Last year I posted a bunch of tips for firs t timers. No need to repeat them, they're still there under "Browse groups" Great Floridian Tri. One more I'd like to add: Don't be too dependent on bike support. Get to know your bike, and be able to handle any small roadside repairs. Case in point, in '03 my rear wheel came apart, I needed bike support badly. I walked my bike trying to make the cutoff, feet started to hurt, from walking in cycling shoes so I barefooted it, and developed blisters. It was an hour before "bike support" showed up, got me back on the road, but by then I was toast. DNF.

 For me, recovery week is over, next three weeks will be tough, then a three week taper. These next three weeks will decide my race. I'm close to nailing my nutrition plan. Bonking will happen only if I don't stick with it.

 Signed up for a marathon in February '12. Good to have another race to look forward to after GFT. After all of the summerlong, weeks and months of endles miles, it can be a real letdown when the GFT is over, and there is nothing else after.

 Hope everyones training is going great.

 Just a couple of more thoughts, hopefuly of use to someone:

 Don't know if I put this in the earlier post: make sure your bike is tuned up. You'll be going through your gears pretty regularly.

Jalarmy Rd.: we're going up it three times. It's one of those blind turns that will have you out of your saddle and out of gear if you're not paying attention. It's a sharp turn that turns into a steep but short climb.

 T2: I wish Iron penguin could have posted his "Just Finish" masterpiece. He didn't so I'm going to borrow his words for the T2 transition: "The most dificult time for last hour/first timers is T2. Often times it's the deciding moment-whether to continue or not, so this is probably THE most important piece advice I can give you: When you get to T2, don't even think about how bad you feel. Concentrate on 100% of the mechanics of the transition, sorting your gear, putting your shoes and socks on, putting stuff away. Do it efficiently, quickly, and then GET THE HELL OUT Of THE TENT! It doesn't mattter how long you sit there, you're not going to feel better. There's nothing in there that's not available on the course. All you'll do is atart feeling sorry for yourself and that will only make thing worse. And you're using up valuable time that might come in handy later. So get out of the tent and keep moving."

 That is part of Mike Tennent's post . Every word is his. Hope someone can benefit from it.

 Lastly, make sure to run YOUR race. Stick with YOUR plan. Don't worry about what someone else is doing. You didn't put in all those hours and miles to come here and throw it away. This is YOUR day.