Mooseman Triathlon Festival - Half Iron Distance - Triathlon1/2 Ironman

We were 2nd fastest T1 by 3 seconds...Team Hippo rocks!

7 763 KELLY GRAVES RELAY 3:17:21 1: 1:36:12 1:36:12 2: 1:41:10 3:17:21

My thought going in was this was a 56 mile TT and race it as such. Goal was to negative split the second loop and push hard last 45'.

Ran hard through transition and got my HR up high then it was hills and so it took awhile to settle down.

It was great to get out on the course and be riding with a large number of triathletes. First 6 miles of the course has always been the hardest for me with the Devil Hill towards the end. Not having warmed up made the hilly section right off the bat interesting. Roads have lots and lots of potholes so I opted not to use my Zipp 404s as they had no support on the bike course and if I got a flat and had an issue changing the tubular didn't want to be stuck and unable to finish.

I was in a silly mood at the race so just before I got to the Devil Lady I started saying we own this hill. We started climbing and a women started singing Jack and Jill climb up a hill..which made me giggle. There were 2-3 folks walking up the hill which I hate as I think it makes others think they to can walk. No walking for me..sure it was challenging being in my easiest gear with cadence of 60..but I could handle it. Got to zoom down the other side and climb one last hill then turn onto the fast part of the course 3A. Loved this section rollers with lots of fast parts.

Here the fun began as I'd pass lots of folks on the down hills and these 2-3 other guys would pass me on the up hills. This one guy in red jersey we passed back and forth 15 times in 15 miles. I started saying things to him as we passed each other.like see you soon. It took him awhile to start talking back to me with each pass.

I tried to say something to everyone.I especially like the guys with nice coordinating outfits where their socks matched their tri top or their outfit matched their bike. The guy with yellow jersey tole me his wife dresses him.

It was fun out on the bike course and it was strange in a very good way to be moving up through the field passing way more folks than passed me and most of them were men.

Bottle exchanges were going well...2.5 GE bottles by mile 20. I love this bike course and it was fun riding. Excited to get done with loop 1 and see Kevin, Denise and Chris and hear a couple others cheer me on. I think back to the first year I did the Oly and I was last on the bike course and had to walk up 4 of the hills and it was so incredibly difficult for me. I had been trying to pee on my bike but couldn't so at the top of a hill at aid station I stopped and had them fill my aerobottle with GE while I was in port a potty. Volunteers rocked at this race.

Here I was enjoying myself and feeling strong. Second loop the first 6 miles of hills felt easier and Devil Hill no problem. Second loop riders were more spread out but the fun continued.

About 6 miles from the finish the top screw on my water bottle cage came out and ejected my water bottle. I had to debate if it was safe to ride and if there was any downside to not stopping. I figured that if it moved so it blocked my crank then I could coast and stop and make a temporary fix. I had to work out in my head if there was any possibility for meto fall because of it..thought I was okay...added a little excitement to the last few miles. Weird as I had tightened that screw earlier in the week...I'm guessing it is stripped.

Last bit I pushed hard and was in the panting open mouth breathing place...most folks were backing off riding as it was in the 90s and they had 13.1 miles to run unlike me.


Why do you think when I do a relay I enjoy myself more? I was relaxed going into it and barely thought about what my time might be..figured 3:15-3:30 as I seem to be riding slower this year. Mentally the difference was huge. I worked hard riding but did a lot of talking when I could..waved at the fans along the side of the road, said encouraging words to other racers. I think part is I don't take it so seriously. Is it a pressure issue? That freedom or whatever it is allowed me to enjoy it more...wondering if I can learn from it and take it with me to races I do by myself.

Entire workout (145 watts):
Duration: 3:11:31 -17.54 mph (3:18:36)-16.92
Work: 1507 kJ
TSS: 206.4 intensity factor 0.846)
Norm Power: 163
VI: 1.12
Distance: 48.282 mi-PM measures so wrong which makes data a little off too

I did a lot of burping and my solid foods kept coming up a bit...so I backed off of solids and went with just GE and gels which worked better. My coach thought it was probably the heat but overall it was a great learning nutrition experience. Orange GE after 3 hours when 90 tastes gross.

I should have peed on my bike and worked out filling my aerobottle on the fly and would have been .5 mph faster and about 5' faster. I did try to pee just wasn't working. I tried doing the aerobottle filling on the fly but it was filling so slowly it didn't look like it was working. I may try again just unscrewing the twist top and dumping while I ride.

I think this was a good learning experience as I'll never ride this hard in a HIM and it taught me about nutrition and hydration. Also with the heat/humidity was able to see how I did with the weather.

Team Hippo was fast again.

I was breathing heavy and asthma like when Cat took timing chip so I know I pushed hard..don't think that I have ever had that riding or post ride before..took my inhaler and was fine in a couple minutes. Found Kevin, got a massage (nice to finish with the fast folks lines are short) went in the water to cool off, ate some okay food. Found Kevin again and then went to look for Cat who had just finished...she rocked the run.

It was fantastic to do a relay with Chris and Cat...you guys rocked and enhanced the weekend tremendously.


I was pleased with how I did..sure I'd like to be faster. Best part for me is this was the most fun I have had racing in a long while..and it was great doing a relay.

I do think this was a great experience for me to make peace with the course and not have that finished last thing a few years ago issue still out there. Most of you have never been last, felt humiliated r humbled by the course as it was too tough for you before...really it was sweet to feel I can do this course strongly and see how the last 3 years training I've improved.

More photos in Mooseman 2008 album.


Love this race...weather can be a bit dicey as last four years either first hot day of year or cold/rainy...but beautiful course, put on by great race director and staff. It is challenging race.