MightyMan Half Iron Distance Triathlon - Triathlon1/2 Ironman

I started in wave 3 with all the other 40 year old men. There were 4 waves, 39 and under men first, all women second, 40 and older men third and cyldes and athenas fourth. I said my quick prayer like I normally do before I start always praying for the safety of all the athletes, volunteers and the spectators. I always ask for everyone to be safe and to finish. After that I waded in when called to do so and man the water was cold. It was also windy out so it was a bit choppy, not terrible but definitely noticeable. I hung back and to the right since I am a BOP swimmer and have not raced this distance before I wanted to make sure that I avoided contact as much as possible and just settle into a nice rythym. We got started and there was very little contact. There was a lot of room to swim especially with the waves spread out by 5 minutes. It took me a lot of time to really settle in. I was so nervous to start and with and the water being a little choppy I just could not get settled in right away. I finally got settled in and relaxed and found a good rythym. I was sighting a lot early on but I really didn't need to as I wound up swimming close enough with a couple of others in my AG so I was able to draft a little and stay on course. I finally reached the first turn around buoy and went right to the inside of it. I took it perfectly and then headed for the second bouy and did the same thing. By this time I actually felt good, I was relaxed and not having to work hard and I was making good progress. When I headed back I had to sight more as I was not really close to anyone but I did a pretty good job of staying on course. Outside of my feet being cold I felt I was doing well. I thought I might be getting a little tired toward the end but I think it is more of a mental thing with me. When I am swimming that long I feel like I am in the water for an eternity but after I get out it doesn't seem that long. I just kept my head down pushed forward and the end was in sight. I swam as far as I could before standing up and made my way out of the water and up to exit to the transition area. It took me several steps to get my balance together. I got my cap,goggles and wetsuit top off before making it into the transition area.

Not too much, I think being more relaxed at the start would have helped me get off to a better start. I probably struggled a little to get settled and into a good rythym. Considering the conditions and me not being a good swimmer I think I did a good job.

I spent a lot of time in T1 just getting my stuff together and getting dryed off. I also talked with my wife before she left as she had to take my son to his soccer game in queens. Long day for her. At least she knew I got out of the water and didn't drown. Also saw Sean there who we swim with at Wildwood and talked to him as well while in transition. They both wished me well as I finally got out of transition and it was great to see them both before heading on out.

Well.......this is a loaded question. I have not really focused on being fast in transition this year being this is my first year. I usually focus on making sure I have everything I need instead without worrying about how long it takes me. I really need to work on this next season because I am giving away a lot of time. I just need to be more organized and to move faster.

Well this is pretty much where my entire race changed. My goal coming into the race was to do a 6:15. I even thought if everything went perfect for me I could possibly go sub 6 hours. That did not happen once the rain, wind and cold set in I knew I would never be able to achieve those goals so early on I decided that my goal would be to not crash on the bike and to just finish the race and not worry about time. There are several reasons for this first off I am not exepierenced enough in the rain to ride this course the way it can be ridden when it is dry. I have ridden most of the course so I was familiar with it but only in dry conditions. Second reason was that I crashed on the bike at my last sprint tri 6 weeks before and I didn't want that to happen again. I also did not want to put my wife through that again.

The first loop wasn't that bad with the rain. I was just trying to keep a comfortable pace and to try and pay attention to what I was doing and not be reckless or try and race anyone. I was able to go a little bit faster on the first loop and things were good all out to the lighthouse and to the first out and back to the airport. I think at this point it started raining harder, it was very windy like no matter which way you went you always felt like you were riding into a head wind. I had to hit the restroom at the end of this loop. It just got worse from that point on. I took it easy back up West Lake Dr. When I got to the Soundview out and back that road is a mess, very rough and with the water I was taking no chances there. I was cautions there. The same with Willis Pt Rd there are some downhill S curves there which you could easily misjudge so I was riding my brakes there. I wish I had done those out and backs on my training ride in hindsight but nothing I could do about it then. I made it back to the turn around and headed back out for loop two in decent shape. I did a good job on the all the climbs and was careful on all the descents.

