Why Do You Look Different, Numb-nuts?!

Whilst in Marine Corps boot camp, one of the cardinal sins was not looking just like everyone else. If one person had a jacket on, everyone had to have a jacket on. And of course we all had to wear green back then. I don't know if I can get behind this new-fangled military with their terrain and climate appropriate cammies. When the military makes sense it rocks my whole world.

Nonetheless, today at the Blue Lake Midsummer Triathlon, I was highly conscious, as I always am at triathlons, of what I'm wearing, what my gear looks like and consists of, what I'm eating or drinking, in comparison with everyone else. If I see someone with the timing chip on their right ankle and I have it on my left, I think, "ah crap, I bet I put it on the wrong ankle!" That is only a slight exaggeration.

Today I hear the announcer say that the water is warmer than the air, so I think, hmm, wetsuit? I went so far as putting it on and then walked in the water. Huh, doesn't feel too cold. So I stripped off the wetsuit because the air was pretty warm, too. After taking it off, I went down to acclimate to the water. I got up to cajones depth and thought, uh-oh, you've made a huge mistake. Then as I looked around I realized that other than one ridiculously overachieving chiseled chick, I was the only one without a wetsuit. 

"Look like everyone else, you idiot!" I thought to myself.

But then I got the rest of the way into the water and it really felt quite nice so in the end I was pleased with my decision. Any time I gain by having the wetsuit on is offset by how long and painful it is to take it off in the transition, so I avoid it whenever possible.

Tactically, I was very pleased with all my decisions. I did not have to strip off a wetsuit in transition one, so other than an amazing calf cramp that gave me pause, I whizzed right on through. I decided not to wear socks, realizing the risk of blisters, but I think that 30 seconds I saved was worth it. My wife thinks I'm a nitwit walking around with bloody feet, but the feet will heal, 30 seconds is forever.

I haven't gotten my complete time so I will give a complete race synopsis after I have my time. I believe I was 15 minutes slower than I predicted, but again, tactically I'm pleased and I know what I need to do in the next three weeks to improve my time.