As an athlete who is preparing to enter my first 70.3 and for whom the greatest psychological barrier to participation is concern about the swim, I want to add that I find the idea of a rolling start as described to be far more inviting than a mass start or waves by age group. I've done a some open water races with a few hundred people and in waves of about fifty so I'm not completely inexperienced regarding open water and getting bumped around a bit. But I don't really look forward to charging into the water with 300 people.

I understand why the top AG competitors would want to know where they are relative to their competition but it seems the vast majority would want a smooth event, less bumping in the water and a better chance to set a best time or personal course record.

I probably would have done a first triathlon long ago if the swim start was something like seven competitors every seven seconds based on your projection of your finish time. That is far more inviting to me than any other options I have seen or read about.

I was pissed as well. The drafting was brutal. It was the most blatant I have ever seen. They officials were doing a good job but just need more of them. It wasn't an issue with too many riders but too many cheaters. Most weren't trying to move up or drop back but just sitting in. I got swallowed up at one point and then had to hammer to work my way past going up the long climb on the highway. As I was coming back through town they were still all together. I will just never understand it.

I have done a few rolling starts before, this one was good. No real complaints. Everyone seemed to seed themselves fairly well which helps.

I got swarmed by one bike pack out on 117. I was screaming and mocking all of them, and they didn't care. The big hill on 117 blew them apart and I flew by all of them again (because they can't ride unless they are in a peloton), but they caught back up to me again on Montee Ryan heading back in.

There were a lot of officials, and a lot of people in the tents. Bigger penalties for blatant drafting would help I suspect, but then it becomes a grey area of what is blatant and what isn't. The officials riding road bikes that were picking guys off were amazing, I only saw one but he rode right into the middle of the pack in front of me, sat there for a bit and then a bunch from that pack stopped at the tent. Is this new? If it is, keep doing it. Very effective, way better than a motorcycle.

I was thinking that having marshals on those silent electric scooters that can go 50 kph might add to the mix!

The rolling start was great from my perspective. Made for a less chaotic start for those that aren't the strongest swimmers.

There were roughly 500 more starters this year than last and I didn't find it was any more crowded on the bike or run course than last year.