They announced first thing in the morning that they could not find a water temperature to make it wetsuit legal, but about 30 minutes later they came back to announce that it indeed would be wetsuit legal after some more hunting around. Race morning was already in the mid/upper 70s and I was getting pretty warm in my suit. I lined up as the furthest on the far right in the second wave, 39 & under men, and at the start I was quite easily up front leading the way. In fact, I was still leading as I approached the first turn buoy I started wonder where Jeff was at, he's usually ahead of me at this point. But no sooner had I had that thought he began creeping on by me. I stayed on his feet for a bit but I was on my own before long.

The second half I began to feel I bit worn down in the water. Not so much tired but more starting to feel the effects of being a little too warm in the water. Aside from that I was still moving well. The water was like glass despite the bits of human traffic I was swimming around. As I approached the swim exit I was already anticipating a painful T1.

Oh boy. Out of the water and up the hill to T1. My breathing is extra hard and so my heart rate is high. I actually feel pretty terrible. Transition felt slow and sloth-like. Not sure where the improvements are to be made here. My issue probably stems from the condition in which I exied the water.

3/12
22/118

Coming out of T1 I was going hard but I was also trying to regain some composure as my breathing and HR were sky high. Leaving the park I mostly had my head down, focused on going fast and catching two guys up ahead. However, I completely missed the left hand turn out of the park. I passed a guy just before the turn and once I was by him I passed the turn left signage. I didn't blow by the turn too much but it was still a stupid error and it showed my lack of awareness. I was so focused on the little bubble around me that I didn't bother to look up ahead.

It took me longer than I wanted to pass the guy again. The first few miles outside the park have a terrible chip seal suface, at least for biking. On top of that you're biking up a false flat and into the wind. I very much welcomed getting off that surface and making the turn out of the wind. After that, for the most, part it was a fairly quiet ride. I think I got passed twice, but it was mostly lonely riding. I was drinking every drop of the EFS I had on my bike. It was getting hot and I was going to need every ounce of liquid and electrolyte I could get. The ride back in was much more fun with a long, slow decline and a tailwind. It made me almost forget I was riding on chip seal again.

Stay focused coming out of transition, despite how tired you are. I'll miss fewer turns that way.

A good T2.

2/12
13/118

I left T2 with a smile, moslty because my uncle was by the exit making some smart remark to me. The smile didn't last too long. I knew pretty quickly that my current pace wasn't going to last. I passed an older AG'er after a half mile and that was the last person I would see for the next six miles. I take that back, I could see Jesse Funk in the distance but he was running like it was 55 degrees outside and there was no way I was going to catch him.

I made it to the ball park (mile 1.5) where I caved and stopped to walk. There was a hill, my heart was already pounding through my chest, and my face was radiating heat. I picked it up again as I crossed the dam letting the wind help cool me down. I looked longingly at the people tubing in the water, cruising around in their boats. I, however, had more work to do but things weren't improving. No, they were getting worse. I just couldn't maintain the pace I wanted, so I power walked it a bunch - up hills and through the shade. It became more frequent and disheartening. I took solace in that I didn't have to do this for 13.1 miles.

With about two miles left I got over my frustration over my running performace and just enjoyed myself out there. I carried a better attitude. I was now sharing the course with Sprint course racers, so I had quick words of encouragement with those out there. An 80 year old racer joked with me and asked if I had a rope to pull him to the finish. With less than a mile to go I had built up enough reserves and cooled down just enough to power myself to a respectable-like finish.

Not suck at running in the heat.

Found some shade and layed down, waiting for my heart to stop beating through my face. Inhaled a 16oz bottle of water like I was shot gunning a beer.


The run was obviously the biggest let down. I was really hoping to break 7 min/mi on this course this year and I fell far off that. Maybe There is more work to be done in getting ready for the heat or maybe this goal isn't realistic for me during this time of the year and on this course.


Much improved production over 2014 and back on track from years past. For whatever reason participation was down this year. Perhaps on a related note, from an organizers perspective, the food was lacking. I didn't need cold breakfast burritos from Sonic. I'm fine with bananas and orange slices (milk and yogurt are good too). The PBR during the awards was great though.