New Jersey Devilman Festival - Half Iron Triathlon - Triathlon1/2 Ironman

Very good swim. I concentrated on staying long and smooth and staying wide on the first half lap to stay out of the mess. I got ran over a couple of times but the contact was minimal. Got into a nice 2 breath rhythem right away and navigated off the hats to the inside of me. Navigation was hit or miss on the stretch between Bouys 1 and 2 I drifted way out both laps (almost to the shore), but every other leg I was right on the buoys (A little too tight a few turns). The wetsuit made a huge difference, I was alot faster :10-:15/100 and didn't feel like I was working too hard. Getting out of the water was another adventure since the ramp only extended at most a foot into he water and the mud/boulder mess was tough to walk on to say the least. i ot out of the water at about 34:00 but a long run/water to the timing mat at the transition area, added a bunch of time.

Fastest swim by about 6 minutes. Need to work on sighting, as I had trouble picking up the slower swimmers from the rarlier waves until I was about to run over them.

Now for the comic relief. I managaged to unzipp and pull my wetsuit to my waist in route to T1 but it well astray after that. First I could find my bike and had to squint at the bike numbers to find my way. Then was my battle with my wetsuit, take off my timing chip, try and get the wetsuit off my calfs and feet. I started to twinge and cramp up on my left calf while fighting that battle. Finally I ot it off, put my timing chip back on, an got my bike stuff on. Then I can't find my gels. I'm rustling through my bag, pulling all my stuff off, no luck. Now I'm starting to panic!! Just before I'm about to give up and go gel-less, I remember I put it in the front pockets. Whew!! So I tromp off awarkly to the mount line. Officially I left transition at 6:20, but I knew the real challene lay ahead. At the mount line I hopped on the bike and slapped my right foot into the peddal and.. wow it worked first try...next thing I know I'm leaning that direction and then its the dreaded, slow motion, 0 MPH, clipped in and can't do a darn thing about it fall in front of everyone. Then to make maters worse I get my other foot tangles in the rear wheel spokes. After deicately extracting myself from that, taking investory of a blood left hand and right knee(the knee took the worst of it) and got going. Noone said a word the whole time until a nice spectator who watched to whole thing told me to check my water bottles before they feel out (truly very glad he pointed that out). Got the left foot clipped mounted and started rolling and fought with the left foot(as usual until it clicked and finally hit the watch.

Practice removing my wetsuit, practice mounting and clipping in, get the transition better organized, find a better landmark for my bike (considering I'm blind as a bat), and oh yeah stay upright!!!

After such an evenful start I did a great job putting that behind me and getting into the ride. I consiously tried to maintain a good pace but gearing to keep the effort easy and not push. I did really good at shifting to keep the level of effort constant. I started drinking every 15 minutes and having a gel every 30 minutes. Finished off the 2nd water bottle before the last bottle exchange and that carried me through to the end. My bike computer magnet is still messed up and slide down the spoke. I got passed by a bunch of folks early but then that wave tampered off and I did most of the passing especially during the second loop. Maintained that consistant effort both loops and did fairly close to even splits(as far as I could tell my watch's seal failed and the inside of the face was fogged up and I didn't think to it the button till I was a mile down the road.) The wind was strange it always seemed to my in my face, not strong enough to realy slow you down but enough to make you think about it. I made sure to unclipp early at the end and had issues peddelling unclipped as well

My legs felt great and I probably could have been a bit more arrgessive the 2nd loop, but no complaints. 9 minute PR!!!

Started watch at dismount so a little of the official T2 time. My feet didn't like running in the bike shoe so I did a slow trot. Took my time, pulled out 3 gels and a shot block. Dug around for my sunscreen (that I forgot). Cleaned out my bike jersey and troted off

A little organization and maybe buy a race belt so I can change into a new shirt. Don't forget the sunscreen!!!

This was a huge run for me. Last year I was walking before mile 1 and at the Diamondman I walked the last 4.5 miles. This time I actually ran the whole thing and maintained a decent pace (constant 9 to 10 min miles). I started out fairly slow and I learned from the Diamondman and made a pit stop coming out of T2. I took 3 gels and ate them miles 2, 5, and 8. Had water the first stop and each stop I had a gel and had gatorade each other aid station until the last one (water again). I had a Cliff shot Block chew in my pocket but i decided i didn't want it and reaaly didn't need it at mile 11. I had a slight side stich the first few miles but that cleared as my legs cme to life after the first mile. I picked up the pace and race a nice comfortable and fairly steady pace. I got done feeling I could have pushed the issue and actually felt good at the end and enjoyed the last mile and the spectators. Heard the announcer make the comment about #666 and announce my name and hometown, and finished with a smile on my face.

Haven't worked on speed at all this year, except for the improptu race we had the Wendesday before the race, and with a 1:41 PR for a half marathon, I can cut some time off my 2:04 but in term of HIM run legs this was about 36 minutes faster than my previous best run leg. Obviously it helps to run the whole way.

Actually felt like talking with folks, got so food and drinks and water, sat down and ate and relaxed in the sum. Went and visited the EMTs to get my knee cleaned up. Waddled over to transition and gather up my stuff, then listened to the awards ceremony.


PR by 50:33!!!!!! And the scary thing is I fell, got my butt kicked by my wetsuit, had horrible transitions and held back and paced very conservatively to make sure I could make it. There is alot of room to improve but I am so happy with this race its not funny. i have to reassess my goal for the Diamondman this year since I already hit that original mark. I also would recommend not forgetting the sunscreen cause I have a very painful reminder of that error as well.


Much larger race this year. I liked the new course much better that last year. The bike was much better as was the run course(ok I'll concede that the swim was much better last year). Wish they hadn't scheduled it against the Broad Street Run (was 2 week later last year). The level of competion was impressive for a 2nd annual event and the Army Triathlon team was also impressive (though Navy's was equally impressive at Lancaster). However, my new hero is Thomas Koehler of Hampton, NY who completed the race in 5:32:47 and bested me in each leg including the swim. Did I mention he only had one leg? When you meet someone like that you can't help but be amazed and inspired.