Started out just left of center a few bodies back, which was right about perfect. Was on top of a few people in the first 100yrs or so but we got ourselves sorted out. I mainly sighted off the group to my right and was on various feet for this outbound section. I hit the bouy line nearly perfectly and the pace felt strong with a moderately difficult effort. Rounded the first bouy easily and ended up swimming pretty inefficiently on this back leg: drifted off line pretty good and had to spend some extra strokes sighting and getting myself back on line. Started to run into the backs of some blue-cappers, which was pretty annoying. The next turn was uneventful and felt like I took a very straight line back to shore. Had some feet for a bit then went past and was swimming just outside of someone for another bit. Pushed the pace a little, hit a few more blue-cappers, then was touching the sand. Decent swim, decent results. I was probably out of the water ~12:30.

nav better, sit on feet longer

Pretty good. It was a bit painful to run through the parking lot barefoot (rough blacktop). Had the wetsuit down on my hips when I got to the bike and goggles/cap in hand. Had to stand on my wetsuit a few times to get it off, but wasn’t that big of an issues. Got my glasses & helmet on quickly. Knocked my neighbor’s helmet (and glasses) off his bike as I was getting ready to head out so I took a few seconds to get those back on his bars for him. Short jog to the bike exit and mounted rather conservatively (no flying mount by any means).

Not much at all. I’d like a rack on the end so I don’t have to interfere with other people’s setup, but that’s hard to get.

Got my feet in quickly. Revelcro’d my shoes after ~1mi. Got settled into a good pace/cadence once on Jay. I got passed a handful of times pretty soundly. A few times I found myself keeping pace, but mostly these were very strong cyclists that just disappeared up the field. I’m sure I passed 2x or 3s as many people as passed me, but I really don’t remember those as vividly. Once on N. Foothills a number of people were riding on the left of the shoulder, which made for a high pucker-factor when passing as there was a good amount of vehicle traffic out there. I took a few sips of water from my bottle about three times.
I felt like I was hammering this pretty good and kept a consistent effort for the loop, but knew I’d be just off my time once I got onto the diag. I’m not sure what’s up with my cycling. Same bike and setup as last year’s 5430 Long Course, same pace. What’s up with that?

Go faster for the same effort – somehow

Not bad, but could have been faster. I had a lot of ground to cover though, given the layout of the transition area. Had feet out on the shoes, no problem. Jumped off right at the line and got to my rack quickly. Had the garmin off the bars and my shoes on quickly. Fumbled around with my garmin a bit trying to get it on my wrist, just ended up carring it in my hand.

I was looking at my pace as I got out of t2 and it was slow for what I felt like I was putting out. I focused on form and turn-over and getting to the dam where I hoped I quickly settle into a groove. My legs were burning a bit and my calf was threatening to cramp up, but forenuately never did. The wind was strong going out and never could find someone to get behind, despite a lot of people being out there on course. That turnaround seemed a long way away and got out there in 10:57. Picked it up a bit on the way back and felt like I was just on the cusp of hyperventilating as I got off the damn. I felt pretty miserable. I picked it up a bit more and just tried to keep from melting down.

Way off target on my run. This was half-marathon pace! WTF!? More bricks I guess….

My fam met me at the line. Chatted with BTers and some masters teammates. Ate, drank a beer, chatted with some other IMFL ’07 alums.


I didn’t treat this as an “A” race and it showed. I shouldn’t get discouraged for not having “A” performances every time I race, but I feel like I’m faster than what these results show and don’t feel like my goal going in (1hr 22min) was unrealistic. I’ve got to train smarter and especially do a better job of rest and recovery.