I started right in the middle of everyone int he swim. Swam over a couple people, the usual bumping and kicking but nothing bad. It was a small wave so things thined out quick. Anytime I could I would find some feet and glide behind them. I never got a rythmn on the first loop. I could see Eric most of the time and relaized he wasn't swimming straight at all. Eric swims a little faster so I was happy to see this. It would keep him close. He finihsed the first loop ahead of me and was about half way across the beach to his second loop when I got out. His lack of direction in the lake would fail him though and I caught him on the second loop. We actually crossed the timing mat together out of the swim.

Prepare better and make sure I got a good warm-up. I felt better after the IMKS swim then this one.

Eric ran into T1 with me and I knew I needed to make up time on him here. He bikes faster then I do so any head start would help. I didn't have my GU taped to my bike and it took me a few seconds to get it shoved in a pocket on my top. the rest went real smooth as I left my rack well ahead of eric. Then I had some issues buckling my helmet and had to stop running tofix it. Got it clipped, ran out, running start, clippied in fine, I was off.

I really want some Tri shoes so I can leave them on the pedals and put my feet in as I ride. It would cut a few seconds for me. Not forget my tape next time for my GU.

Started off well on this one. I didn't have my bike computer with me becuase I wanted to see if I could push harder without it. I don't know if it worked. I crusied to the hill and found it wasn't so fun to climb. Went down the side and Eric caught me shortly after that. We switched spots a couple times and then he passed me for good jsut before we had to hop off on the wood bridge. I decided as long as I kept him close I could beat him on the run. I worked hard to keep fairly close but that inclusded trucking up the backside of the big hill and when I hit the top my stomach started to get a little queasy. I proceeded to coast about half of the way down the big hill. I figured this would be the best place if any to lower my HR a little and be able to keep that gap to a minimum. On the out and back that heads to the turn around I got a chance to see how far ahead he had gotten and it was a ways. There was a headwind to the turn around and I wanted to puke. I went through the turn around, choked down my GU and started working again. I told myself I really needed a faster 2nd loop. I pushed hard through the second loop but never got Eric back in sight. Now I jsut focused on riding fast. I was a little worried I would kill my legs and not be able to make up time running but I decided I was going to have to HTFU come run time anyway. Went real hard the 2nd loop and felt better by the time I got back near transition.

Once again I think my legs suffered from a lack of training before hand. This ride is what really slowed down my race I think. I guess I'm just gonna have to get more T.I.T.S.

I knew this would be a chance to make up some time since Eric dosen't transition as fast. He was gone from transition so I knew I had my work cut out for me. I did the rolling dismount and ran in. Racked the bike fine, shoes went on easy, grabbed the hat and number and put them on while I ran.

Nothing, this was perfect for me. Only 3 people did T2 faster then me in my AG, the fastest was 46 sec so I wasn't far off.

I'm faster then Eric running so I knew my only hope of beating him now was to catch him. I just hoped i could get as close as possible before the turn around so he would have less time to react. I set out at a fast pace, I've learned if I wanna run fast I need to start fast. Once again no watch with me, just the knowledge that Eric was ahead. I passed a coulpe folks early, including one in my Age Group, made a point of flying by him. I didn't need anyone else trying to beat me on the run. I cruised throught te first mile and after about a mile and a half thought I saw a glimpse of Eric a good quarter mile ahead of me around a picnic area. I picked up the pace a little. My legs were still lead and my breathing was heavy, I just kept telling myself its only a 5 mile run, I do this every thursday. Every time someone came from the other direction I hoped it wasn't him and I didn't see him until very close to the turn around. I was suprised to see the turn around when I did. I was looking for the tape across the path as described pre-race but it was only a cone on the ground. No one to tell you what was happening. They guy infront of me cruised right past it. I tried to pick up my pace again but I don't know if it changed much. Everytime I saw Eric it seemed like I hadn't made up any ground. He had clearly sped up when he saw how much I had caught him. I pushed the rest of the race but couldn't seem to make up much more. He lingered just out of reach all the way through the finish. I finished 30 sec. behind him. We told each other good race and admited we were racign each other. It had never been mentioned before but we train together so of course we wanted to see who coud be faster.

Start faster.. it if I could have. Actually I think this has been my best run leg to date. I was pretty happy with it especially since I had only 2 bricks since June to get ready.

Walked around with some water and a Pepsi. Stretched out and chatted with Eric and we eventually cheered Lisa into the finish.


I didn't train for this race as much as I probably should have. I was focused more on the Marathon in October and most weeks I was only getting one bike ride in and maybe 2 swims. The run training certainly helped though.