Awesome race!

 I met up with Brent, Trent, Christian, Todd, & Jim at Conte's around 4:45am. We hit the road and arrived early. I had a good spot in transition and had plenty of time to set up. Actually had extra time to mess around with my buddy Kim, and meet some of the other racers/swimmers that were racing with her (Sean, Haley). This was Kim's first triathlon, and I had her thinking that she'd be the first person in the water....pretty funny. I think she was freakin' out about this until she found out the truth on race morning...priceless!

The swim was a TT start (which I HATE). I jumped in line, got going and was just getting into the grove when the swim was over. My only complaint about this point to point swim was the vegetation in the water. I ended up pulling weeds more so than I did water. Oh well! Everyone had to do it!

I hit T1 and put on my shoes. During the morning walk-through, I noticed there was plenty of sand in my area of the transition, and I didn't want to run bare-footed through all that. So I put my shoes on, ran out of T1, and jumped on my bike ready to roll at the mount line. It didn't take me long to get my HR down, and I was rolling. I was passing people fairly often...which I expected. I usually keep count of how many people pass me, and try to keep it less than 3. I was pushing a low gear, and hammering it pretty hard. The course was an out and back...so I was keeping an eye out for people I knew that started ahead of me (Trent, Kim, Sean, Haley)...and my computer was getting close to 6 miles when I realized I hadn't seen them yet...which meant I was rolling fast. I saw all of them around the same time (except Kim)...and hit the turn around soon after. On the way back in, I passed Kim who didn't look too happy biking/racing...pretty funny (because I recall my first race/painful biking experience). Everything was going well...no one had passed me...and then about 200 yards from the finish, somehow I dropped my chain off the rear lower cog! Even though I'd lose time, I thought about just rolling back into T2, but there was a short hill...well, I HAD to stop, put the chain back on and ride the rest of the way. I probably lost bout 30 total seconds...oh well...still a good bike.

I hit T2, and was out in under a minute. The run was going pretty well for mile 1...then my feet began to hurt. I pushed the remainder of the run and finished fairly strong.

I ended up getting 1st (out of 77 in my division), which I was proud of. But I was even happier with the amount of people afterwards hanging out and socializing. It was good to chat with everyone (Brent, Trent, Lisa, Jim, Christian, Todd, Kim, Sean, Haley, Rico, Brad, anyone else?)! I received a lot of compliments from guys who said that I "flew by them" on the bike...thanks! I appreciate those comments. Everyone finished safe which is first and foremost...I am looking forward to my last two races of the season:

Angel's- Relay, I am doing the bike.

Emerald Point- Sprint, I hope to stay undefeated in the state of Georgia!