The horn blew and off we went - being late to the first call put me on the outside mid pack. Not a suggested start spot. I had to wrestle with quite a few people on the first turn. This definitely hurt my speed chances. BUt - it was a great practice run for Moo. I just held my ground and even swam over a few people. Once thru the melee, I stayed left of the pack and tried to aim yellow to yellow based off my earlier vision of the red roof. I am not sure if it helped, but I had almost no contact until the end. I just kept pushing it throught the whole swim. I wanted go as fast as I could. I think being this far left I missed out on the draft zone of the mass. It was my gamble and I am not sure it worked. I placed mid pack on the swim, and typically I am in the top 3rd. So I either added distance, or just everyone was that much faster then me. I do not think this course was much over a mile, if even a mile. I am guessing about 1800 yards - GMAPS guesstimate is 1.05 miles, with beach run.

note: Swim inside more, Draft more, show up earlier to position start with crowds

I had along T1 - but the goal was to wait for Jeanne. So I sat on the side inside T to watch for her. Her wave was 3 mins behind mine and I waited about 6 mins for her to arrive. So without her coming this would have been about 2:40 and I would have been under 5:40 today - BUT that was not todays goal - today was to train for Moo. It gave us an idea of what to watch for.

In a race - get the hell out of there. Today - Nothing, well maybe cook some eggs and bacon

WE came out of T1 and Jeann and I were off on our experiment. How to stay with her and not destroy her. She blasted out quick, I just rolled up the hill and then cruised until I could slide the feet into the shoes. It took a few blocks but no worries. I stayed behind her at least 2-3 bike lengths at all times. It was hard with the packs out there. I could see so many people ataring at me and my bike with its sweet wheels just cruisin along. No real rush. I did work a bit today - but more in the 4-6 RPE. I had a few times maybe I slipped 7-8, but not often. I was just proud of my baby. She did a great job on her ride today.

The funniest thing was I usually do not hav eto pee. Today - 2x on the bike. So we both hit the port-o at mile 15. She went first and then rolled out. I then caught up to her. We rolled a while again. Then I had to go again at mile35. I told her to just go on and I will catch up. So I hopped off and went - then treated the catch up as a TT. I just tore off. It was funny seeing people look at me pass them again - for the third time in 35 miles and yet they do not remember passing me.

I also on a few occasions would be passing people sitting straight up and having a delicious Perp treat. They were huffin, I was sunday strollin. But the plan was not fast, but stay together. Also, we wanted to keep HR's in check, just like MOO. It went real well.

I on occasssion would catch up to Jeanne and we would talk for 10 secs and I would move ahead, then she would repass, talk again, and have things straightened out. It was a good plan. We finished up and

For next race - Just RACE, Today - I would have had less fluid, more calories - I only took 11 endurolytes - and for Moo will need at least that per 56 miles

I will make stronger concoctions for Moo and intake less fluid.

Nothing pressed here - we racked the rides and grabbed our gear. we did add a Pre Burn #2 to the mix to help the run - It probably helped and will be needed for IMMooo. If we were in a race Mooood this would have been faster, but the 13.1 was just a warm up for the 3.5-4 after.

Nothing - except if racing GO

We started out slow and steady - took in our Pre Burns and then picked it up. We just chatted and moved through the first mile. and guess what - HAD TO PEE. so we stopped and waited - over 1 min for 2 guys - maybe almost 2 mins. We bagged it and just left for mile 2 pee stop. No line and much faster. This run is hard to describe. It was a flat out and back with some great scenery and I really enjoyed it.

What does stick out is being with my wife, us doing well, and seeing everyone else. The donkeys were every where. Chalked up donkey everywhere. People knew the Donks today. It was fantastic.

In the end Jeanne and I really enjoyed the run - It had to be the fastest - mind wise - run we have ever done. Time flew. Next thing you know we were coming around the Zoo for a second time and getting ready to finish.

Splits - including pee stops
11:26 (pee stop)
10:30
10:55 (actually peed)
10:12
9:43
10:01
9:33
11:37 (pee)
9:22
10:28
9:34
9:33
8:59


Oh yeah, I did start the run with a Lite beer, few drinks. and End with a Beer, but only had about 1/4 beer cause more was yet to come.

Nothing - for today this was great. I PR'd the run and did it with my wife who also PR's by 15 mins on the run and about 26 mins overall and I was there to see it all.

3.7 mile run/cool down
For IMWI training we wanted to finish our long run - so the plan was to do 4-4.5 miles, but with such a great run today, we decided to call it 40 mins. WE did 40, just spent eh first 5 mins walking and actually stopped to talk to friends a bit. Then we ran the course back out past our favorite camera man who noticed it was our third time. Jeanne turned around about 1.75 in and ran with Joe Runner - Teri back to the Zoo. I went ahead and then turned to catch them - it took 7:40's for 1.5 mile to catch them - that hurt but it was a hard effort which helped the overall average for the extra and let me know what I really had left. But we had to walk My knees quit - they are better now, but will be sore for hte week.


Not worried here- this was a preview for next year - I M going to return with a vengeance. I want to slap this baby and I think I could go under 5:15 here and maybe under 5:10 - depends upon conditions, but for sure - I will hammer the bike and hold on for the run