One thing I thought of that I think you might be interested in while I was reading your blog has to do with your wanting to be nice to everyone. My first tri, several years ago (I don’t even know the time it was so bad I blocked it out), I was totally clueless and was dumbfounded as I struggled and got a congrats or a good job from everyone I came across. That is what makes the sport what it is. Now maybe if you are out there passing the leaders they may not take as kindly but if the encouragement is coming from the right place then don’t feel like you have to hold it back for fear of what someone will think.

I was watching the Boston marathon TV coverage and they said that heartbreak hill was named way back when the leader was running out of gas and the second place guy caught him and patted him on the shoulder as he went by and said something to the effect of it was a nice effort you put out. As if it was over. Instead it had the effect of waking him up and pushing on to the lead again and never looking back. Had he just run by and not said anything maybe he would have won. So if you are every creaping up on the leader you might not want to say anything until the finish line. ( here is a link to more info on the heartbreak hill http://froggietedrunsboston.bl.....ittle.html)