June 3

During the week leading up to the first race of the season, I was watching the weather reports like crazy. Early on it called for sun and warmth, then thundershowers, then sun and cool, then rain. I wasn't worried about the bike and run in the rain - it was the temperature of the water I was worried about. I think my bald head makes me susceptible, or maybe I'm just a wimp. A fairly sleepless night saturday night worrying about the lake temp. A car ride getting more and more butterflies worrying about the lake temp. There is a picture of me (!) in the pre race photos (last picture) and I think I'm worrying about the lake temp. After finding my spot and doing the usual preparations and a final pee, I suited up and went to join the others warming up. The shock of getting into the cold water took my breath away. But after a few strokes, the temp seemed to rise and all the worry went away. It really wasn't that bad.
The swim started out well. I've never been able to figure out how to pick a draft, but just before we started I saw a guy behind me and asked if I could make room for him, he said he was going for a diving start from the rocks and I thought he would be a good candidate. He was. I was able to stay with him for about 200 meters around the first turn (my best turn yet) and then the first of the yellow caps broke us up. That was the beginning. My goggles were foggy so I couldn't see the buoys very well. I started going wide to avoid the slower swimmers and then I was so wide I was adding extra distance. Coming back in line was not easy and there seemed to be a wall of yellow caps. I kept running into breast strokers. People usually talk about the washing machine at the start of a race but 500 meters in I couldn't find a way through the slower swimmers. So, while I was hoping for 11:00, I ended up with 
12:33, 1:41/100m.
The transition was not brilliant but no major mishaps. I remembered to take my cap and googles off after I got my arms out of the wetsuit.
1:59
I was pretty happy with my bike leg. I was having lots of fun. Having done a few loops of the course a couple of weeks before, I knew what was coming. The famous 6th line hill didn't make me nervous and I dealt with it fairly well. When I was going up it was pretty bunged up with cyclists so finding a line was a little tricky. I had forgotten my HR monitor at home (all my lists and double checking and I forgot my HRM!) so I'm not sure what the effort cost me but I wasn't shattered at all. I geared up and kept moving. I like rollers. I seem to be able to gain places on the downhill portion and not lose too many places on the uphill. Then I got to the 6th line downhill and had a very scary moment. I hit 71 kph and got caught by a crosswind that darn near took my bike with it. The front wheel started to shake trying to keep the line, I broke lightly and regained control. But it left me a little rattled.
54:45 32.9 kph
Transition
1:15
I was in very good spirits on the run. It took me a kilometer or so to find my legs but I didn't push it and waited patiently for them to come around. I'm not sure of my splits per k but I'm pretty sure each was faster than the last one. The downhills on the way home helped but I felt quite strong. I'm not really happy with the shoes I recently bought. I have been running with Saucony and have loved them but they changed their design and the don't fit as well so I got Nike and I don't really like them. Anyway, my orthodics that I wear don't fit in the shoe properly and they slap when I'm running. A little embarrassing and people could hear me coming from miles away.
34:50 4:39 per k pace.

All in all I was very happy with my result 15/58 in AG, 116 overall with a time of 
1:45:20.

My goal was 1:45. I beat my last time by nearly 7 minutes.

I was very happy to have met Syd and to be able to thank him for the training plan. It seems to be paying off!