Heading out for loop 2 the weather just got worse. I was just thinking man this is going to be a long and miserable ride. By the time I got to West Lake Dr. to head towards the lighthouse I was so angry and fustrated it was my lowest point of the race. I was cursing out the weather forecasters, I was angry that every Tri I did this season either it rained before or during the race or the race was under the threat of rain. I was like why does it have to happen today? I think that little outburst just got me fired up. I was thinking none of the guys I train with would complain about this. None of the Asphalt Junkies (my BT mentoring group) would complain about this. They would all put their heads down, dig deep and keep going. That is exactly what I did. The voice inside me said to stop whining and keep pedaling. We are going to finish this race. I mean I was talking to myself out loud while I was riding along. I'll be brutally honest it was not any fun and I could not have been more miserable about it but I never once asked myself why am I doing this? I just keep moving I finally got to the lighthouse and had to use the bathroom there. It was a good move it got me warmed up a little bit. The automatic hand dryers were my saving grace. They got my hands warmed up a bit. I was getting so cold I could not shift gears and I was having a hard time keeing my grip on the hoods. I stayed on the hoods the whole race. No aero today I just did not want to risk it. I made it to the airport and I used the bathroom at the end of the out back on East Lake Dr. Again the hand dryer was awesome and getting out of the cold helped. I probably lost 20 minutes with these stops but I think without them I may not have finished the race. I got back going and just chipped away at the miles. I was so cold towards the end I though I was getting hypothermia. Thank God I bought the arm warmers the day before it was the best $30 I invested all season. I finally made my last climb on West Lake Dr. and carefully took the last decent praying all the way down that I would not have a mishap. I finally made it back to the transition area and I could not have been happier to get off the bike and start running. I was very concerned I would be too cold to run but that turned out not to be the case

I would have brought gloves and my windbreaker that would have kept me warmer and drier. Lesson learned here, don't ever trust any forecast when it comes to Montauk bring everything with you. I had the windbreaker at the Motel. As far as the bike goes I wouldn't change much I may have been overly cautious but it did give me the chance to get to the run and finish

I suck at transitions no secret here but someone mounted there bike in my spot so I had to move their bike which really pissed me off. I had to waste a lot of time because of that. My hand were so cold I could not unbuckle my helmet or tie my running shoes. It took time to do that.

Not much, what can you do when someone puts their bike where it doesn't belong? or when your hands are so cold they are useless?

Once I got it together in transition I got out and stopped at the port a potty and lost 5 minutes there but I had to go. By the time I got started the rain stops the wind dies down and the sun comes out and I am like I can't believe it. Well I got to running and felt pretty good. I probably went out too fast but I did settle in and I was running well. I took murder hill with no problem on the first loop and took the other hills just fine. I caught up with another guy as we hit the turn around to come back and they had run out of gels at the aid station so I offered him the one I had and he thanked me for it. His name was Keith and he was on his second loop so we just talked all the way back to the transition. It was great to have the company and it helped both of us plus it just took my mind off having to do this again. We made it back and Keith went off to finish and I headed out to do loop number 2.

I started slowing down a bit on the second loop. I was running solo and just thinking about the Junkies and all the war stories and everything that those guys have been through and I am just thinking keep moving and finish. Don't stop running you can do this. At this point I'm at mile 7 and I'm just starting to embrace the pain. I'm thinking about all the time and effort I've put in to train for this and I know I am going to finish. I get to murder hill and I just fast walk it. It is the only time I walked for the entire run. I just felt my HR getting up there and decided it would be smarter to walk so that is what I did. Once I got up it I am back to running. Then on the one short out and back I meet another guy named Glenn and we start talking and running together and he is telling me some great stories and we make it to the out and back and start to head back. And again we help each other out and just talk all the way back and as we hit mile 12 we really start pushing the pace and as we get near Glenn takes off a little faster and I just hang back just enough so he can get his finish and he does and it is great and then I just follow in with the pedal down and break the tape and it is just an amazing and awesome feeling. Mission accomplished

Not much I think I could have ran a little faster but I did not want to chance running out of gas and then having to walk.

Got my bag from check in, not many left at that time. Picked up and packed up my stuff and got my bike. Hung out and talked with Sean for a little bit as I was surprised he was still there but it was nice to talk with him for a while.


The weather was the thing that limited me the most. I won't make any excuses though I did as best as I could under the circumstances. I did everything I could do in my control to make sure I finished.


Even though this race did not turn out the way I was hoping it would I don't think I would change anything about it. It was an amazing exerience for my first HIM. When I set out to do triathlons 11 months ago I didn't know anything and now I have a 70.3 finish in the books. I learned many valuable lessons from this race and about myself which is going to just make me a better triathlete and a better person.

Event Power does a great job with their events. The volunteers yesterday were awesome and I really felt bad for them as they had to endure the miserable weather too. At least we were racing. A big thanks to all the volunteers and the spectators out there yesterday in those conditions.

I also wanted to say thank you to the members of my mentoring group the Asphalt Junkies. You guys are awesome! I don't think I would have come this far this year without all your help and suppport.

I also have to say thank you to all the local LI triathletes some fellow BT'ers and others from twinforks multisports who I have been fortunate enough to be able to meet and train with this season. They have taken me under their wing and without them I don't think I would have been able to accomplish what I have this year. Especially Dream Chaser, Bobby thank you just doesn't seem like it is enough to say. You've been an awesome mentor and I am thankful and grateful for all your guidance and support.

Last but not least I have to say thank you to my wife for letting me do this stuff this year. I know she thought I was crazy when I started but I think she really came around when she saw how much doing this stuff means to me. I can't thank her enough for believing in me.