I started off in the back of my wave but quickly got into the middle of it. I intentionally wanted to experience contact to get me used to the 3,000 swimmer start at Ironman Lake Placid coming up next month. I got what I wanted but it wasn't bad at all. Some guy actually pushed me aside as he tried to pass in between me and the guy to my right. About 5 minutes into the swim I started freaking out for no reason. "this sucks, how the hell am I going to do Placid?" starting go through my mind. I kept doing a systems check over and over...am I out of breath, no, does anything hurt, no, am I scared of being in the deep dark lake, no...then there is nothing wrong, keep going. When we got to the first turn just over 1/2 way through I finally started feeling better and got into a good rhythm with no traffic at all. Still saw several yellow caps in the water behind me when I got out so I felt good about the time. For some reason my watch read 18 minutes which I new was wrong but boy did that feel good seeing that.

I'm happy with the time but its pretty close to what I get in the pool. Wetsuit plus race energy should have made me go faster. I should have started closer to the front and should have relaxed from the get go. Need to try and warm up for 10 minutes next time, maybe that will make a difference.

This was better than last time but still far from perfect. After I ran out of the bike area I realized that I didn't have my glasses. Instead of leaving the bike and running back for them I took the bike with me and started looking down to see where I might have dropped them. Turns out they were all the way back at my spot. I left my shoes in the clips. Getting in the shoes was easy but getting them buckled on the go was hard. This is my own fault, I know this from practice but didn't have time to buy race shoes. It took at least 1/2 a mile before I was buckled in good.

Put glasses on top of helmet not below and buy race shoes!!!

I came up early on Saturday just so I can spend a couple of hours leisurely riding the course to check it out. After I picked up my packet it started to drizzle and I wimped out and drove it instead. OMG is all I have to say. Just driving it scared me silly. I've only done several tri's and this is the hilliest yet. Worse than Columbia MD for reference. I think there was 2,000 feet of ascent. I barely managed to average 16 MPH and that's only thanks to some crazy downhills where I got up to 40 MPH without pedaling. There are several tight turns that come up after downhills. The volunteers were great in letting you know whats coming up but I still managed to lock up my rear break on one of them. This was incredibly challenging but rewarding at the same time. Worse part was at mile 22 approx. Last mile or two weren't hilly at all and my mind is already on the run thinking the worse of the bike is over and there is a surprise right onto a 15% incline for about 100-150 yards. Supper quick shift got me going but was almost hit by someone who wasn't able to shift fast enough, slowed to stand still and almost fell off into me. At least he was apologetic.

I could have gone harder on the flats and some of the less steep hills.

Stomach starting cramping up in the beginning. Took about a mile to get comfortable. Thankfully almost no hills at all. On the 2nd loop got passed by someone running a 7 min/mile and stayed with him for about a mile and a half. That felt really good.

I should have stayed with the fast guy longer. I let 3 people get in front of me in the last .2 miles. I'm not really racing for placement but hey 3 spots is 3 spots. I shouldn't have given them up without at least an effort.

Pizza & Mountain Dew


Doing hills on the bike


Great event but I was surprised there was fan support anywhere on the bike course. With all these crazy hills and 3 intense climbs you would think there would be some locals cheering you on. Zero. I would do this again. Very challenging and rewarding event.