Heavy chop due to wind from the east. Made the long leg feel like a treadmill. lots of bumping but all were polite. water temp and vis were good.

embrace the chop, fighting it only made it worse. sighting on bouys versus following feet would be a better idea next time.

Running up the helix is not great in theory, but the cheering crowds made it kind of fun.

i wanted to be as comfortable on teh bike as possible, i made sure everything was where it should be.

There was a nice tail wind on the stick, payback for fighting the chop on the swim. The turn on 92 for the trip to Mt Horab was all slow climb, I wasn't focused and slowed more than i should have. The hills are legit and should be respected. I hit 38mph on the downhills, the only benefit to being 200 pounds in an IM event. Im a weak biker and it showed, flatland training even in the wind is not enough prep for this course.

Try and find a real hill to train on. This is a real bike course and it demands your respect. The weak will perish, or miss the cut off.

One last hill, up the helix. But the volunteers take your ride and you can block it out of your mind.

I left T2 with 2 flasks of gel. That was a mistake, 1 would be plenty, live off teh course.

I mostly enjoyed this run, great crowds, great volunteers, well marked. Only 1 real hill which i walked as planned. All those fast people really missed seeing the capital lit up after dark, it was very impressive.

You can always go faster i guess, but i needed to be functional this week and the podium was long gone by the time i slipped on the running shoes. I really do feel victory in the finish, no matter my time.

Pictures, pizza and hugs. Although i was ordered to the showers pronto.


Weak bike


Of the IM's and other 140.6 events i have done this was the hardest, and most satisfying. I felt i earned my time and enjoyed the day. This event ranks at the top for support and atmosphere and i would reco it to anyone, just be prepared.