I ended up on the left hand side of the start (furthest from the buoy). I felt very calm entering the water. My start was exactly what I would have wanted. I didn't push it too much and swam within my pace. There was very little contact and only a couple of times did I feel boxed in.

After the first bouy I ended up drafting off of another swimmer for about 1/4 of the course. I started to sight and noticed that he was taking a wider path than I would have liked and left him.

At the turn around buoys there was more congestion. At this point, I was passed by the fastest swimmers of the next heat. At the same time, I was passing quite a few people from the prior heat. I was able to swim defensively for the most part.

As I headed back to the dock, I kicked rapidly to get the blood going. As I exited, I waved to my wife and to my buddies on the hill.

Not too much--I think a couple of more open water swims would have helped.

I screwed up my Garmin just before getting into the water--so I need to nail that down!

I headed up the boat ramp and I was thrilled! It was a good transition start. I pulled my cap and google off and dropped my wet suit to my waist while I was running.

I headed to the Korean flag and entered the bike transition area. I headed up the lane. However, I stopped at 63XX instead of 6436. I caught it and headed up to the right number. I got into my gear fast and headed out on the bike. As I headed out, I asked one of the volunteers if I was still in first place.

I had to fix the Garmin in transition--fix that. Also remember the fricken number!

As soon as you leave the transition area you head up Lynch Hill. This is a tough grind for 0.8 of a mile--climbing 320 feet. I was able to go up the hills at a decent pace and not kill myself. I passed a significant amount of people and was passed only by a couple. At the top of the hill I saw a bunch of TNTers cheering me on. The race course continued heading out of the park. During the majority of this stretch I was able to keep in the aeros and pick-up quite a bit of speed.

On one of the hills I saw CAF Scout walking her bike up the hill. It looked like she had derailed and then could not get back into the clips. I wished her well and said that I expect to she her pass me on the course.

As we entered Interlake road, we exited the closed part of the course. However, we had very little traffic! I continued to stay in the aeros and pushed pretty hard. My right quad started to hurt--so I backed down the gears a little bit on the downhills. It was a great self correction that I did not do at Big K.

I saw Paul on his motorcycle with a photographer on the back. I yelled at Paul and said "don't let her take any bad pictures of me!" They both laughed. I saw both of them later and I'm expecting tons of photos!


We had a moderate amount of cross wind on the way out. I continued to pass more than passed me on the way out to the turnaround.

The turnaround came up faster than I expected. I partially clicked out turnaround and went a little wide.

As I continued to make my way back, I kept passing the same racer. I would pass him on the uphills and he would catch me on the downs. After about the fourth time, I looked over at him as he passed and said "what! your back for more!" We both laughed. More about him later. I headed back staying in a high cadence and in the areos. There were to hills that were sizable on the way back and I was able to tackle those in mid ring for the most part.

As I existed Interlake, there is a significant long grade. I was going faster than I felt comfortable in the aeros. I lost quite bit of speed in this section--but I was still cranking.

There was two more hills heading back to the transition area and I was able to pickoff more cyclist. As I headed down Lynch hill I was greeted by about ten TNT teammates.

I was able to spin down Lynch--getting my legs ready for the run. As I headed back down the hill, I saw a guy running back to the finish with a "Save Adam Foundation" hauling butt. I yelled "Do this one for ADAM!" I got a smile and a wave.

This race had a lot of hype about the hills. They were tough, but not that bad compared to much of the training I had done this spring. We are blessed (cursed) with tons of hills around where I live. In fact I should have done more training on the aero bars.

I powered up one hill in my big gear and maybe I should have done a better job of gearing down on that hill.

The hydration/food intake was good for the Olympic course, but I need more for the HIM. Good stuff to work on.

This was my best T2 transition. My dismount was spot on. I got new quick tie laces and they were a little to tight. I saw Danette and Laura on the way out and I stopped to kiss Danette.

Don't get new equipment before the race. duh.

As you head out of transition, you pass a gauntlet of spectators cheering for you. It was amazing. Next, you head on a freshly paved road grinding up a hill. Around this point I pass Dr Scott--who has running slow at this point. He was double dipping--doing the HIM on Saturday and the Oly on Sunday. Amazing. He and his running partner wish me luck and I continue on. I continue on and see someone wearing a "Save Adam Foundation" shirt. It is the guy that kept flip flopping with me on the bike. Turns out that one of training buddies who is 27 had a stroke on Thursday. So three of them created race jerseys on white wife beater t-shirts with a black marker. I continue to grind up the hills and it starting to get hotter. There is no shade. I'm starting to get hot and tired. I have packed 20 ozs of Cytomax and Goos. Every water station I'm pouring two cups of water over my head. The hills continue upwards and so do I! On on of the hills I start to walk. I stay to myself "it is too early to walk" so after four walking steps I continue onward. I HTFUed (checkout youtube for an explaination)

After that hill I were blessed with a moderate downhill to recover. Then it was on to the "Pit," This is a long upward grind. We move off of the hot asphalt to a white, dusty, chalky course. The heat is just radiating! It is getting tough. I have a lot of sympathy for the racers who will be going later in the day. I pass Chris--who is heading out the other way to cheer--who give me a couple of words of encouragement. My pace starts to drop and my body is telling me that I made the right decision not to tackle the HIM with the amount of training I have done on the run.

There is one last hill and I start up and make it about 1/3 of the way up before starting to walk. I grab more water while walking. Then, one of the course angels (a spectator) yelled at me "run to me--just do it." I started back running and then continued forward. This made all of the difference in the world. I finished this hill and headed towards Lynch Hill. Toward the turn to Lynch, I see Bill who yells for me. I'm starting to feel much stronger and as I head down Lynch there is a dozen TNT members.

I head down Lynch which is really steep and my knee is holding up very well. Halfway down Lynch there is a Lady with a Boston Marathon Finisher shirt on. She yells at me to "loosen up." Spot on! I loosen up and finish the race.

Coming off the hill is a 1/4 of a mile shoot with hundreds of cheering fans. I look at the clock and see 3:58:00--I'm going to beat 3 hours. As I pick up my pace, I see Danette on the side. I stop for another kiss and then head to the finish. Looking at my HR monitor I see my highest spike here--I'm sure it was the kiss.


My training was very limited the last two months. This month I ran only two or three times. Overall I survived with minimal walking. The best news was that I survived and that my hip is fine! I'm positioned for my A race--Vineman.

I grabbed water, water and water. Did I mention water.

I caught up with family and friends and cheered my heart out. I love staying at events until the last person has crossed the finish line. They are the heros of the day. Many times they have been out twice as long as me and everyone needs someone to cheer for them.

After a couple of hours, I got in line to get a waffle cone. The person right in front of me let other in with them and they got all of the waffle cones. I was left (and bitterly so) with a stinken cup. :-(

We packed up the RV and headed home. We made our traditional stop as In & Out Burger.

The sign of truly a good race is when all you have to bitch about is a waffle cone.


--Lack of waffle cones.
--IT Band issues on the knee causing lack of run training
--Staying in the Aero bars during the steeper down hills.

Next year I need to be aware that it was good conditions and that I will need to adjust for more heat and more wind.


Like all TRI California events this one was extremely well run. The Cal Poly students were great hosts and all the volunteers were great.

This has a reputation as one of the toughest Olys and it was a great day. Where else can you get 7,500 athletes in a weekend event?