Perfect weather for this one. I biked to the start, arriving at the Santa Cruz wharf watching the sun just peek above the distant mountains... and discovered I'd left my bike lock at home. I had time to return home and get it - barely. Locked my bike and hurried to the start and moments later the gun went off. Didn't have a CLUE where I was swimming, so I just followed the froth, which was heading vaguely off into the just-risen sun. Water was warm, (60F), light chop, and I felt good out there. A sharp right turn at the 2nd bouy, then I felt sure we would swim parallel to shore and out past the end of the pier and finish on Cowell's as per usual. I put my head down and swam... and then noticed no one was around me! A second bouy turned out to be a turn back - we finished on the Main beach. Well... I was feeling strong and good and that's the main thing. So what if I came in at 38:11?

Back from the race, I snapped this pic of my stubble'y self from my deck

Scott's loyal girlfriend awaits him off the bike leg

World amateur champion Pete Kain starts the run