changing a flat and one guy walking his bike. Either the rough road jostled a lot of water bottles loose or all the elites were tossing them at the samer spot.

I thought I was pretty fast for my bike, but a couple of mountain bikes passed me, one with the huge tires and platform pedals. I held the center of my handle bars and got down as aero as I could.

The downhill on Oleander was better pavement, but cars were pulling into and out of driveways making things a little dicey. This is where I gave up on my 16 mph average, I was averaging just over 15 and counting on this portion to get over it. When the wind slowed me down even on the downhill I wimped out and decided to save myself for the run.

I dismounted well, not leaping out of my shoes, but I took one leg off, coasted to the line and slammed on the breaksrotating my body and foot out of the remaining pedal.

Get a new bike. Bike more leading up to the race. I had missed too many bike workouts as it started getting dark sooner. I'll have to get an indoor trainer too.

I was diappointed with the bike and was just aiming to finish.

Don't quit, hurry.

At the start of my run I saw my wife screaming encouragement and felt better, then I looked at my watch and realized that I could still finish in under 2 hours and felt much better.

My legs were not as excited as I was, but they came around. Billy said he looked for me at the turn around, but I didn't look for him. It didn't even occur to me during the race. I knew he was long gone. But I was going to make my overall ammended goal so I was still smiling. Around the back half of the course I picked it up a little. I had walked through the 1st water station and walking through the second I realized I had too much fluid in my stomach, so I dumped the cup on my head and started running. I accelerated slowly, but steadily the rest of the race. I commented to someone that it was time to let it all hang out, but I'm think I could have pushed harder.

I need to work on my speed and form. I also need to finish more exhausted.

No warm down, although after hugging family and friends and having a couple pictures taken I did go off to transition where I stretched before packing my stuff.


My legs are not strong enough, I need to do some serious strength training. It was not my cold, at least not physically. I actually felt pretty good once the hacking was done before the swim. It was the thought of the cold, I was worried during the week, when I was feeling worse, that I would not finish, so I kept holding back during the race, saving to make sure I could at least walk accross the finish line.


The swim is the best part of this race. Its a very crowded race, but I talk to more people at smaller races. Its tough to get there early enough. I will do this race again because of the swim.