Started out back and to the left side - slow start, then after 200 yards opened it up. Had to swim past a few guys who went out hot, got dunked at the first buoy by a scared swimmer. Held onto a kayak for a few seconds to regain my composure, then swam it in. Had a swimmer from the group behind me pass on my right - she was really moving and created a bit of a chop, just breathed to the left. Sighted every 3-4 strokes, had some issues with fogging towards the end. Would have liked another step on the ladder. Out in 15:30, felt wonderful!

Nothing - best swim this season

1/9 for T1. Goggles/cap/ear plugs and suit unzipped before I left the swim deck. Helmet and shades on, suit off, shoes on and off I went!

Nothing - best T1 this season

Hillier than I remembered - wind to my back going east, but once I hit the second loop return, the gusts really started up. Water bottle flew off at 3.5 mile mark, stopped on the return, dismounted, ran and picked it up. Back on the bike. Second loop had stronger winds, but dealt with it. Had to slip past two riders who were chatting and riding side by side to get up the off ramp, feet out of shoes, ran barefoot into T2.

Not wear the damn compression hose. Tightened down my water bottle between my aero bars.

Best T2 to date

Nothing

Bike racked, helmet off, socks and shoes on. Grabbed an apple/cinnamon Huma gel, got half of it down. Walked up E. 9th hill thanks to cramping calves. Stopped at the first water station, drank 3 cups of Gatorade. Limped along run/walk to 1.25 miles, then stopped and took off compression hose. Instant relief! Jogged up the off ramp and E. 9th, started feeing better at the 2.5 mile mark, ran past the Factory of Sadness and into the finish.

Not wear the compression hose, take it easier on the bike.

RACED to porta potty.

Bottle of water, slice of watermelon, half a bagel. Slim pickins for food.


Compression hose on run.


Stayed until I learned I had placed third in my group, so stuck around for the awards ceremony. Best part was watching the kids and their families cross the finish line - very emotional and it was hard to not get caught up in the moment. Great chatting with other age groupers and their families. Lost Bruce, and ended up walking my bike back to the hotel. Showered, then hit the road to Chicago. Spent the night at the Intercontinental O'Hare - Nirvana!

Happy I did this, happy I finally overcame my fear of the water, SUPER happy to podium. Won't do this race again - fun but I was disappointed that not too many people stuck around to the end, unlike races here in Minneapolis.

Olympic swim course snafu - poor communication about the 'white boat' that swimmers were initially told to sight on - understand that the Coast Guard had an emergency. Maybe next year the race directors will have better luck with this. Hope the racer who went into cardiac arrest is okay.