So will start the Thursday before the race. Went to see Dr. Bryan and he gave me the green to go on the foot so that's a good way to start out. Friday we left for Galveston,had a nice ride we listened to a book on the way down. Got there checked in to or motel (5 min. from race site) got our swim stuff went to race site. Hooked up with our fellow torpedo's, got into the suite,second time to do this,it was faster this time. We got in and swam the sprint course ,water was said to be 64, felt better than at Benbrook the Sunday before. Everyone said that they were wobbly when getting out and it was because of the sea and water in their ears. I just thought that was the way it always feels,they said earplugs would fix that and it would keep you warmer. The suite feels real tight but man you float great and I need all the help I can get in the water. I feel better about this deal,but am still kinda worried. We walk around a bit then go to eat, we ate Mexican,nothing real heavy duty though. Went back to room lay around watched some TV crashed. Sat.morning we got up ran into Jackie &his wife and Linda at breakfast(mini wheat,apple strudel,juice,coffee) we talk it up a bit and decide we are going to do our last brick very soon and not wait till later. We ride down the bike course 15 min and back and I run down to transition and back. It was kinda windy but not to bad,warm and humid but that's what I expected. We ate lunch (subway) then go down to the race site for the pre race meeting,bla,bla,bla, the whole time the meetings going on Am looking at the markers on the swim,they have put out the half markers and it looks like you swim across the bay and go from one end to the other,I know I can do it but am getting alittle pumped looking at it. We then do alittle shopping,talking ect. We then go and drive the bike course, it just out and back with a loop at the end it took a long time to drive. We find the wall mart and get some ear plugs,by now it afternoon,we want to eat early so we pull into Chile's I had a chicken salad some bread don't remember what Darla had getting kinda freaked but I try to act cool because I know it will pass. We get back to the room and go to getting every thing packed,mixed,ready for the am.
I have a hard time sleeping I kinda have a sore throat,ears,head thing that started Friday night,I go threw in my head how ever thing is to go down. We wake up start getting ready,Darla says it raining out but before you know it we are down at the race. When we are walking up to the check in for some reason I loose the nerves and feel like I was ready to go. We have to wait and wait to get into the water Its fun to watch everyone and take in the feel, I love the smell of neoprene in the morning, It feels like victory. Anyway I digress, we get in the water and swim.
The swim goes like the other open water swims but longer,I am always at the back with all the wacko swimmers. For some reason I have a feeling of just being happy to be out swimming,this happens on the bike and the run. It's a good feeling and I have only experienced this on long training runs like 6 hours or so it feels like you could go all day. About halfway in the swim I feel the suite rubbing my neck,so I make a point of not raising my head as high,also I find that my right arm is restricted and have to work at getting it up and out there to stroke. I swim wide and come in on the corners just the way it worked out. Getting out of the water I don't wobble and the swim felt just about right as far as temp. It was a good thing to get the ear plugs they worked. Had real hard time getting my arms out of the suite but did and went to T1 felt good put on gloves,socks,tri top,ect. no problem. I think most were out on bike when I left,didn't look around allot saw and talked to Linda, and a couple of guys racked next to me. Out on the ride was alone stayed in HR zone as best as I could had alittle cross wind but was looking forward to having it at my back on way back. After I had rode a while started drinking and gels at around 10miles I think the first guy came by I felt like I was going slow but I knew not to mess with the ride my goal was to finish so I just tried to stay down and wait. Had a couple of bad spots at the end/turn around loops but wasn't to bad. I don't know if it was the saltwater or what but started feeling bloated,alittle queasy,and like I needed to pee the whole time. Stopped at the last turn aide station change to another 22 oz. 2hour bottle,I also drank about 16 oz.cold water it was really good, went to port a jon and had a pee, felt better. On the way back the wind got stronger and stronger(forgot saw Ricci and Susan they were all up and happy,it was at a bad spot so it made me feel better as they were working hard and Susan had a broken toe thing) started picking up riders at about 15-20 to go then more at 10 miles by then the wind was just stupid hard came up on Darla she was hanging tuff and not to happy with the wind. Finished the ride and was glad to get off the bike. Note to self/self do not ride long again in tri short/need more pad and buy some bike shoe not mountain bike shoes. Did T2 and started the run,legs felt good no problem at all with legs. Stayed in HR first two of the four laps were easy. Third lap the bloat was getting bad all I wanted was water but it made it worse. Saw all the crew on the run they seem real up beat but you could tell they were hurting. On the last lap with maybe 1/2 mile to go I hit the port a jon and you would have thought some one had punched a hole in a hot air balloon I don't know if it was me are the wind out side but the port a jon was rocking. After evacuation I felt like a new man was able to run in strong to the finish. Stuck around to enjoy seeing the rest of our group finish strong and that was it. Things I learned ear plugs,thicker shorts, better fitting wet suite,better bike shoes and have good people around for support.