Lessons Learned

A real recap to come later but until then this is what I learned yesterday during the race:

1. Spend more time in the pool the next few weeks before Steelhead. A little more time (i.e. more than one freaking day in the water a week) will have tons of benefits come August 5th.

2. New tri shoes are not conducive to putting on while on the bike. The time saved in transition was not worth it, as the effort and time spent on the bike was ridiculous.

3. Avoid running directly into someone's feet going around buoy's. Slow down around the curves if someone is in your way. You won't gain any speed, especially if you get kicked in the face and have to put your goggles back on.

4. Get tinted goggles. (Clear goggles didn't cut it when the sun was in direct line of sight, good luck finding buoy's or anything else when you are blinded by the sun!)

5. Take it easy on the run. You're going faster than you think.

6. Don't run through sprinklers as tempting as it may be. 4 pound sopping wet shoes are not conducive to running 13 miles.

7. Heat may call for different nutrition strategy. Get out in the heat and figure out what sits well in your stomach.

8. Make sure that chip is on, and if you think it is falling off in the swim oh well. There is nothing you can do about it at that point. Don't waste time checking on it during the swim. Check it in T1. Perhaps a safety pin?