I had blanked the tri out of my mind, but I think I can remember a few choice items.

Overall Comment I agree with the race management and marketing team when they say that the Nation's Triathlon will grow to a big, national level competition. The growth certainly been visible over the initial three years of the race. Last year there were a little over 1000 athletes while this year there were 3500. Moving the transition area now allows for even more growth. Another positive aspect of the race is the DC venue. How can an athlete resist racing down Constitution and Pennsylvania avenues which has been closed to traffic? All of this done in the shadow of the Washington Monument. However, that is where the big positives stop and the big negatives begin. I do think the race will grow, but there will not be that many repeat triathletes except for the mayor who does not have to put up all the logistics limitations the rest of us endure. DC is not a friendly place to drive or park and when you are required to attend pre-race meetings and hike to and from the transition area, the allure of racing in DC soon dissipates. I recommend all local area triathletes do the Nation's Triathlon. I've done it for each of the three years it has been held. I will not do it again. Too many pre- and post- race hassles.

By the way, if Mayor Fenty doesn't make it back into office after the next election, the race is toast unless they can muster some big heavy lifters in the DC government.

Swim Very deceiving swim. Many folks think the Potomac is not safe for swimming, but I have found it not to be a problem at all. Getting into and out of the river via the floating platforms is unique, but works fine. Swimming under and around Memorial Bridge is cool when you think about it. Right? My time was 36 minutes. I could have sworn I was doing at least a 34 minute swim.

Bike Actually a great course. Only slightly hilly given that the race management could have made the course really bumpy. We toured the Mall, Rock Creek Park, Georgetown and C&O Canal. Again, pretty cool. My bike race went very well. I got into a group of 4-5 racers that kept passing each other. It is the first time I traded positions within a group like that and must say it was a lot of fun. We went at each other for over 20 miles. They helped me get a 20.3 mph average. This was the best part of the triathlon for me.

Run 63 minutes says it all. By the time I got to the run it was pretty warm. Fortunately, aid stations were only a mile apart and well stocked. I walked the aid stations and grabbed all they offered. Finishing on Pennsylvania Ave is memorable location for a big time race, but it was also about a mile and half from the transition area. I tried waiting on a promised bus, but it never showed up. Just like the previous two years I walked from the finish line to the transition area. After three years of the "missing bus problem", I have resolved not do it again.

Totals: 2 hours 57 min; 5th out of 16 in the M 60-64 age group.