The course was set up as a triangle. We started wide right, swam out to a point and back. I think the way out was a little longer or I started too wide because coming home felt a lot quicker. This was certainly the most aggressive I've been in the water. I was at the front of the pack as we took off into the water, I did one dolphin dive and then started swimming. There was one break away group and I felt like I was at the head of the peloton chasing them. I was pushing pretty hard and hit a touch of panic right around the turn around. I fought off the urge to flip on my back. I felt like I was starting to gasp a little bit, but it passed and I went pretty solid back home, probably with a touch more ease. I did push at the end to pass someone because he was pinning me against the buoys. I hit two of them with my arm coming in so I had to get by him.

Running up the beach, around the restrooms and into transition in the parking lot.

This is supposed to be a 10.2 mile course, but my watch shows it at more like 10.4 which give me a 21.2mph average. This is billed as a "pancake flat" course, but I don't agree. There are certainly some gradual inclines. The thing I would say about this race is that I really felt like I was putting a lot into the bike and not getting much back out. I don't know if it was the heat or what, but I felt like I was in slow motion sometimes. I was talking to a guy in transition afterwards and we looked at his Garmin for the course profile and it is more like a hump with 190 feet in change of elevation. He said that is probably getting pretty close to being called a rolling course. Either way, if I can go 20mph or more I won't complain too much.

Pretty non eventful transition. I did drop my sunglasses coming into transition, but the person behind me grabbed them and got them to me. Thanks!

This is officially a 7:27 pace, but the course is long. Everyone says it is actually a 3.25 mile course which is right about what my watch has. That would give me a very slightly better 7:22 pace. I can give excuses if you like. It was hot and humid. I did get those side cramps again, not sure what is up with that either. I didn't really get my legs back until about 1 mile in or so but I just didn't have it. I remember seeing the 1 mile marker and I couldn't believe it. It felt like forever. I think I just have to dig a little deeper on these runs.

Got get better running off the bike

Nothing felt better than wading into the lake post race. It felt 10 degrees cooler than pre race and amazing!