Started the swim at a easy pace and kept it throughout. Was able to sit on feet more than any other race.

I had to stop at times to cough but not too much. Did also get some coughing in while my head was in the water.

Great swim as I was not 100%. This was less than 4 minutes off of my PR so I was really pleased. Especially after the nasty weather 2 hour long swims the past 2 years at this event.

I had been worried about how the swim would go with the crappy sickness so I was really pleased with how it went. (I know I already said that)

Pretty good transition. Was happy with my swim and eager to move along with the race.

Nothing... could have been faster but I was in no rush with how I was feeling.

Started out the bike feeling pleased with outcome of the swim but wanted to keep from going too hard and went out at a comfortable pace.

The hills started right away. I felt good grinding up them and was passing plenty of people along the way. Especially passed them on the uphills. I pictured the uphill as a civ that brought riders back to me.

I came across lasvegas99 while climbing a steep hill near the Lake Las Vegas area. Said hey to him as I went by.

I found that I was not breathing too hard while pedaling with a steady rhythm throughout. When I went down hills I did have coughing attacks as soon as the speed picked up and the strong wind would hit my throat. Combated it with sips from the aero bottle.

I kept riding well and feeling great. I rode through all of the aid stations with perfection. Yelling out water & banana, slamming the water bottle in my aero bottle, grabbing the banana, shoving it in my mouth... squeezing the water in the botttle... discarding it... tearing off the peel... eating the banana. Was able to do that at every aid station with the addition of picking up 2 gatorade bottles as well.

I kept riding well and felt great. That is until the 3 Sisters came up. The 3 sisters are three 18% grade hills. In years past I flew right up and over them. This year they would take everything I had and I was breathing tremendously hard and coughing throughout them.

After making it over the sisters, I just could not breath for 20 minutes or so which made riding a false flat really tough. I also had to stop and fix my rear wheel as the torque I placed on it going up the sisters had caused it to move slightly and was very lightly rubbing the frame.

I gathered myself and finished the bike at a slower but comfortable pace.

Not get sick the week before. LOL

I rode really well considering my condition and was pleased with my ride.

Sat down and gradually put my shoes on. Took a hit off the inhaler my doctor gave me. Put my Garmin on and went. Did go to the porta-john at the beginning of the run.

Slow transition. It is tough after the end of the bike and your legs are kind of glad that you have planted them on solid ground.

The run... arghh. I started out sluggish after the ride and gave a good attempt to run. After the first mile I started coughing from running. So I started a walk run pattern. The more I ran the more I coughed so the walk run pattern did not last too long.

I kept moving along throughout and kept trying to run but the coughing would give me a headache that got a little worse each time. I then decided about 8 miles in that I just needed to walk. And walk I did.

I kept walking but got impatient at times and would through a little shuffle run in and then the cough would be induced and the walk would start again.

About 17 miles in I found a really annoying breathing technique that kept my breaths shorter and this allowed me to shuffle run some. So I got back to shuffling on the flats and downhills and then walked up the hills. Did this the rest of the way, gradually shuffling more until I finished.

Run but it wasn't happening on this day.

After I finished I coughed. The lady there said "are you ok?" I said "yes, I am fine. I have just been sick all week." Because of that statement they put me in a chair and whisked me away to the medical tent.

They didn't do anything other than observe me as I was doing fine. I was only down 1 1/2 lbs. and just had my cough going. They did have me take some puffs off of the inhaler. The Doctor said my breathing was at 95 and should be at 99.


Being sick.


This is a great race. It is run better than any other race that I do. The RD makes sure that you feel cared about while you are out on the course and again after you finish. The goody bag is the best in the business too.

Looking forward to going back next year healthy.

I am proud of the effort I put out after thinking on Thursday and Friday that I wouldn't be able to even give it a go.