Sylvania: Another Great Race.

It was a great morning at Sylvania with cool temperatures and light winds and an odd twist with the race being wetsuit legal.

Swim start in our wave was fast and a lead group quickly established itself to put a good chunk of time on the single file chasers up to 5 minutes behind out of the water. Typically nice paved transition area with a ton of volunteers along with the use of the Tam-O-Shanter indoor sports facility (including massage and showers!).

Out on the bike there was a light headwind going west on the course making it critical to maintain a good aero position and focus on power into the wind. At the north/south turn the wind went across us and, with the right wheels, became an advantage. Coming back east was flat out with a tail wind all the way to the transition area. Every intersection well marshalled by volunteers and police.

T2 was like lightening and out onto the run where I saw old friend Ken O'Day in the crowd and got a chance to slap high five with him. As usual, my fastest mile was the first one off the bike and then it was hang on for the ride. The run course was flat and fast and melted into a nice winding neighborhood in the final 2 miles.

I think I got outkicked by a fellow at the line for an overall spot (he wasn't in my age category) but overall a good race with good legs for the day.

I ran into a few BT'ers there like "Ranger" and "travljini" who had a mechnical before the start but said she was doing the swm and run. Nice awards ceremony afterward on the lake with good food too.

Matt West won the day in 1:59:26 with Kattie Rosa stopping the clock in 2:20:01 for the women's overall. Her husband, a favorite athlete of mine, Adriano Rosa of Brazil won the Master's race in a blistering 2:07:01 just one day after hosting his own triathlon in central Michigan with several hundred competitors. Rosa is renowned for being the person in Michigan with more triathlon finishes than any other athlete at over 300 races completed.

A special Collegiate Division was nearly swept by the powerhouse Michigan State University Triathlon Team in a blur of green and white. Jun Yamaguchi of Indiana took the Collegiate win (for Ohio State, Purdue?) in 2:05:59. Then came a huge procession of Spartans across the finish line.