This swim felt horrible! It was so broken up by me zig-zagging all over the course and not knowing how to sight so I would almost completely stop and look that I fully expected it to be something like 46 mins. I was thinking to myself, well there's always next year to nail the swim. On the last stretch I was off to the left of the course so much that I was in jelly-fish territory and got stung twice on my arm. I was pleasently surprised when I saw the time when I got out of the water. If I could have actually gotten "into" the swim and gone in a straight line...

Go to some OWS clinics and learn how to sight so I can focus more on swimming and not get so frustrated with a broken up swim!

Since the ground was all muddy, I decided to put the shoes in transition. I think this was a good idea and didn't take hardly any time at all.

Suit off, helmet on, glasses on, gus in pants, belt on and go. Oh, but I forgot to put my HRM transmitter on the belt so I had to fish it out of my pocket and put it on.. that took like 25 seconds since I was fumbling with it.

About 1:15 faster than T1 at Columbia so I did something better... it must have been the lack of margarita drinking in T1 this time ;)

Not forget to put my HRM on before I put on the wetsuit!

The bike felt great. After everyone was saying how important it is to pace yourself on the bike, I really tried to do that to keep some in the tank for the run. Averaged 20.5 on the way out then once the headwind hit, I really lost some steam and ended up at 19.7. Not quite the 20 I was hoping for but I kept hearing all the stories of burnt-out-legs-after-the-bike in my head. 95% of those who passed me had disc wheels which lead me to believe I def need to pick up a pair before next year's race :)

Nutrition - 2 bottles of 2 scoop accelerade and 6 gus (1 every 30).

I need to build some more muscle for the bike, do more flat, fast rides in preparation for the event, and get a sweet set of racing wheels :) Nutrition was fine except for the electrolytes (more on this later!).

T2 was fine until I started futzing with my race belt trying to get the gu in the little slot and then got frustrated and started running... except toward the bike out, not the run out (which was the other direction!!). Enough people started yelling that I got the hint and turned around to go the right way.

Figure out a better way to add more gus (maybe put them all in the pockets and just put up with the bouncing or use a fuel belt) and have it ingrained in my head which way to run out!

I knew from the first 1/2 mile that it was going to be a tough run. The transition from bike to run was okay but the quads cramped like crazy! The run became more about pleasing the quads than pushing the pace. Cardiovascularly I could have done sooo much more and I wanted to but I just couldn't or the quads would have given out. I kept telling them "relax, it's the hammy's turn" but they wouldn't listen... I wish I had figured out that electrolytes have a lot to do with cramping after cramping up at Columbia but I guess I didn't look into it enough.

Took a quick potty stop at mile 4 since my bladder was really full and I figured I would be limiting my water intake if I was running on a full bladder. It wouldn't have taken so long (1:37) except some el'jerko decided to cut in front of me standing there waiting for the potty and run in right after the person came out. I was PISSED off (no pun intended ;))!

I will never forget the party crowd cheering us on at mile 2/11 on the mic telling us to "take a ride on the slip and slide at mile 11". That was fantastic!

Nutrition: 4 gus w/water and some gatorade (I knew it was an electrolyte thing because about 10 seconds after I took the gu the cramping would go away for about mile and a half). Ice water under the hat was a great idea too - did that at almost every aid station and I swear it helped keep the body temp down.

Take electrolytes on the bike!!

Chillin with my folks and friends at the park!


Inability to sight/swim in straight line, muscle strength on bike, muscle cramping on the run.

But overall for my first HIM, I am super happy with my results and will definitely be back next year for some more fun :)


This was a fantastically run race. It is so well supported and staffed. The aid stations were great with the ice, water, gatorade, gus and everything else. Volunteers were so friendly and the course is nice and flat!