Canceled.

After the pros and elites went off the age groupers lined up at random in the run out chute, which actually worked quite well for a time trial start. There was no time delay between participants, it was just a moving line, and once you were out of the chute you mounted your bike and you were off. Conveniently, they placed the timing mat after the mount line, allowing you to clip in first before taking off.

Up the hill to start the race. I didn't start too far back in the order of things, but there was a bit of traffic to contend with considering the number of riders starting so close together, the cones set up in the middle of the road for the run, and the spectators marching up the road to the campsite. Breathing and heart rate was high for those first few miles as I tried to get into race mode immediately instead of building up to race pace. Being as it just rained there were a few areas in the road out of the park where there may have been a puddle or two, but there was enough room in the road to maneuver around them. Otherwise, there wasn't too much to worry about in terms of wet pavement. Roads were wet, and the cleanliness of my bike showed it, but there was nothing treacherous.

Across the dam and out to the turn around point there was a small amount of headwind but there was nothing demoralizing about it in the least. This was also about the time when I crossed the dam that you began to have a bit of a battle with one other guy. We yoyo'd back and forth for the majority of the ride until I passed him on the dam hill and then didn't see him again. The only thing of real note was that I just about bit it at the turnaround. I was going a bit too fast and when I braked I think my back wheel was on a white road stripe and it slide a tad out from underneath me. Luckily disaster was avoided and I stayed upright. I smiled at the volunteer who was there telling people to slow down and he shot me a knowing look back.

A pleasantly uneventful ride the rest of the way back to the park. Got a small boost from the wind (depending on which way you were going) and going up the dam hill was no problem at all.

Nothing. My first thought every time I look at my bike split is to say "go faster" but I was pleased with my effort level considering where I'm at.

I did slow flying dismount off my bike but I lost one of my shoes in the process when the ground unclipped it from my bike. I had to set my bike down against the fence briefly before crossing the timing mat to go back and retrieve it. There was a great volunteer who met me half way and handed it off to me. Not a lot of time lost but a bit inconvenient. Smooth transition otherwise.

70th overall; 9th in age group

I know I could trim seconds off my T2 time by going sockless, but I just can't do it with these shoes. I love these shoes, but they are uncomfortable after more than a mile or two with no socks. So, I'll continue to take the few extra seconds to slip on socks in transition.

I love running off the bike. Even though the tightness in my quads suggested that my bike fitness is not where it needs to be my legs still responded nicely to the run. I took the run up the hill and into the campground very well. That first mile gave me a 7:02 split, which I'll take. By this time the sun was out and shining in full force. It was turning out to be a beautiful morning. But I was a little hot and probably could've used some fluids; however, I just took some over my head to cool me off. I like to drink on feel and need and at this point and didn't feel like I needed anything sloshing around in my stomach.

Mile two gave an encouraging 6:45 split. As I headed back down the hill for the turnaround towards mile three I heard the footsteps of Jordan Jones and Jon Bird passing me on the way to their first and second place pro finishes. That was kinda neat to see. Usually any race that I'm in that involves pros has the them finished way before I even I've thought about finishing, but the time trial start made that a little different today. Also got to see Sam Warriner and Lauren Goss (among others) as well. And so, despite the downhill run for mile three my split was not as fast as I would have hoped it would be.

My second trot up the hill was tough. I became fully aware of the tightness and heaviness in my quads caused from the bike leg. I fully considered walking, but I stayed mentally tough and my muscles kept from going completely awry to allow me to run all the way up it. It wasn't until I got to the top that I then stopped and walked. I'm not sure what I hoped to accomplish from this as I had no intentions of stretching out my legs or really resting, so I got going again with only lost time to show for it. This produced a disappointing 7:23 mile 4 split. At the aid stations I began taking in Gatorade despite having the urge to burp everything back up after swallowing it, but I needed the electrolytes.

Somewhere around between mile 4 and 5 I had the thought that creeps into my head every time I do a race - this sucks, why do I keep doing these things! But in my best Jens Voigt impersonation I told my legs and brain to shut up. I rebounded nicely from my mile 4 split to finish my run. I was even able to pass a guy in my age group in the final few 100 yards in a tough but fun sprint to the finish line.

Take advantage to the down hill run more. I coasted down it too much on the first lap and didn't use enough of it to finish my race at the end.

Covered in road grit and salt slime I sat down in the parking lot to rest and catch my breath. Eventually I grabbed a slice of pizza (something I'm very rarely am in the mood for following a race) and the made the long trek up the hill to my car with the bike in tow.


Lack of necessary bike fitness. With the cold spring weather and life with a new baby I just haven't been able to put together much more than trainer sessions in the basement or anything much longer than 25 miles on the bike.


Good race and good, experienced people that organize and put this thing together. It always sucks when the swim or race gets canceled. There can always be second guessing on whether it was the correct call or not, especially with the benefit of hindsight, but that shouldn't impact the evaluation of the overall race. It was well run. It is too bad that this race and the Kansas City Triathlon had to cannibalize itself this year with races on the same weekend.