Toyota U.S. Open Triathlon Olympic - TriathlonOlympic

While waiting in the corral for the swim start, I remember that I forgot to take off my wedding ring - with the cold water it is coming off for sure... I unzip my wetsuit, put it in the little pocket inside and go to zip back up. I pull the zipper and the whole zipper piece comes off. A guy behind me tried to get it back together. He ended up getting it zipped up (mostly) but the zipper was pretty much locked down at that point.

On to the swim. Got going just fine, first 200yds or so was good stroke wise, then it started to go down hill. Water was seepign through into my googgles and the lake was choppy further out and it was pushing me around some. Add to that the fact that apparently I can not swim more than 3 strokes before I am serouisly headed in the wrong direction. The rest of the swim consisted of freestyle for a few strokes and then popping up to sight with breast stroke and then repeating.

I was dissappointed in my swim, I know I was slow, but it ended up taking me about 15-20minutes longer to complete than I thought it would. 3:00/100 is not acceptable! I need swim lessons. I need OWS lessons as well...

Zipper completely stuck on wetsuit. Tried to unzip it, but the zipper just came off again. Was finally able to do the Arnold Schwarzennegger double biceps flex move to pop open the zipper in the back. Finally got out of wetsuit. Everything was wet so getting into the socks and two shirts (it was chilly...) took a second. Also had to pack everything into transition bag so it could be transported to finish line.

Not have a wetsuit that breaks before the race... Also, I have only raced in warm weather - if I am going to race in cooler weather then I need some of those sleeve thingys or a jacket - that would have helped.

Can I say how bad the roads sucked? Dallas City government is a complete failure at maintaing roads - if I lived in the city I would be pi$$ed to pay taxes to drive on roads like that (much less bike).

Took me about two miles to start get comfortable on the bike. Felt pretty good coming across the dam. The short uphill was not bad. Downhill and around the corner was good. Then started the uphill. I was actually passing people going up the hill - I felt great! The hill work from the summer was paying off some! Chain droped on the way up - I put it back on and continued motoring up the hill at a stunning 8mph... At least I wasna't weaving around like some.

Started making good progress after the hill - I was going to be right on my 16-17mph pace goal...

Then it happened - about five miles out - the flat from hell... I wrestled with my tire in the wet and cold for 20 minutes if not a little longer. Hey guess what happens when you use CO2 in wet, misting, humid conditions? It freezes the stupid tool to the valve stem... I watched hordes of people pass me by... All could think of was the IM when Norman Stadler melted down... I am now solidily in the back of the pack... When I started riding again, I felt pretty strong (mostly due to the extended tire changing session...) although my lower back seemed to be tightening up.

Not have a flat. I have practiced changing flats, but being on the course in bad conditions is not the same as changing the tire in the garage or front lawn. I hadn't practiced changing a tire since I got my new tires either - they were on much tighter than the last ones...

A couple of people were already packign up T2 when I showed up... I didn't rush I even stopped at the port o potty before exiting transition.

Move faster, not stop to pee...

My pacing was right where I thought it would be. It was a lonely run. At first I saw lots of people coming back against me and there were several in front of me. That all changed after I passed the 5k turnaround. My back was definitely tightening up so I could run about a quarter of mile, walk for a little and try to stretch my lower back and then go again. Not the best way to do a run, but it got done. Without the back issues, I think I would have been able to hold an ten minute pace instead of the 11.5

Not much, I was relatively happy with the run.

Walked around a little - went and claimed my free beer! Checked out a couple of tents with my buddy Johnny who came to cheer me on! Thanks buddy!

Later that day I put on a Greek brunch feed bag and then did 20min spin and hot tub....


Too numerous to mention here... Actually I was not far off my plan except for the swim and the worlds longest flat changing experience.


Overall good race, good schwag... Great to see the pros! I will do this one again... Hopefully Dallas fixes the stupid roads... It would be sad to lose the a world class competition because of road conditions!