Started well on left of pack. Took an elbow in the right eye about 4 strokes into the race, no ill effect it just sealed my goggle to my eye really, really well. After 1st turn, maybe 300-400m in, I noticed that guys who I was matching pace with would occasionally and suddenly move up a body length, I must have some sort of occasional hickup in my form, might be related to swapping breathing sides, not sure, probably related to fatigue as well so less likely to show up in a sprint. Noticed the first 50 yr old passing me before the first left turn, he was hauling, then a couple more shortly after. Stomach was a little sloshy, don't think it was an issue on the swim but not good for the rest of the day.

I didn't expect much out of a non-wetsuit swim and that's what I got.

practice swimming

typical T1

nothing

Race effort was severally dictated by those around me and my desire the ride legal. Had previously decided to ride conservatively, hang back and be sure passing is appropriate for my plan rather than just attack, attack, attack. Give up a couple minutes on the bike and make them back on the run.

Followed the plan well and had quite a few spots where I rode real easy for a bit in order to better time the passing, think this worked out pretty well, I targeted 240 Watts and hit 239 avg/245 normalized, HR dropped from high 160s to low 150s throughout bike leg.

High fived Gumby on the way up Thornton hill, some large cleaning product guy was sprinting next to the guy ahead of me, I later heard they were handing out beers, how'd I miss that?

Shortly after the turnaround had my only near draft violation experience, passed 3 guys just before the top of one hill and they hung on over the top and came back around me at the bottom, 1st guy, I'm coasting and almost out of draft zone, 2nd guy, continue coasting, almost out of draft zone, 3rd guy, continue coasting, motorcycle pulls up next to me and is just sitting there, I'm not falling out of draft zone very fast, less than 1 second to guy ahead of me, probably 7 meters but I don't want any doubt, glance over at the motorcycle and give the guy a shoulder shrug as I continue to coast and drop back. Finally felt there was no doubt that I was out of draft zone, got back on the gas up the next hill and dropped those Howards for good. Interesting to look back at datalog, HR went from a steadyish 154 bpm to 144 during the avoid drafters nonsense then up to 158 riding a little harder to get some separation. Frustrating because those guys weren't legal distance from one another when they passed me, the motorcycle arrives late to the game and sits on my shoulder waiting for me to pass back, and not a one of them got written up, but that's the nature of bigger races.


Nothing, rode this exactly to the plan

Typical T2

nothing

First 2 miles was horrible abdominal pain, me thinks it was pre-race fueling coming back to haunt me, first indicated during the swim, not coming up or out, just sitting there...Ran through it as best I could the first 2 miles hoping it would go away with time, slowed a bit the middle 2 miles, then finally felt a bit better the last 2 miles, perhaps euphoria due to finish line proximity?



This run sucked, should have been at least 2 minutes faster but abdominal pain was keeping me from standing up and running properly. Certain I did not overcook the bike, was 240W compared to 265W and 7min/mile on a hot course with 2 big hills at the KS5150 and HR and perceived exertion were spot on with taking the bike easy. This should have been a perfect set up for a fast 10k, the only think that keeps coming back to mind was pre-race fueling, overdid it at the continental breakfast and then had an apple and banana pre-race during the delay, I was just real hungry, likely due to poor eating the day before. Stomach didn't rear its ugly head until I started running.

sat in the kiddy pool of ice and enjoyed the buffet put on by Hy-Vee


Weak swimming and angry tummy on the run. The wind also was a factor in slowing the bike times down.


Well run event, missed watching the pro's race in the afternoon heat, good event swag.