First, let me start off by saying this. The Nation's Triathlon is exactly what they proclaim; "A world class city, a world class triathlon". The promoters of this event, which is only in it's 3rd year, has this event down pat. With roughly 3500 participants, this event went as well as it could have possibly gone. I was thinking with this many participants, the transitions, staging, and starting area would be crammed, not so. About the only complaint that I could see, although didn't affect me, would've been a lack in restroom facilities.

Ok, here we go. Nearly six months of training for my big "A" race and my time to shine was here. My Goal: 2hrs 30mins. I arrive in DC on Friday evening in great health and even better spirits. After breakfast in bed on Saturday, my full belly compels me to go back to sleep for another hour and a half. After waking up and going downstairs for packet pick-up it was time to bring my bike down to the transition area. After asking someone how far it was from the hotel and being told it was "about 2 miles" we and another couple decided to walk our bikes down with our significant others. Well after about an hour and 15 minutes we had determined we were actually about 5 miles away. After racking our bikes, we all decided we would take in the sites and just walk back to the hotel, passing the memorials. Mistake #1. As if a 5 mile walk in the 92+ degree wasn't a good idea a day before the race, lets just double it and stay out in the heat for 5+ hours with a 10 mile walk and lets top that off with an icy cold brew (Mistake#2) when we get back to the hotel bar and grill. After eating, downing a beer and a water we head back to the room to relax. Dinner time comes and again I find myself walking to find a nice Italian joint to do a little carb loading, which I do, and also enjoy a glass of red wine (mistake #3). So what did this great day of taking in the city cost me on Sunday? Well about 30 or so minutes.

SWIM: It's announced the water is at 77 degrees, wetsuit legal. I jump in the water, wetsuit on, horn blows, I'm off! Halfway to the bridge (about 400m) and holy crap I'm out front and feeling pretty good considering I pushed myself a little faster than my normal pace. That was the highlight of my race. Cause in a flash I went from 1st to getting passed by the next wave! The pain in my ribs told me this was now going to turn into a long day on the course. After alternating between breast and free for the remaining 1100m, I was out of the water and into transition in a ridiculous 31:14.
BIKE: After the cramping during the swim, I hopped on my bike with hopes of possible recovering while keeping a decent pace. Well after mile 2 passed, my first leg cramp decided to kick in. Lets just say the remaining 22 miles went without a enjoyable expression on my face between the pedaling and stand-up hip thrusts. The only pain free moments I had were after a GU and water intake which lasted only minutes. Out and in in exactly 1:18:00 (Note: this is a great bike course, outside the technical first 4 or so miles through the city, it turns into a fully shaded straight shot and back)
RUN: Feeling like crap, and debating whether to continue, I dig deep to give the run a shot. I take off out of transition in my normal small step, high turnover pace to get my run legs to take. Except they never did, the first attempt at about the 1/2 mile mark I try to extend my stride only to have my hamstring clinch up into a knot. I take a minute to stretch it out and then continue on a horrendously slow pace. Every 1/4 mile or so I try to extend only to have the same cramp hit me, so decided to quit trying to extend my pace after the second mile. After 6.2 miles, 3 more GU's and 6 cups of powerade, I crossed the finish line in 1:06:50 run split. Yes, people that's a 10:47 min/mile!

Total time: 3:01:21

So after crossing the finish line with sheer disappointment written across my face, I take off my race chip, have my medal put over my head, grab a water and powerade and head off to the side in disgust, only to have my girlfriend come running up to me to give me a kiss and to tell me how proud of me she was! She obviously knew I was disappointed with my time and told me that it wasn't about the time, but about finishing. She pointed out that I could have quit after the bike, but I didn't. That it wasn't all the hard work I did training for this event, but all the hard work I did in raising 4k for the Leukemia- Lymphoma Society through Team in Training. And told me how my good friend, for whom I did this race, would be proud of me regardless of my time. And she was right! It was just one race and there will be others. But what was important was that I raised money for a good cause, made new friends, and enjoyed a great weekend in a great city!

P.S. I highly recommend this event to everyone! Cause I know I will be one of the first to sign up next year. Redemption will be sweet! :)