A fresh me before the start:


Exiting the water:


Leaving for bike:


The end:

Looks like you had fun, well done

Awesome. I like how in the first couple you're all perky and happy and lovin' life and in the last you're more, "Don't talk to me, I'm busy!"

Also diggin' the choice of colors. Was thinking about doing something very similar myself. I <3 black and yellow.

Random curiosity: I haven't really noticed anything regarding it, but I just assume you're not allowed to/it isn't a good idea to keep the wetsuit on? You use tri suits, right? Are they sort of like a compression/wetsuit hybrid? Do/can you just wear them the whole event, if you're not worried about getting/staying cold?

Good observation!

Also diggin' the choice of colors. Was thinking about doing something very similar myself. I <3 black and yellow.

Random curiosity: I haven't really noticed anything regarding it, but I just assume you're not allowed to/it isn't a good idea to keep the wetsuit on? You use tri suits, right? Are they sort of like a compression/wetsuit hybrid? Do/can you just wear them the whole event, if you're not worried about getting/staying cold?[/QUOTE]

The purpose of using a wetsuit is: 1. for warmth and 2. for buoyancy.

USAT allows wetsuits with no penalty up to 78F water. A lousy swimmer like me needs every advantage he can get, including a wetsuit. A triathlon wetsuit is very similar to a SCUBA wetsuit but slicker and a little thinner, typically 3/5 mil. Tri suits have no buoyancy and no warmth.

Good swimmers like Sparrow don't need a wetsuit in water that is warm enough (70 - 78F) because they don't need the buoyancy.

If in a tri that has cold air temps, you would need something warm for the run and bike, but a wetsuit would be impractical - too bulky and too warm - but not illegal. Most triathletes would use long pants and long sleeved jerseys if the air temp is too cold.

Ahhh, okay.

I honestly don't even know if I can swim. Good thing we've cold water, eh? I think FF said it's expected to be something like 60-66F for the Ghost Lake 70.3. I guess I will have to use a proper wetsuit, then. Especially if it's free help. I have been paying attention to that part.

How are you as far as heat production? I see you're wearing shorts and a sleeveless shirt, there. For myself I'm thinking it'd be a pretty damn cold day for me to wear anything more than compression shorts and sleeveless (also compression) shirt; I notice FF usually runs pretty well naked. And he and I are similar in terms of sweat output, afaict based on the numbers in his log.

I figure it was either pretty cool or you must be in way better shape than me (and this is obviously the case), or both, because you look considerably less sweaty at the end of your event than I was 5 minutes into my morning cardio.

P.S. Thanks for the excellent informations!

Yeah, FF definitely sweats more than me. The day before in Boulder the temps were in the 50sF and it was raining - nasty! Fortunately, by race day the temps were in the mid-70sF by the time I came out of the water, so sleeveless and shorts were fine.

At my first triathlon, I was worried that the air temps were gonna be in the mid-60sF and I would freeze my @ss off on the bike, so I went shirtless under my wetsuit and put my shirt on after the swim. Big mistake! It is very hard to get a tight shirt on by yourself (no help is allowed) over wet skin.

For cold weather like your Calgary 70.3, I would plan on putting on a loose fitting jersey after the swim that I would keep on throught th erun. If real cold, I would wear long sleeves and long pants. If chilly but warming up, I would wear arm warmers and leg warmers that you can take off later.

Your welcome!

Great post! I think that's the 1st pic I've seen of you since the one of you and FF after a bike even quite a while back. Boy, you've leaned up a lot and even look younger. It's amazing what exercise can do for a person. Thanks for the pics, it was fun to follow from 1 to another. Take care, Greg

yeah looks like you had a blast! made me smile :]]]]] good job!@

Awesome G8r80! Great pics, looking good!

check out!!!

and a new heart to boot!! the man! Bring your camera next weekend for pics.

here is the last time we were together at Suncoast-- nice belly! and a cool scar!



and look at your weight (in the face) the first time we met-- this was about a year or soemthing ago.



or look at this one!



guess I could throw in a 220 or so FF'er!



ok, I;m done.

you really do look incredible! Great job!