Defeated-Eagleman Race Report

It seems this race was doomed from the get go. First, being the sickest I've been for years all last week was not the best case scenario going into this race. The second part of my nightmare was hearing this would be a no wetsuit swim. We got this fabulous news as we were walking into transition race morning. Anyone who knows me-knows that I suck in the pool. Put me in a wetsuit in open water and I'm a different person. Whatever my weakness is as swimmer is significantly compensated for with a wetsuit (probably a balance issue). Obviously it is time to work on this! I gotta say I was freaking out at the thought of not wearing a wetsuit. To be quite honest, I am still traumatized by my swim ordeal at Ironman Coeur d'Alene last year. My heart rate waiting for the swim start was 145-my average hr for the entire swim was 146-not good on both ends (shoulda been lower for the start and higher for the swim). Negative thoughts were in my head the whole time. I was not aggressive-in fact quite the opposite-I found myself literally swimming way around people in order to pass them so that I would not come into contact with them.
At the beginning of the bike I felt really good. In fact I was worried that I was pushing too hard-I was holding my planned watts-but I was playing cat and mouse w/another racer who I know is way stronger on the bike than I am. Stick to your plan-it doesn't matter who you are passing or being passed by-as long as you are sticking to your plan. I felt great for the first 20 miles. Then my hamstring (an ongoing issue) started nagging-then hurting. I found myself from mile 30 on out of the aero position more than I was in it. This cost me for sure.
I was unable to pee on the bike so took an extra minute in transition to pee while I was putting on my sneakers-then I stumbled w/my garmin. From the get go I had a side stitch on the run. It stayed with me the entire 13.1. I never ate a thing-not even a gel. I was thirsty and I drank too much. Lots of coke and ice water=lots of sloshing in the tummy. I passed alot of walkers-this messes with ones mind and makes one think they are running stronger than they are. I was ranked 23rd of 170 on the swim and 25th on the bike and run. Overall 25th out of 170 in my age. I'm usually top 10 in my age for swim-so very disappointing. Not my day. As I said to a friend, "I pr'd my worst race ever!" Definitely have some work to do and the right coach to get me where I hope to go!