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| As we neared the first turn, I started an internal debate on whether to look at my watch. By the time I arrived at the turn, it was a little crowded. Not wanting to screw things up at the corner, I kept swimming through. By the time, I got to the second turn, curiosity got the better of me and I had a look... thirty-five minutes flat! I was totally stoked. This was a huge boost to my confidence and I started to consider being on my bike at 1:15. That was my superstrech goal. By this time, my skinsuit was giving me a bit of chafe around my neck. I should have put a bandage in place or more bodyglide. It didn't hurt but past experience with my wetsuit told me that I would have a little race souvenir on my neck. This sun was shining through the water and I realised that I was going to have a great swim. I continued with my strategy of not drafting and could tell that there were people drafting me. Imagine people drafting me in Hawaii, very cool. I was enjoying the swim but I saw that my pace was slowing as a few lines of swimmers made their way past me. I was really enjoying the swim and didn't mind the time that I was losing by not drafting. Soon the pier was coming into view and before I knew it I was heading up the famous boat ramp that I had watched on video. I stood up and.... felt great. This day was going very well and I was really enjoying myself. Off to the showers, where I drank a bunch of water and rinsed my skinsuit. Then I grabbed my bag on the way to the transition tent. The tent was quite small and very crowded. Given that I had my skinsuit, all I needed to do was grab a few small items out of (and throw my goggles and cap into) my bag. I was out of the tent in less than twenty seconds. Outside, volunteers applied sunscreen while I drank water and Gatorade. After four glasses of fluid I headed to my bike, which was at the back of the lot. They arranged things in reverse alphabetical this year and I got a taste of what Frank Zappa would enjoy if he was a triathlete. I was surprised that there weren't very many bikes left on my rack. ;-) Unclipped my shoes, put them on and headed out of the transition area. Next Page |  The swim start. The water really is that blue. The only limit to how far down you can see, is the light shining into the water. Coming out of the swim. It is the best I have ever felt after an open water swim. |
