I really thought the swim was good. It was long and not having a wetsuit really slowed me down. But I am a really weak swimmer so my expectations were not much. I was able to sight well and swim free the whole way without any breast or back recovery so that was good. I never got off course like I have in the past so I didn't have to deal with that mental aspect of knowign I'm swimming futher than I have too.

swim faster

I planned on taking three enduralytes and some water in T1 which I did. I think I planned on having a Stinger as well, but I have no recollection whether that happened or not. I loaded up my pockets with pills and Stingers, got into my shoes and helmet and heading out.

Not sure yet. My time was good.

I felt great on the bike. I knew the course and I felt I could go fast without burning out because there were fewer and smaller hills than those I usually ride out west of town. I'm not sure if my HR was too high and I wasn't absorbing fluids well or I just drank too much, but I had to pull off for a pit stop around mile 45. Didn't take too long, but I hate stopping and losing time.

I had planned on taking one stinger and 3 Endurolytes every hour, but staggering them in 30 minute segments. I did this and thought it went well (until the run). I also made sure to drink and replace both bottles at the each of the four aid stations. At the last station I had not finished both bottles so I only grabbed a water as I had plenty of gatorade. Seeing as I had to stop to pee, I really wasn't concerned with not having enough fluids. At least I knew my kidneys were in good working order.

I think next time I will take 3 Endurotyes every half hour as the heat was pretty intense and i found out on the run i needed more salt.

did this one fast and took my 3 pills.

nothing

My quads were cramping pretty much from the atart and that lasted all day. I ran through it as best I could but I certainly walked more that I wanted to (which would have been none at all). I knew I was in trouble when I was climbing the last hill on the bike and saw that we had to run up that hill as well. I knew I was really in trouble when I saw a hard-core mutherfucker who was already on that hill and was walking up it.

I don't know where it happened, but I reached for my last 3 pills and the bag had fallen out of my pocket. Luckily they had them at the aid stations and I took them i at 3 stations. 3, 2, and 2.

Wearing a hat was a good idea because I put ice in there to keep me cool. Sticking with a visor would have been a mistake. I never overheated.
I went really slow, but in relation to what the rest of the competitors were doing, I surpised myself and ranked higher on the run than the bike. Usually, my bike rank is a few places higher than the run.

I had some more bladder issues and had to stop at a port-o-can. That was the hottest thing I have ever experienced. I got in and out and didn't cost myself too much time.

Nothing looked better all day than the 12 Mile sign.

More enduralytes. I may have overhydrated becuase of the heat. I guess I would rather do that than underhydrate, but I think that led me to need more salt than I had.

Got the bottle, a towel and a burrito. I held the racks and let the volunteer take my chip off because I thought I would lose my balance trying to do it myself. I really felt fine, except that I was exhausted. The cramping slowly went away as I walked around, but I definitely knew I gave it everything I had.


cramps


Great race. 1st HIM and loved it. Need to do more to improve. I gotta find some that allow wetsuits.