The swim was what I expected it to be... people everywhere, bumping, pushing, kicking, slapping... you name it, I got it. I felt smooth and was able to find and keep my groove solid up until I had my wetsuit violently ripped from my body, (which should be a standard for all races BTW...)

not too much, I can't imagine a scenario where that swim is any less congested, other than swimming a 50 minute split.

Wetsuit strippers = awesome.

I jogged up the helix and grabbed my gear bag, when I got into transition a volunteer with a TriWI shirt on yelled "Hey, RACC! Over here!" and helped me get all of my gear on quickly and smoothly. I ran with my shoes all the way to the end of transition and put my shoes on, grabbed my bike and off I went.

Nothing at all.

I went out strong on the first loop constantly questioning if I was going too fast, but I felt great and my heart rate was in check, so i made an executive desicion to give it a touch harder than planned while it was still cool out.

At the halfway point, I was at 20.5 mph and still hadn't felt any fatigue in my legs, but the heat was coming in and I started to back off a little bit.

I stopped at the special needs spot and used the porto and had my first chance to check hydration. Pee meter says, Hydration is going well. So off on the second lap I went.

By the end of the lap as I headed back to Madison, I really started to back off on the speed to try to recharge the legs for the upcoming Marathon. I then made it up the Helix and over the timing mat to T2

Not too much, it felt pretty good. I guess that you can always say train more hills/ect, but I was very happy with my bike split achieving my goal of under 6 hours.

I came into transition and another great volunteer helped me get my run gear on. I was kinda out of it and he reminded me to put on my fresh socks. Man those Transition volunteers are great.

nothing at all.

I started out running a solid 11 min pace and felt good. I caught up with Adrienne who was having some stomach muscle issues. I go ther running and we made a good team, that is until she felt better and was gone like the wind.

I stuggled on through the rest of the first lap doing everything that I could to keep hydrated, and when I hit the porto (1 of three times total on the run) the color was good and I kept drinking everything in sight to keep it that way.

The second half of the marathon really got to me, I was filling my tri top; with ice at every aid station, using sponges, and anything to keep cool but the sun was intense. At some points it took all of my energy to keep walking.

The last 45 minutes was better because it was cooling down a little, but not enough to undo the damage that the sun had done to me throughout the day.

Coming around the last aid station and then running around the corner to the finishing shute was everything that I had hoped it would be.

kill the sun.

Talked with some donks, exchanged cheers and congratulations. Then back to the hotel where I had some serious body temperature regulation issues. After getting that taken care of, we went back to watch the midnight finishers.


The heat.


Man, that is a tough course.