This was really tough for me. I wasn't sure I was going to be able to finish it. I really wish I had done some open water swims before today!

Open water swims and then some more open water swims. This was my first open water swim ever. Not a good time for the first one :)

No real problems here. But since this was my first tri I have nothing to compare it to.

I did forget to put my race belt on at first. I had it hanging on my seat and didn't notice it until I had biked about 100 yards. Had to stop and put it on.
Would also put on sunblock. I got burned a little. Fortunately I had a decent base tan from taking the kids to the pool the last 2 weeks or it would have been worse.

It took me about 30 minutes of spinning at the beginning of the bike to get my HR down. I'm most pleased with the bike portion. I could have gone faster but was worried about the run.

Had 2 bottles of Accelrade and 3 accel gel on the bike.

Not much.

Got everything done fine.

Taken my time and let my HR come down a little more.

This was a tough run. I'm used to running half marathons at a 7:45 pace. The first 3 miles I didn't think my running legs would ever come. At each aid-stop (all 13 of them) I walked for about 20 yards and drank gatorade and/or water. I also put a cup of ice inside my hat. Miles 4-10 we pretty good. I wasnt real fast but nice and steady. At the turn around I knew I race going to finish. From the 10 mile marker on I was fading fast. Quads started tightening up and my energy level was close to zero. All I wanted to do was lay down in the shade of somebodys porch and take a nap.

Not much I could do differently

Met up with my wife, 9 kids, Dad and a few other friends. Drank some water and ate some baked ziti and cake.


Lack of open water swims and the heat.


Inspite of my time not being what I wanted I had a blast. This was my first ever Tri and hopefully not the last. I plan to come back next here. Now i need to go find some Open water to train in bye...