Start was at the top of a hill and then sharp downhill. I was seeded about 1/2 way back in the field since I was talking with another racer. At the horn I tried to work my way up a little while on the downhill. Legs got pounded a bit there. The hope was to get into the top 15 and sit in until the bike and make up places there (top 12 got World's slots). The field would have none of that as it was really stacked with faster guys and I couldn't make up any ground on them.

Mile marker was off as I had us going through the first mile in ..... wait for it ..... 3:19!! By then I was already slipping back and was probably in the 25 or so place range with the front guys pulling way ahead. I just had nothing in my legs! By about the two mile mark after we went under the bridge I was already going into "survival" mode. The legs were heavy, breathing was labored and I had zero gas in the tank. I've had that at the end of longer races (and would expect that sometimes) but never less than halfway into a 10k!

By the first 180 turn (volunteer said 3.6 mile mark) I was sitting in about 30th place and falling fast. 4 mile mark came at right around 26 minutes, so still not a terrible pace, but definitely getting slower each step. From then on it was a mental debate of whether or not I was even going to go out on the bike as I was just getting slower and more drained. I'd been hitting every water stop and taking a drink and pouring some doiwn my neck/back but it wasn't helping anything at all.

Finally made the last 180 turn and headed towards transition. Got chicked by the two lead ladies in the 35-39 field in the last 1/4 mile (and they started 5 minutes after us ..... kickin' azz for sure ladies!!). At that point I was surprised they hadn't caught me sooner! Shuffled into transition and down to my bike.

No idea. Maybe starting out slower would have been better? I just hate watching the field pull off ahead of me in this type of event as I'm usually pretty capable of running with the front group in almost all races.

No oomph and at this point was just going to go out and see if I could even ride reasonably. So no hurry.

Be in some condition to race maybe? Normally this would have been like a :40 or so transition.

Got on the bike, clipped in, and tried to get going. First part of the course is uphill to the run start and then blast down the same hill we ran earlier. Climbing the hill even though it was short was a b-tch. Got to the top, started down. Coasted sitting up on the bullhorns. Then tried to get down into the aero position once it leveled out and ride consrevatively.

I couldn't even stay aero! It was like dropping down 3 speeds as soon as I got down. I simply couldn't hold my position and got back up on the bars as soon as the road even went slightly up or into the wind. Frickin' weird! I had nothing - and I mean nothing - to push with! It never got any better. I puzzyfooted up the hills, coasted down them and barely stayed aero on the flats. Worst ride in a race ever.

At the end of the first loop I was barely averaging over 18 and I was done. No point in going any further so I pulled out and turned in my chip.

Probably not even start the bike as I could tell this was going to be the result.

None. Sat and watched some of my AG finish their bike and some of the next one starting it. Waited until a good bit of my AG to come in before going over to retrieve my bike and go home.


Don't know. Was it the heat? Was it my fitness? Was it my start? Was it my nutrition the past week? Could be any combination of things. But the day was definitely not mine.


Good race, well run, great schwag. Just not my day at all. Oh well, recover and move on to the next one.