The swim went much better than expected. Of course the current does help, but I really feel I raced this leg instead of just surviving it. I got pushed and kicked around in the first 500 meters, but after that it was a smooth swim.

I will continue to work on form and speed, but other than that, nothing.

Well, this was the first of several brick walls I would face during the race. After flying out of the water and racing down the sidewalk, passing many other walking competitors, I make it to the changing tent.

I stripped down, lathered up with Chamois Butter, then jumped into by bib shorts....why does my right buttock feel cold? Oh no, did I just rip the bottom out of my bike shorts....yes I did! Of course there is no sunscreen in the tent, so I now realize this little mistake is going haunt me for several days after 6+ hours in the sun.

Jumped on the bike and off I went.

I am considering going tri-suit for the entire race next year. I would save 3-4 minutes in time, plus no chance of tearing a hole in your shorts using this strategy.

After getting out of T1, I knew Karma was working against me already. I had a bare a$$ to show the world for 6 hours, and was confident I would have a nice sun burn to start the marathon later in the day. Comments about my exposure were priceless. One older lady asked me to slow down and be her rabbit for the day....didn't know how to take that one :)

I averaged 20MPH for first 65 miles of the race and made it to Special Needs without needing a bathroom break. This was quite an improvement over last year. Nutrition was spot on and I stayed tucked in the areo position for most of the race. I started hearing a funny sound out of the front of the bike but decided to dismiss it as nerves and imagination (see definition of foreshadowing)!

Got to SN and changed Perpetum Bottles, got my Snickers, and visted the edge of the forest for a quick water relief. Very little time was waisted here and I appreciated the stop. Back in aero position and still right at the 20MPH mark. I was well ahead of my time schedule and proud of the effort.

When you turn left to hit 421 back to Wilmington, the wind immediatly hits you in the face. The wind gods were going to take back some of the gained time but I was still on track for a sub six bike segment.

Now before going on lets revisit last years race, my first IM. Things went absolutly perfect, like there was a guardian angel following me the whole day. I never hit "the wall" and simply enjoyed the day.....I almost felt like I was cheated out of the IM Experience....Well guess what....today's the day!

Around mile 81 the mysterious sound appears again, and gets louder and louder until I hear what I thought was a gun going off. Next thing I know I am landing helmet first into the pavement followed by the right side of my body. At first I had no idea what happened and actually thought I was in North Georgia riding The Gaps. I then realized I am bleeding on the side of a four lane highway. No not today, I have NEVER wrecked on a bicyle since I started this three years ago. Seriously what just happened. The road is flat and straight yet, I am lying on the ground wondering exactly where I am.

I take a look at my bike and the front tire is off the rim and I notice the bead is really messed up in one section. Helmet has a pretty nice crack in it but I know it will take forever for Bike Support to arrive so I decide to McGyver the situation. I put in a new tube and force the bead on. I only put in about 80PSI to keep the bead on the rim. I jump back on my bike ready to go and realize my handlebars are pointing 40 degrees off center. Can't adjust them so I decide to simply ride out the last 30 miles and start the run if my body is able to.

About a mile later the sound appears again, and I know the tire is heating up causing the PSI to increase....and there she blows! Bike Support shows up and takes a look at the damage....first to me then my bike. They look at the helmet and suggest calling it a day since I might have a minor concussion....no worries I tell them, I am not that smart to begin with. Some road rash on the right side of my leg and elbow....looks like some road rash on the right buttock as well...no wait its JUST sunburn from 5 hours of bare a$$ exposure! Seriouly the guys at Two Wheeler Dealer were great, and I appreciate their help. That said, there was no way I was getting a ride back into town. Like I said before the race....Ambulance or Finish Line....everything else is failure!

Made it back to T2 and was really glad to get off the bike. I didn't make my time goal due to the 20-25 minutes lost during the wreck, but I can not be more thrilled with the effort put forth. Every now and then it is good to face adversity and see how you as a competitor will react. I could have quit and no one on that course would have thought less of me.....but I knew I had it in me to finish the damn race, and if I quit it would haunt me for some time.

Seriously, you want me to answer that question after the comments above.

More time in the saddle, plus stronger=faster.

Well first and foremost, I went into the wrong changing tent. Looking good ladies...looking good. With that bit of motivation, I was ready to change shoes and get this marathon started. I did take some time to check out the damage to my knees and elbows. Not too bad, but I think there may have been some deep bruising on my legs.

Not much here. Might be in a tri suit next year and only have to change shoes.

I knew getting off the bike this was going to hurt regardless of the accident during the bike. I wanted to feel the pain, the suffering and know that I was alive. Wish Granted.

The first lap went really well. I felt strong and confident, but could tell my right knee was in considerable pain. Luckily my left achiles began to balance out the pain on its own!

After I completed the first 13.1 Miles, I began my second lap and I started to mentally break down. I kept seeing all of the families, wives and husbands supporting their loved ones, and realized how alone I felt out there. I really appreciated all of the support on Water St. as well as the BT Supporters. After a quick check of my emotions, I decided to use the pain and anger as motiviation to get through this race and do it under 12 Hours. It was gonna hurt to make that goal, but I was already in a lot of pain so what was the difference!

The last six miles were actually kind of fun. I kept telling myself you are going to have a great story to tell after this so keep fighting on. Persistence, nothing takes the place of Persistence: Calvin Cooldidge President of The United States 1924-1929

With two miles to go, I pulled the throttle back as I knew I was going to make my ammended time goal. I pushed the final mile and loved hearing the crowd as I ran down the finishing chute.

I am going to train for an individual marathon early in 2010 and try and break 3:40

I need much more volume and speed work to break a 4:00 IM Marathon.

I went to the medic tent to check out the flesh wounds and make sure my head was ok. Besides not being that good looking to begin with they said, I was going to be just fine.

I ate some pizza, drank some water and got a taxi back to my truck.


More training, more speed training, and don't over inflate your tires on a cold morning...the air will warm up, pressure will build and you will eat pavement.


I will say that I am more proud of this race than my first IM. When you get hit in the mouth and knocked down you can either get up and fight or call it a day. Honestly, I had always thought I would call it a day if something like that happened to me. I was thrilled that I had the fight in me to continue. I believe I learned lessons from this race that I will take with me throughout my life and they will make me a better person.