I wasn't sure what to expect given my run training has been lax the last few weeks, though good for the last 6 months. I started at a challenging pace, sustaining an ahr of 170 to 175 towards the end, but my running pace dropped off towards the end (there weren't any mile markers so I'm assuming).

Maybe start off a bit slower and build the pace.

5th of 65 overall, 1st of in AG. Had some trouble since the helmet strap got stuck on an aeropad. Lost a few seconds there.

Place the helmet on the aerobar, not pads.

The bike was the big question mark going into this race. I'm in my best physical shape in many years, but I've been concentrating on the swim and run recently with very little bike riding in the last 4 months.

I kept my expectations low, being content to finish around 16 miles an hour. I was afraid to push the pace but also not willing to go too slow. I lost only 3 or 4 places on the bike, mainly on the second half of the ride.

The ride felt surprisingly good.

Ride with a strategy. Maybe take it easier the first half and pick it up the second. I got passed on the second half of the course by a few who I had passed earlier.

I forgot to take my feet out of my shoes before the end of the ride so I ended up running in transition in bike shoes. A rookie mistake...

14th of 65 overall, 3rd of 6 in AG

I need to prepare mentally for T2 during the last few minutes of the ride. I've had a number of poor T2s just from not thinking!

As usual, I beat a number of people (3) who were faster than me on the r/b/r, but slower in transition. But if I didn't mess up T2 I would have placed one place higher...

Felt sluggish the first half mile, then legs started coming back. I didn't have much left in me (bike took too much energy) so the pace seemed slow throughout. I took a wrong turn and lost about 30 seconds... I tried sprinting with a few hundred yards left; it was a noble attempt but I couldn't sustain it more that about 50 yards. I did get motivated the last 25 yards as I heard two runners coming up quick and wasn't about to let them pass me. I turned on the burners and beat them by a step!

I finished 19 minutes faster than last year despite little recent training on the bike. With more bike training I'm sure I'd be a good bit faster.


A nice local race. Mileage markers on the run course would have been nice. Only one water station on the run, and none on the bike, but for December this was fine.