Firstly i'd like to thank everyone here as well as everyone on my team for helping me discover this amazing sport and letting me accomplish things that I never thought I'd be capable. This is my last race this season, but what a first season (1st race ever was a half marathon that i got 2nd in my ag, followed by a duathlon, then a aquathlon, sprint tri, 1st Olympic (lake havasu), and this final capstone race).

The day before the race our team does a nice easy bike ride scoping out some of the bike and run course, and test the waters. Much to my dismay I discover that glass + bike tires = bad, so I have to buy 2 brand new tires, great there goes the change nothing race day idea. Oh well.

Race day:
A few of my teammates and I decide to bike to the transition area from our hotel and it is a beautiful ride in the cool Alabama morning. I get to transition area and this is the first race I've been in where slots are assigned and there are these board things that hold a wheel instead of the usual handle bar racks, but no big deal. Reaching for my googles which were the last thing in my bag they get caught on something inside and strap snaps, OH @#%! I frantically start asking teammates if they have a extra and luckily someone did (lesson learned bring 2 pairs from now on). I get my wetsuit on and get near the entrance to the lake. I see the first wave take off and the lead swimmer finish (who finished the swim in 15:?? low though very low). Ok its my turn, don't freak out is pretty much the only thing i can think about. I'm pleasantly surprised by the water temp, and swim out to the start area. When our wave starts I take it easy hanging out in the back of the pack remembering that in my last Oly distance I felt like I was going to drown about half way through. But the further I get in the swim the more I realize hey wait a minute i'm fine, and im actually passing people! So for the last half of the swim I kick it up a notch (for me atleast) and exit the swim 29:21. T1 goes well and I have no major issues and im out on the bike course. Unfortunately I'm really slow on the bike but the for me it goes quite well, I feel like I make good time and maintain good nutrition out there. At T2 I was almost way and then I remembered i forgot to get anything to drink so I turn around really quick before I leave (which probably cost me 20-30sec =( ). The run course was great with only one set of hills I wasn't expecting. At my last tri I had to walk 50-60% of the run due my back seizing up and that was thankfully not present this race! The hardest hill on the course at about mile 3 on the run course was tough but great, I got a little to eager on attacking one section and was forced to walk for a few minutes, but was back at it soon. The run finished on the heart of the U of Alabama campus which was just great.

All in all my best tri ever and as always I learned a ton! For me its the off season but I plan on biking a lot to try and develop those muscles and techniques better. My goal was sub 3 hours and was able to beat that and from there I only plan on improving. The best part of this race was the sense of comradely, no matter what team people were from they were always cheering on people, it was just truly amazing. The afterparty was great too but I think thats for a different forum =p

My official times =)
S 0:29:21 ,T1 0:02:14, B 1:25:59, T2 0:01:27, R 0:52:05,F 2:51:06