ironguides

After we chatted I went to the race site at 5am. It's a 15-minute drive and I was one of the first ones there (my family went in the other car later as I wasn't going to wake people up and wait for them), so I had time to calibrate my tires and set my stuff. This included being able to visit clean bathrooms, have a thorough warm-up and go to the starting line (in this case bridge) in plenty of time.

By 7:06 sharp off we went and I was really glad that I have been swimming ironguides style, and that I no longer practice a long glide in the water -- there was a strong current against us so I moved through the water real well with my stronger, higher arm turnover.

To my surprise I started to pass people ( I decided not to turn on my chronograph) and gave my best when I came out of the water. I was feeling great so I actually ran to T1. It was a long transition, close to 500 meters run out of the park. I got on my bike and as you recommended me I just went at it until it started to hurt!

The first 10k were with a tail wind so I was very fast (by the way it didn't rain but it was nice and overcast so it was cool). At the turning point I was passed by this guy that I know is faster than me so I just hung in there and kept him in sight for the rest of the 10k against the wind. We were going very fast but at T2 I had to veer away since this guy was in another category.

I did a longer transition but well now that I went out of T2 I felt a little tight the first 300-400 meters, but after that I started pushing and I felt great with not many people passing me, and me passing some people! At the turn point I pushed a little more and by the end I was still feeling very good!!

As I told you this was the first race that I actually raced and didn't just hang in there for dear life on the run!! Bottom line, it took me 1:30:40 to finish -- the splits I don't know as they didn't have them in the preliminary results -- but I was 22nd in my age group (40-49) and 110th male overall, and 137 overall  included the relays I think!!

As you see for me this was a great improvement going from being a back of the pack triathlete to being a mid pack guy (the first sprint that I did before joining ironguides on January 25th I was not the last but I was ahead of only 2 overweight ladies and one guy who was fatter than me) for which I'm so happy now. I'd like to acknowledge the fact that I have been so well trained by you!! So thanks and I hope we will continue to see improvements in the future!!! I'm so glad I found ironguides!!!

Thanks again!

- Felix Jaber, Mexico