Darrin: check all your measurements, prior to getting yourself into a 58 cm bike. There is a very good chance that is a bit large for you.
This link is a really good fit calculator.
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My RACE Report!!!!!!!!!!
Pre-race
I ended up spending the night at the race site, as I needed to pick my packet up the night before (no day of pick up) and didn't want to drive 2 hours each way, 4x. I got to bed good and early (9:45) as I was a bit sleep deprived, and amazingly fell right to sleep. At 12:17am, the frick'n air conditioner in my room went off and woke me up (it was louder than loud), as it did at 3:34. Both times I thankfully got myself right back to sleep, and actually woke up feeling awesome at 5:00 am (transitions opened at 5:15). I got my morning duties taken care of (twice!), got a shower/shave, and felt rejuvenated, and very ready for the day. I made it to the transition area at 5:50, and learned that they were sorted by race number. Since I was one of the last to register, my slot was near the very end (furthest away from T1 exit/T2 entrance = it sucked!). I got all my gear set-up and a fantastically run-stalking-worthy girl in our shoot put a big pink X with tape at the entrance, and in front of her spot (her's was right next to mine
). This was an awesome trick, as it really helped to find our transition spot. They had the water open for swim from 6:20 to 6:40, so I took a dip in the river which felt more like a bathtub (90 degrees!). Race meeting was from 6:45 to 7:05, and first wave went out at 7:10. The weather was hot and humid (duh, it's Texas in July!).
Swim
The entire course could not have been more beautiful, but the swim course was especially cool! The swim was in the middle of two bridges that crossed the river, which were all lined by spectators yelling and screaming for you (awesome to have inspiration in the water!). The swim was a water start, as the depth of the water was really deep as soon as you got in. Like an idiot I was one of the first one's in our wave (pink caps
) to get into the water. I treaded water for almost 5 minutes (time between waves) and could feel my HR escalating while doing so. Horn went off, and I started very cautiously, as I knew I'd be slower than most. I breast stroked a good 20 meters then started swimming. After about my tenth stroke, somebody literally went right over the top of me, from my blind side (I breathe left only). Unfortunately, it was right while I was taking a breath, and I went under a good foot, with my mouth wide open. I took in a good gallon of the Brazos river (I'm likely poisoned for life!), and could not get myself to stop coughing/gagging. I took a good minute to just tread water, to get back in the race. I kayaker came up to me to see if I was alright, and after trying unsuccessfully to talk to him I just gave a thumb-up. Unfortunately, I was breathing very heavy, and purping (chunks) quite a bit. I spent the next half+ of the 1,500 meter (which is a heck of a lot longer than I remember!!) struggling with breathing. At the last turn of the counter-clockwise course (a big square), I finally started to get some rhythm, but was stuck behind very slow people. I got around them, but in doing so, I also got way off course, prior to getting back on. I got out of the water, with great assistance from volunteers (needed for all), and was disoriented and woozy (which I expected).
My swim time was a pitiful 37:23. I actually thought it would be around 40:00, as it felt that slow. I was thus, more than 2 minutes behind where I wanted to be.
T1
To get from the swim to the transition area required 7 switchbacks which was unfortunately an extremely narrow path. Since I was in the second to the last wave, the only people that were going up the ramps in front of me could have given a rat's ### how quickly they got up. I frustratingly attempted to get around the chunkies ahead of me, but was not very successful. Once I got to the transition area all went really well. I got my socks on (Yes 2Young, I was also sporting the ever cool 2xu sleeves already!) really quickly, and got out of there and on the bike in great shape.
My T1 time was 2:55 which was actually pretty fast considering the obstacles in front of me. Again, I knew I was slow, but didn't know how slow. I was now (unknowingly) almost 3 full minutes behind where I wanted to be. I now knew why last year's times for both transitions were soooo slow.
Bike
The bike course was beautiful. Gently rolling hills, decent pavement except for one stretch (had to go over it twice) of chip seal, and amazing scenery (all country roads, much of it with full canopy cover = shade!). My bike goal was to keep all miles under 3:00 and to average 22.0 MPH, while not overextending myself to help with the run. While I didn't have a HR monitor (I don't have the cool one you have 2Young), I know my HR stayed waaaaay down the entire ride. I felt amazingly great and thoroughly enjoyed all 25 miles (+.2 according to my watch). Only one bike passed me (beautiful Cervelo with disk wheels and a young-buck on it), and I loved passing at least 100 (of course everyone who had speed was waaaaaay out in front of me as they kicked my butt on the swim. I did have 3 miles in a row (into the wind on chip seal) that were 2:58-2:59, but had no problem keeping all miles under 3:00 (20 mph). I had a tail wind coming in the last 7, and felt like I was on cruise control, as I kept my average right at 22.0 mph. My legs greatly thanked me for not pushing it!
Bike time was 1:08:48 = 1:12 faster than predicted/goal (this is with the extra .2 which is likely me just not doing the tangents really well.
T2
T2 was pretty straight forward, though I was in the far corner only three rows from the very end, and in the dismount area was quite a ways from the entrance. I had predicted 1:30, and was happy with my 1:55, as it was a clean in and out.
Run
I've been dreading this run for a full month, as I haven't acclimated to the heat really well, and the 300+ feet of climbing in a 3 mile stretch (miles 1.5 to 4.5) was more hills than I've done in quite awhile. My legs wanted to fly coming off the bike, as I had approx. 100 rpm cadence over the last 2 miles of the bike ride in preparation. Through mile one I was shocked how flat it was, and was content with an 8:23 first mile. I had planned on running an 8:30 to start, but my legs were feeling great. I picked it up a bit for the first half mile of the second mile, and then I found the hills
They were steep, winding, and wicked. I powered through mile two at 8:31, and still felt pretty darn good. Mile three was 100% uphill and I had to walk at one point (as did everyone else I could see) as the elevation at one switchback was brutal. There was a downhill stretch to end that mile and I was really happy to run an 8:47. The turnaround was right after that mile = mile 4 was mostly downhill!!!!!!!!!!! I did some math in my head, and told myself I needed an 8:13 to make that crazy two mile stretch be at 8:30's and went for it. While my quads took a beating on the descent following the ascent, mile four was 8:11 (back on pace!). Mile 5 was hilly for only the first half before hitting the flats and was a nice 8:21. I expected to bonk by now and was shocked that all was a go for mile 6! This mile included a bunch of switchbacks over almost an approximate quarter mile to get up to an old expansion bridge that was the finish line. Mile six was completed at the very top (in 8:11!!) and I passed a guy in my age group in the middle of it!! The last .2 down the bridge with a GREAT chute of spectators was at 7:45 pace.
In all nobody in my age group passed me on the run and with the course being even hillier than I anticipated, I was ecstatic to run it in 51:56 (4 seconds faster than predicted)
I'm ecstatic that I had zero cramping during the run or bike (toes cramped on the swim), and even with the extra time in transitions and in the swim, I ended up within 2 minutes of my predicted time (goal was 2:41; ran 2:42:54!).
Thus, other than screwing the pooch on the swim, it was an amazingly awesome race. The support was phenomenal, the course surprisingly beautiful (amazingly beautiful!), and the spectators were great. I hope to make this an annual event
I'm actually borrowing my soon-to-be-ex's mini-van for a ten day road trip with my daughters from here (Texas) to WI starting this Monday! I will be at my class reunion next Saturday, I'm not anticipating any mini-van re-enactments 
Glad it helped. I use the new chamois version of Glide instead of the butter, good stuff. Kick ### tomorrow & have fun!!!!!
for PSL!
