Was quickly checked in, marked up and on my way to the transition area. To my dismay, it was all pre-planned where you were stationed (I could have slept an extra half hour)... Luckily I was on the end of an aisle! Got the bike setup, unpacked, hit the restrooms and went for a quick warm up run off about a half mile... Didn't have much time since I wanted to warm up in the water too...
https://connect.garmin.com/modern/activity/1292279343
This was the longest part of the morning.... Waiting... About 40 minutes before I got into the water... They wave people in to the pool in groups of 4... It took forever, but I got the logic. It was cool seeing the super fast swimmers easily get through the swim... I on the other hand struggled... Got hit and kicked quite a bit... This kept throwing me off and stopping me dead in my tracks. I was exhausted by the end of the swim... Thank goodness I could walk a bit at the end...
https://connect.garmin.com/modern/activity/1292443332
Transition I thought was good, but my friend Amanda thinks I stopped for breakfast... So I guess that's an area of improvement if I do this again...
The bike... Oh my... I hit it hard... I tried to barrel through like nobody's business... And for the most part I did... I think I easily beat my friend Randy's mph prediction... He predicted 18 mph... I was at 18.7!
https://connect.garmin.com/modern/activity/1292746748
Transition from the bike to run was better than I thought... Since you have to dismount while in the transition area, my legs had a chance to loosen up and I had the bike to help keep me upright as I ran to park the bike. Funny part of this transition... Left my helmet on as I started to run.. A very nice volunteer noticed it still on my head and took it back to my station... LMAO...
The run... Was not as miserable as my trial... I felt good and I pushed it hard... First two miles were in the low 7's and the lady was sub 7! The highlight of the final mile was seeing my familyI unfortunately did not get a pic with my family) and then two friends from work who came to cheer me on....
https://connect.garmin.com/modern/activity/1292746998
It was EPIC!
Saw Jenny and Keith Browning, friends from the Glen Ellyn Running group, after the finish! Always great to see them!
Then like a good grasshopper, I came home per Amanda's recommendation and ran 8 to compensate for missing my long run.... It was a exhausting, but awesome day!
https://connect.garmin.com/modern/activity/129299396