At the start of the race I did one big thing that I think helped my swim. I started out on the left hand side of the pack at the front. While there was definitely some hands and feet to fight, it seems that the very fast guys tried to stay closer to the right hand side of the start. I knew that I had a good swim when I got out of the water, but it wasn't just good, it was a huge PR!! I've never swam a 1:24 pace and that included about a 50+ yard run up to T1.

Nothing.

The first thing I noticed when I got to my bike was that Ryan's 9 (Himself) bike was still there. I wanted out of there as quickly as possible.


This should have been right at a minute but I couldn't get my wetsuit off of my right heal. I think it was caught on my timing chip. Maybe I should have used more Bodyglide around my ankle and heal area. Other than that it was a decent transition for me.

This is where the race really began for me. I wanted to get out of the Boulder Res and out to Jay Rd without Ryan catching me. I felt that he would be stronger on the bike than me so I knew I had to push. I hung a right on Jay Rd and knew if I didnt' back off, I'd pop. It's a slight up hill for a couple miles out to 36 and while I backed off, my HR was still hovering around 176. We turned right onto 36 and guys in my AG seemed to be going by me like I was standing still. I was working hard but my HR was back into the 160s. Ryan was still nowhere to be seen although I kept expecting the next guy to be him. We took turned right onto Neva Rd, pushed down a nice hill and then carried the speed up the next hill. From there until we turned onto 63rd, I exchanged places with a guy on an orange Elite. There was a slower rider in between us when we turned and the lane was too narrow to pass her. I never saw the guy on the Elite again. The next few miles were small rolling hills out to the Diagonal highway and I was still checking behind me for Ryan. I took a couple Endurolytes and a gel as I got onto the Diagonal. I felt strong here even though it's slightly up hill. I continued to push and began to rehearse my transition in my head. As we turned back onto Jay Rd and then towards the Res, there was a clump of slower riders shuffling positions and I had to get hard on the brakes as we went around the corner. Felt like I lost some very valuable time and I checked behind me again. I rolled into T2, feeling good.

Nothing

Swapped my helmet for my visor, pulled on my sockes and shoes, grabbed my number belt clicked it together on the way out.

Nothing.

As soon as I started running, I knew I'd be on guts because my legs that felt good on the bike did not feel good on the run. It's only a 5k though, and if I didn't cramp, which they've been doing lately, they might come around. They didn't. They hurt and didn't really start turning over on their own until the turnaround. On the way back in, I kept watching for Ryan but didn't see him. I kept pushing and just when the road turned from dirt/gravel to pavement again I began to think "He must've had a flat, or wrecked...hope he's ok. Maybe I can back off a little." At that very second, there was Ryan on my shoulder w/ maybe 3/4 of a mile to go. "What the F#$K????" was all I could think. As we went down hill I made my move and thought that either he's gonna blow up or I'm gonna blow up. As we went down the hill, I could see his shadow following me and I lost it...briefly. We made a tight right-hander towards the finish chute with me leading but I could feel him on me. I went to the right of a slower runner and Ryan went to the left. As we crossed the finish line, my stomach was already in the process of turning itself inside out. He beat my by a step or two. I couldn't have asked for a better finish!!!

Maybe I should have started my push a little later?? But still, I'm not sure there was much I could have done. I honestly believe the Endurolytes kept me from cramping I haven't ridden that hard and then run that hard in a long time without cramping.

Puked...got a water chatted it up, congratulated Ryan. This is racin'!


With the cramping issues I've been having with the run off the bike, I think that's prevented me from training as effectively as I could have. More than that thought, my training has been too sporadic.


I love this race. It's got a great feel to it. If I had one bone to pick it'd be the run course. It's exposed, the surface is rough and the heat seems to reflect right off the trail. Tough courses make for great races though, so would I change it? Probably not.