I more or less used the first run as a warm up for the bike. I had a good run for me. I let the fast folks go, of course, after about 1/2 a mile I was running with a ~50 year old lady who was very chipper. By the end of the first run, I was very hot, and sweating like crazy, I am talking just stepped out of the shower drenched.

I should have drunk more water; I had my fuel belt on.

This was a huge transition area; they had the racks numbered so everyone was evenly spread out.

Getting into T1, my legs were shaken a bit. I got the number and fuel bet off, and the gloves and helmet on without trouble. The shoes I had to sit down, I need to be able to do this part without sitting down. Got the bike off the rack this time with out making a mess of the place :).

2:56 time, I need to figure out why I take so long in these T1s when I am still in good condition.

When I started the bike, I was very hot, and so wet from sweat I got cold of all things (no sleeves did not help either). As I started, I swear the brake was rubbing, but I had check it just as I left T1 (one reason I was so slow). Got about a mile into the race, and I was being passed by people on big old MTBs, and I was spinning the 39/23... so I either figure I am about to drop over from over heating/dehydration or the brake is rubbing. Therefore, I stop, get off, pull the bike off the road (so not to block traffic), and I just opened the front brake all the way... hey that seemed to do the trick (either that or I just needed a 30 second rest). Then I saw Aldo on the side of the road doing some coaching as he always does.

Therefore, now I get going good, I am passing TONS of people, a lot of them on MTBs and such bikes, a lot of sprinters (sprinter did two laps), so it was not a real fair bike TT. Said hi to some folks as I passed them, would end of playing cat and mouse with people from time to time. Had a sprinter on a tri bike drag race me to his finish, I still had one to go (that was fun). On the last lap traffic dropped a huge amount, so as I rode on, passed two volunteers across the road, I asked them did my hair look alright, they said yes (note: I was being funny, and yes, I did have a helmet on).

On the 40k TT I drained both 24oz water bottles, one with standard water, and one with PowerBar Endurance Drink, I had taken one GU Just Plain gel at the start of the bike. Finished the TT a bit slow in the parking lot, after the turn off the road I thought the transition area was a lot closer, it was about 1/3 of a mile away on the far side of the parking lot. So I like ok here it is, no ok… here? No.. keep going... all at about 14 MPH :), but I did get there.


Make sure the darn brake is not rubbing, maybe I will just take the front brake off... ok I won't.

Got into T2, and got the bike on the rack. I changed my socks from the thin Defeet Speedes to some thicker socks with full padding. It helped; at this point, my legs and feet were sore. Put on my hat, number belt, and fuel belt. Took my time getting going, ate another GU gel, walked out of T2, drank a thing of water as I went past.

Try to speed this little dance up a bit.

I died on this run... I could not stay with anyone/groups for very long. I would run for a while, walk for a while, and when it got to the hills I walked. The one super chipper lady from the first run caught me a about mile 2, I could not stay with her past about .75 miles. I ate my third and last gel, but it did not seem to help much. I did finally finish very sore and a bit to somewhat dehydrated.

Dirnk more, that might have helped. Bring more gels...

Walked around for about 15 minites.


Overheating, maybe a bit dehydrated but I am not real sure.


I did win a random prize, a big 20oz bottle of Hammer Gel, they even let me pick my flavor, vanilla!

I tried to get one of the ARTs but the line was long, and by the time the line was gone they were taking the place down.