I felt really easy in the water, and thought I was swimming well and at my usual pace. I did just a little zig zag, and tended just a bit to swim to my left, which was interesting when a girl who was passing me kept swimming to her right and trying to climb over me, I finally just gave her a gentle push (away not down). I tried to draft off of several folks who passed me, and did ok for a while on each, but the water was very murky, you could see just almost to your finger tips. I could feel the draft, but with each they either veered off or I did. I stopped to clear my goggles after the turn - what a wonderful thing. Sighting was pretty good although coming back into the sun I admit mostly I was following the croud and keeping an eye on the shore as well. I thought I swam pretty straight. I could have swum quite a bit harder, but just wanted to take it easy and conserve energy for the bike and run, which I did.

At this distance, perhaps push it a bit more. Practice sighting more. Get more group OWS experience?

I had a great rack spot, and the transition practice paid off. We even had to put on our number before the bike.
Putting my riding gloves in bento box, worked well again.

I think I'll practice with helmet on handle bars instead of ground, it might be easier, and a few seconds faster.

I thought I had a very good ride. I felt pretty strong going out against the wind, and at the same time didn't push it too hard. I had good energy coming back and did not have to sacrifice speed on the down wind leg. Coming back into the park was a little tough to turn back into the wind, and it seemed a little long, especially after riding 22 - 24 mph with the wind. But I thought I rode it well and did not push it so hard that I couldn't run. I rode comfortably in the drops going against the wind. I used the hand up water bottle to soak myself down and that worked well. Helped me stay cool.

With all the riding I've been doing I'm a little dissappointed with my time compared to last year, and my overall rank. It was quite a bit windier this year, but everyone had the same wind.

Probably due to all of Jack's comments about how hot it was going to be and about dehydration, I think I drank just a little bit too much. Took a gel at 45 min, then just past the turn around, then again just before dismount. Nutrition was very good - except for perhaps a bit much fluid, either before or during the ride.

I'm learning to judge my effort by how hard I'm breathing and I think I pretty well rode the race the way I wanted to. Just wish I was stronger/faster

Train to ride faster and stronger. - do not re run last year's race but ride the conditions that are there on race day. I think I did ok on this, but I was anticipating where the wind would be rather than just go with feel.
don't overdrink before the race.
Perhaps I need to get a tri bike?

This was a pretty good transition. I did have to take one running shoe off to re do the sock, but I think that was a good decision. I did not get one of my bike shoes all the way undone, and struggled for a second getting it off. The second one was fine. Stayed pretty focused. I remembered to douse myself with my extra water bottle before heading out on the run. having the socks prepared in the shoes worked very well again. The short socks worked well in T2 and fine on the run

open running shoe all the way.

It felt like a very good run. The first 1.5 miles I was stiff but after that loosened up pretty well. In the Tall City sprint a lady named Kim was just in front of me at the TT style start and we chatted. At about three miles I heard her talking to the guy behind me. She caught me shortly and we ran together for 5 minutes or so and chatted. It's fun when you make a new Tri friend. I walked through each aide station and took two glasses of cool water, one to drink and the other to dump on myself. What a difference that makes. I did it right from T2. After the turn around, I caught a young fellow from El Paso. He had a story! First it was his very first triathlon. He was doing pretty well, but somehow he had managed to leave all his tri stuff in the trunk of his rental car in AUSTIN! That's 4.5 hrs away. so he had just gone to the local shop and bought new clothes, shoes, helmet etc. He was getting blisters from running in new shoes. Bummer.I ran with him taking it easy and chatting for about a mile. I did pick up the pace just a little after ~1/2 and he kept up. At ~ 2.5 miles out I picked up the pace and he couldn't hang any longer, but it was fun running with him. I ran pretty much a tempo pace for the last 2.5 miles and still had enough in the tank to "sprint" to the finish. I finished strong but don't think I could have run another 100 yards. Perfect pacing for me. run my race, run my pace. - for a while he drafted off me - I was amused

I'm not sure why my time is longer. I felt much stronger, and picked up the pace at 3.5 miles and ran the race I wanted to. Just was slower than last year?? It certainly felt better.

Bricks? to get early run better? Run more. Take nutrition??

eat a bagle, walk around a bit - got in the river and cooled off - swam a couple of 100 yards a couple of times.


Wind / training.