EPIC !!!! Hills, hills, HILLS! and 25mph winds and it was hot! I cut out a 12 mile section of the course accidently. All I can say is that I never cried. I think I screamed, "I want my mommy!" once or twice.

Started out with Schmize and 1300 other people. The beginning was very fast and fun. At the bottom of the first hill I asked Scott how fast we were going and he said 48mph. Wow cool. This day is going to be fun. We then turn back and do a 3 mile climb at about 12 to 14 percent grade. I thought it would never end. They also didn't tell me that we were going to have to do it again at the very end to get back to our cars.

The wind really started to kick up after a couple hours and between that the sun, humidedy and the hills, my legs started to cramp up at about mile 80. It was pretty bad. I could physically see the muscles in my legs tightening up. I tried to drink as much gatorade as possible. I was also popping ibuprophen and endurolytes like they were candy. I did not bring enough of either, but thank God they had both at all the rest stations. Towards the end I was spending more time at the rest stations. I also had to walk up some of the hills due to the cramping.

This was one of the hardest things I have ever done. I am pretty satisfied with my first time performance.


I think I brought the wrong equipment to this race. I should have had a road bike instead of my tri bike. I would have also had smaller gears. My tri bike is made for racing not climbing. I was smoking a lot of people in the downhills and the flats, but was not so good in the climbs. I think I would also bring cleats that are easier to get in and out of.

Changed clothes and ate as much as I could at the cookout. They had a lot of awesome food.


Inexperience.


Awesome race. I might have been a little over my head doing the full length. It was definitely an experience I will never forget. I can't wait to do it again.

The thing I will never forget from this. I was sitting at the side of the roadd on a hill trying to catch my breath when a lady pulls up in her car and very nicely asks me if I need anything. I reply that I could use some oxygen and she replies that she thinks I could use some testosterone!!! SNAP!!!

I wake up Sunday morning with my legs feeling pretty good. My neck, shoulders and arms are pretty sore.