Prerace meeting they told us high tide was the best ever this year, got into water, good temp, swam around a few strokes, went out and felt the strong current, waited for start gun and took off. Started at front center, got knocked around a some, probably worse I've been hit, someone knocked my goggle and my right eye filled with salt water. I decided not to stop and fix it if it didn't bother me too much, so I kept going. I tried drafting a couple times, but I would hit thier feet or not stay on them long. I drifted right and had to keep redirecting back to center. Felt like I looked up and instantly was at the turn, the current was extremely strong. I continued to drift right and had to keep redirecting, probably lost some good time not navigating well. I felt good and pushing just a little, got a mouthful of salt water and gagged. Right eye started to sting a little half way through, but still didn't want to stop to fix and could see fine. Pushed a little the last 100 yards to the ladder, not real fast getting up these ladders but didn't need help. Took off to transition, ran on asphalt for a few 100 yards, not fun, feet got beat up, but I didn't lose any spots in the run to transition. This run is included in swim time. Pulled down wetsuit to waist while jogging to transition.

I was pumped when I heard my time, but actually disappointed in placing since last year I came in 9th on swim. I got out of water 26th in AG and ended up 26th in AG for the day, interesting stat. Time is personal best, but so was the tide. Beat last year by 7:30, goal was just to beat last year and come in under 35'.

Sight better, improve drafting and push harder. Focus more on the preswim warmup. Probably should do a practice swim on this course to get tide and path down better, tide is great but take some additional navigation to maximize. I think I did the same or worse this year than last year on navigation, I kept going wide and covered too much extra distance. With one minute left I would start back of start line and wade out farthest in the middle of channel and try to time current taking me to start line.

Ran to bike, decent position in first lane, lane side bike but near back. Took off wetsuit, stuck on ankles. Bike jersey stuck as usual, have to see if there are any techniques for this, it alway slows me down. I like wearing my Buckeye bike jersey, else I would have put on long sleeves for the jacket, will regret this later on the bike. Decided to put on CP socks, partially to keep warm and also to reduce fatigue. Started on left foot, looked down and saw and R on foot...hmmmm...R = Right? duh, never noticed that before, should I switch, does it matter? oh what the heck a few seconds more to be right, CP socks took a while to get on after the switch, and yes, L on the other one. Bike shoes on, garmin on, helmet on, sunglasses on. Took a gel and headed out. Crossed line and jumped on bike. Beat last year by 9 seconds.

Practice taking off wetsuit quickly. Figure out how to put on jersey faster. Do the CP socks really help?

I set my garmin alerts last night and decided to bump up my bike HR alters to max at Z3, rather than Z2 I usually set in HIM and my IM. Bike started ok, but felt cold, decided to go with short sleeve and left cycling jacket behind (thought it might add to drag). Wasn't long and my hands were frozen, glowing red and barely could move them. Precipition started and just made it feel colder. I could hardly pick up my clif bloks from bento box, took forever getting them out. Didn't feel like moving anything so took less gatorade and water, although with it being so cold it didn't seem to matter much. I only drank one bottle of gatorade, didn't even finish it in fact and 2? bottles of water. Ate 3 clif bloks (100 cals) every 45 mins. I had salt tabs with me but didn't take any. Wind was strong and felt like a headwind for first 30-40 miles out, brutal. Serious mental test during this segment. There was a narrow part where they had these yellow poles on side of road and orange cones we had to go between, well, like all my rides, I almost crashed, took my eye/focus off them and almost ran into one of the yellow poles, swerved right, went outside of a cone, swerved back in and pulled it back under control, holy shit that was scary! Guy behind me yelled something out, I think it was in support rather than hey dork you almost crashed us all! Hip was hurting when I pushed, but I just kept going and pushing as needed. Finally last 15 miles or so, strong headwind was now a tailwind and sun came out, still cold and thawing but gave me hope for the rest of the day, sun was forecast in the afternoon, so hoping the run was going to be reasonably nice. Penn Stater shouted out to me while passing. Got a few Go Bucks!Cruized in 20+ the rest of the way back to T2, felt great to hold 22 mph for a while and not redlining. My goal was to be under 3 hrs and push it, saw that I was real close at about 2:50 so pushed hard to end, came in just shy of goal, but for conditions I was happy.


Improved 33 positions from last year in AG and 166 positions overall. New carbon TT bike in 2011 and pushed a little harder this year.

Maybe push even harder on second half, but think I put in the right effort. I didn't really watch HR like I normally do, I kept bike computer on cadence and watched speed. HR alert only went off a few times so I knew I was ok based on my feel of effort being probably low Z3.

T2 was smooth and felt fast. Volunteer took bike right inside T2, ran and they were holding my bag for me, nice, went to tent and took off shoes, helmet and put on runners, volunteer came to help put my gear back in back and handed me my belt and hat and I took off. I had to pee, but wanted to keep T2 fast as possible. I can make it up on the run when I stop, I said to myself!

Nothing, maybe pee in T2 and start run comfortable and get sub 9 min run time rather than a quick transition time!

Took a Rocktane out of T2. Felt great coming out of T2 and looked down at garmin and pace was 8:36, so I slowed down, was planning on mid 9 to 10 to settle in for first mile. Took 3 salt tabs at mile 1 aid station, then 2 every 45 minutes. Took a GU every 45 minutes, last one was a Rocktane. Took water at almost every aid station, tried Heed once and it didn't taste/sit well, so I skipped any more Heed. Clicked off first 5k feeling pretty good, but had to pee like a bandit now and stopped at mile 4 for a 2 min piss, I almost just let the rest go it was taking so long, but I got a rest break I guess so finished my business. Saw the girls and kids while going through downtown, they were screaming and kids had a great look on them when they saw me pass, this was the best part of the entire race and lifted me up! Next few miles clicked by, now getting to halfway mark which is big milestone and turnaround. It starts to get harder to hold pace now and kept fading from my goal pace of 9:09 miles. I wanted to neg. split, but didn't know if I could hold on and actually went out faster than plan.

The race starts at The Line I was saying to hold from pushing when I felt like I could earlier in the run. I decided in my race plan to create The Line at mile 10 and at that point I would try to push but be comfortable and consistent up to that point then push harder to the end for last 5k.

Hip hurt the back half of run and especially the last 5k, started to worry as I pushed to the end that I was going to injure myself. Still in sore the next day so we will see how that goes.

Picked up 13 positions in AG and 14 positions overall, again these stats seem strange too, only 1 more position ahead overall than AG???

Nothing. Pee in T2 and get sub 9' run!

Cup of chicken broth, pizza, water and med tent to warm up. Walk around, walk over to get bags and warm post race clothes. Walk around some more, missed Joe crossing finish line, had a beer with Joe and waited on wives, who never showed up, took bus back to downtown hotel and called girls, Samantha came to pick us up but they forgot you can't drive onto the island so she was on ferry from downtown while we were taking bus back downtown. Went into bar and had beer while we waited for her. Then had an espresso shot and she finally made it with Maya.


Windy and cold bike.


Great volunteers and race course! PR in all three sports, how could I not love this course! Town is great to, wish we had more time here and better weather, both years were below normal temps. But still a great town and race!!