.5 mile swim(pool), 12mi. bike, 5k run.
i astounded myself with a 15 min swim. i was planning for 18 AND after one or two laps i thought i was gonna drown. never swam in a pool with others like that, the washing machine effect had water going in my mouth with every breath! i tried everything i could think of to prevent it. with around five laps to go i felt like hurling, i figured from the water in my gut, but also thought maybe my effort was to much so i eased up. i went "smooth", slow and smooth as has been said here so many times.

i hadn't finalized my plan for the bike. i swam shirtless, it was low fifties with rain. i had an underarmour shirt rolled and ready on my bars. i struggled a bit to get in the sleeves, when i couldn't get it down my back i ripped it off and went.
i later found out that i was "the talk of the race"! "he's going without a shirt"!
"he's riding on top of his shoes"! were some of the comments my wife heard.
my computer ride time was 39:29, splits were not available yet and will be emailed.
the run was a gray area. i did not run at all for a week as i had a calf issue, and had no idea if it would trouble me or even prevent me from finishing. i ran almost half the distance with no problems. i didn't get my time and i forgot to put on my watch so i will have to wait on the email for a time.
i finished 2nd in my age group!
this is the second year of the Gatlinburg Gateway Triathlon. I hope that the it continues to grow and develop as this area desperately needs these types of events.