ChelanMan - Triathlon1/2 Ironman

Swimming is not my thing. Seems I practice and practice but get nowhere in a race. Most races I end up on my back trying to get through the race. This race I was on my game a little and was able to stay in the free style position for the whole swim. It took me a very long time but I felt as if I was swimming faster. I get better at form but worse at time. I will keep working at it.

The swim itself was a nice out and back in a triangle shape. The lake was warm and clear. They also put out lots of buoys so you could spot where you were going very well. The water was very rough on this morning and for me that was a problem. The waves made it hard to swim out but the way back they seemed to push you a little bit but still made it a challenge. Also on the way back you were looking right into the morning sun and for me it was hard to find the next buoy. However I did find the line in the water and was able to stay right on that and swim along so all went well. Also one spot where you need to look out for rocks in the water. There was a person in a boat telling you and you can see them so it was no big deal. The last maybe 50m of the swim is in shallow water so that is nice.


Just have to figure out how to speed up.

T-1 was ok. I got my suit half off while running to my spot, then dried my legs and got some encouragement from my wife. Socks went on no problem and then the sun screen.

T-1 was odd you had to run out with your bike over the mat then up a small grass hill to the bike mount area. Then you start your ride up hill a little.


just try and be faster. I did not even try to go quickly this race in T1.

After my slow, and I mean slow swim, I knew I had to get myself going hard to get a good time for the day. I took off on the bike and was feeling great. The bike ride goes out and then back, however on your way back you make a turn and head up a hill and that is where the HIM folks do a loop that leads around and back to the main road we had just ridden on.
The bike is a good ride. Rolling hills to begin with and then a couple killer hills of death. The first one is not too bad and has a water station at the top. Then the down hill is strait and fast. I was in a small pack of riders who would pass each other hear and there. We then hit a down hill and thorough a tunnel. This is where they lost me. I wanted to pound the down hill but bike congestion made it hard on this part and there was just to many in the road all together to try and pass. I then hit a pot hole and my front tire want wobbly in a bad way. I slowed down to try and see what was happening and it was still shaky. I continued to slow down and then things evened out.
This is where life got tough. It was hot out and we had a giant hill to climb. The hill goes up and up, then you level out a little, go down a little then up and up you go. Nice ride for scenic ride but darn hard on the legs. At about the top of the second hill a woman needed to use my screw driver, so I pulled over and let her use it as I rested. Then back to the ride. The next down hill is a bit more hairy. It has a U turn type turn in it. The sign for cars says 20PMH. I knew when I saw that I should slow down a little to get around the corner on the down hill. It was fun. I was all alone and just riding as fast as I could back to transition.

All and all kudos to the race folks. This bike ride was well designed and well supported. They had water stations along the ride and lots of helpful people telling you to slow down for turns or where to go. It was great and appreciated.


just need to work on hills a bit more and I will be happy with my bike times. This was my first race with this kind of hillls and heat. I think the heat did more damage to me than the hills did.

Dismount bike and run down the grass hill this time. No big it was nice at that time to get off the bike and get legs moving a little.
Saw my wife who was done with her race her first half marathon. I congratulated her and tried to cheer her up but she was tired. She did great I think.
I then got all my stuff together for my run, gels, shoes and sun block on. Yes more sun block. I burn so easy its not funny so the more the better. I even ran away and went back because I needed more on my face.
Thank you to the guy who offered to help from me with sun block. He was over the fence asking folks if the needed some help here and there. Thanks for helping whoever you were.


try and go faster.

Hot, it was hot. This was the part of the race I hated the most. Not for the run itself or the heat but my body just told me no more for you today. I started running and felt good, then my left quad began to hurt a bit and after that I just had no gas left in the tank. I had to do the run/walk for the race. I made it to the end but just had nothing in the tank for this run. Legs began to feel good but I just could not go. I have never had that feeling. Maybe it was mental but I just could not go. When I finished my wife was there cheering me on. That felt great. I was able to get going to jog in. It was great to get through the race. Just wish I could have ran the whole way, but I finished.

run the whole race.

walked around and packed up my stuff.


2 HIM in 2 weeks and just not ready for the heat.


The Chelan Man is hands down the best race I have done this far. I have done 17 races this year and they are all great but this race was awesome. The help and organization was on the ball. Water in all stations with oranges, pretzels, gels and HED drinks was very helpful. All volunteers were very helpful and happy to be there. The organization was day was just great. A big thanks to the RD and all who helped with this race. Very well put on from the day before the race and all the way through the race, just well done.