Feeling queasy at this point. I ducked my head under water several times to try to get that feeling to go away. It didn't.

I positioned myself to the front-left of the pack. Since we were going counter clockwise, I wasn't trying to go out with the "big boys", but I still wanted to be at the front when it was our turn to go.

Since I was in the second wave, I watched the first wave take off. It absolutely surprised me to see most of the first wave barely past the 100m float when the RD was counting down for the second wave to start. How far was the 100m float? It must have been b/c of all the fighting and bumping at first.

GO!

I just started swimming, trying not to concentrate on anything but a clean, even stroke. I never got comfortable. Too bad. I was really looking forward to a strong swim, but it never happened.

At the 100m mark, I got kicked in the face and my goggles came off. Great. I started treading water, blew my goggles out, repositioned them, then went on.

I was sighting great, but too close to the inside. I was behind too many ppl and I never practice going around ppl in pool. I remember thinking that I needed to get on the outside and pass, but I never did.

I tasted bile/puke/something about halfway and thought, "Oh great, I'm going to blow chunks right in the middle of the course and ppl are going to have to swim right through it!"

At that point, I actually stopped and tried to get my stomach to settle down. I couldn't breaststroke...too much bobbing. I just stopped.

I think I was treading water for a minute, but closer to two, when I finally decided that it was time to go. Puke or no puke, I'm going.

The rest of the swim was fine. I started to catch swimmers that had passed me, and when my hand touched bottom. I sprinted out of the water, past a ton of triathletes that were walking!

I was looking for 12 minutes. Um, not today...

I sprinted out of the water and passed a bunch of ppl that were WALKING up the lengthy path to T1. Maybe they were walking b/c they actually pushed the swim and didn't stop.

Once I got to my bike rack, my head started spinning and I had to hold on or go down. I watched about 15 ppl run by me as I just stood there.

Finally, the dizziness ended and I ran out.

Maybe I wasn't there that long...not all that sure, but it felt like a long time.

Not get dizzy.

I ran out of T1, jumped on my bike, and couldn't clip in. Huh? Slight uphill, but I just couldn't clip in for the life of me. I spent 30 seconds fumbling, but I wasn't the only one. Several others were doing the same. I started to wonder if my balance was off.

Once I finally clipped in, I headed out.I got aero as soon as I could, and started to push it. I ignored my stomach and then decided to sip gatorade. I did and I was ok!

I started to push it started passing ppl. Then, at mile 4, strong female cyclist just blew by me. Then the next one, then the next one. I was going as hard as I could and it was as though I was standing still. Holy cow! They were fast!

Some d00d in compression socks passed me. I then got right on his butt, but far enough out of the draft zone, and passed him back. We played leap frog for the next 2 or 3 miles, until I finally passed him for good.

I have to say he played it fair. Every time I passed him, he'd drop back the required 3 bike lengths. I did the same.

I also played leap frog with a 35 year old female cyclist, but pulled away on a hill.

At the 8 mile mark, I got passed by what seemed like a peloton of riders. It really surprised me that they were flagrantly violating the no draft rules. There were about 10 of them and I was really pissed. I didn't drop back when they passed me, and then we came up on a right hand turn, I passed half of them back...

These guys weren't playing by the rules.

The last mile, I started to push it again and passed a bunch of ppl in the last .20 mile. They were all slowing down and I wasn't. I slammed on the brakes right at the dismount line (almost went over) and then sprinted into T2.

Goal was 33 mins, but considering the circumstances, I was happy with the result.

Fast T2. Top 10 overall, I think.

I ran in, racked my bike, put running shoes on, and took out. I was in and out.

I did slam into the back of a guy that was running out slow. I meant to go around him, but he must have heard me behind and tried to get out of the way. Spacing between racks was minimal, and he kind of went to the same side I tried to pass him on. It was all good, though.

Nothing. I ran in and out, fast. Goal for T1 and T2 was 2 mins. I was right on.

I started the run and knew I wouldn't be doing squat. I just didn't feel good enough to pump out a good run. I'm glad I was able to keep it under 7 min miles, but I was hoping for low 6s.

Towards the turnaround, I almost stopped. I must have hit a 9min/mile pace for a little, while I recovered.

The last quarter mile, I sprinted it in. If I puke, I puke.

Goal was less than 20 mins. Not happening today.

Walked around and looked for my family.

I avoided food at all cost, but then finally nibbled on some cookies and oranges and some HEED.

My family and I then went down to the beach while waiting on awards.

The loudest cheers of the day came for the 88 year old guy coming in. He was last, but probably the most determined to finish. He made me proud to be out there.


I hate to make excuses. I didn't feel well enough to race well today. Nothing more, nothing less.


Very good race. I'll do it again next year...