Took off with the horn swimming right away. Immediately it was carnage with people swimming every direction. About the time I got to the first turn buoy there were people from the prior wave and at the next turn people from the next wave.

All the contact and a little bit of issue with the dark water had me out of form. Never felt comfortable, although I never stopped swimming, and the lack of proper form made for my slowest swim time ever.

The contact was worse than any race I have been in including IMLP and IMFL.

11 months out from shoulder surgery, but still, I have been swimming 1:50's in the pool for my race simulation swims. Maybe I need to ask the pool people to shut the lights out and have people stand on the deck and beat me with noodles?

Next year I will know what to expect.

Good transition with a long run in from the water. I thought I was faster than this as my delay was on mounting which was over the timing mat. I gad a gel flask on the top tube and caught my leg on it and had to get back off to replace it.

I guess keep practicing.

The bike has been an area of focus this off season. Took off out of transition and on the first rough section I lost my gel flask off the top tube. I had knocked it off mounting and I apparently didn't get it firmly reattached. Fortunately I had thrown an extra in my back pocket in case I ran out.

One of the down sides of a below average swim is the number of people I have to pass, although I think that would have been the case either way just because of the way the waves were staged.

Got into a nice rhythm and pushed the watts trying to hold above 210. Hit the EFS drink every 15 to 20 minutes and gels the same 10 minutes apart with water. The first half is fairly flat to down hill. Some smooth roads some with some rough spots, but all in all pretty good and plenty of room for passing. Occasionally a car would get into the mix and usually that was ok, except the times where they would get confused and not know what to do.

Turned back north towards the 2/3 mark and although this is where the hills start, we had a slight tail wind. Maintained the pace and effort, although there was a slight drop in the watts I could hold. I had the computer set to auto lap at 5 miles, and all but a couple were under 15 minutes which meant I was meeting the mental goal I had of being over 20 mph, even through the hills.

Caught up with Robin with about 15 to go, good to see a friendly face. She looked strong!

The last 5 or 6 miles turned into a mental challenge. The road was a bit rough, with a slight headwind and fatigue from the rising temperature was starting to play a role. But once back into Haines City the joy of being done took over and I finished strong.

I was disappointed to see that I still had a lot of my AG faster than me, but progress on the bike has been significant this year.

Nothing, just keep up the consistency on the bike training going through the end of season.

I knew this would be a little slower since I put on socks and had to hit the bathroom.

Pee on the bike, but it was so congested and I knew I wasn't in any type of top AG finish.

I took off out of transition with a pretty good pace feeling good but hot. First set of hills I power walked until the top and then ran from aid station to aid station finishing the first loop with an 8:43 pace.

Same strategy for the second loop, but must have walked slower and ran slower as the pace for this loop was 9:22. Third lap it fell again to 9:35.

Honestly thinking back I gave myself a pass due to the heat, but could have ran a better race/ There is no reason I couldn't have finished this faster, slowing down for every other aid station instead of everyone.

The legs felt strong through out and when I did run I had no fatigue to speak of. Need to toughen up mentally.

Focus on the mental side of running in the heat.

Cold water, a little food and just walking around. I caught up with Connie and gathered my gear and headed to the pool to cool off!!


The heat was a factor, but I let it be more of one than I should have. No open water swims this year, and never a race without wetsuit before.

Next year I will know what to expect.


The community support for this race is impressive. Like most 70.3 events, it is well run and the expo is above average.

I will do this race again.