I made a somewhat out of character decision to line up on the buoy near the front, but I read the field and sensed alot of the pack would clump towards the shore and start near the boat dock, so I stayed back far enough to stay behind the speedsters and got a very clean start. Got into a nice rhythm and felt great in the water. I was spot on the buoy for the turn and traffic got heavy but soon everyone was swinging wide and I made a beeline for the next two- three buoys. Had a few opportunities to draft and did ok. Only lost rhythm once when I swallowed some river water, but got it back. After the last buoy I flowed the flow towards the dock and was there in a flash and flopped myself onto the water and was off.

Other than swallowing a lungfull of water it was a solid swim.

Long run up the dock thru the boathouse and across the street to transition, then half way around transition. Got to my bike and got out of my wetsuit thanks to my triguild which worked great. Got my stuff on took a swig of EFT and was off.

Had some issues getting my bike out on the ground rack and pointedin the right direction and had some issues clipping in and finding where the mount zone was but those were minor.

I was absolutely hammering the course over the first 11 or so miles, then a car got in our lane with traffic in both directions so comes up on a slower bike and hits the breaks and suddenly I am closing fast, with a car coming head on and basically no lane on the inside so I slammed on the breaks too and since I was in the bars I must have got to the front breaks first cause next thing
I know I am supermanning over my handle bars and then skiding across the pavement. Took most of the impact on my hands and chin and chest.
I layed on the ground and caught my breath and made sure my head and teeth were intact and saw blood dripping on the ground. Then I pulled myself together and felt my hands throbbing, then I retrieve my water bottle and took a swig which really hurt and then tried to rinse my hands which didn't help much. Then I looked at my bike and found the head set bent/twisted so I pulled them stright and got the chain back on an started thinking about getting back on. As I walked someout said asked my if I was the biker who fell and said an ambulence was on the way, that just made something click and I said "no I'm ok" and got back up and started riding. Then aerobars were offset and low and the big ring gear shift was broke so I left it in the small ring. The rear shifter worked but wasn't the smoothest it has ever been. So I rode my way back, riding pretty conservativly and not willing to get out of the saddle. I finished the last 14-16 miles in that mode and still averaged 17 mph. Sure could have been something special.

Lets think about this one a bit..... oh yeah not send myself to the emergency room. But I have visited the ER twice for racing incidents, both times I have finished the race.

I was very happy to have survived the bike leg, but I couldn't find my rack overshooting it and looking disorented enough to get an official to come talk to me. Changed shoes and got a drink of EFT and then headed out after promise the official I would visit the medical tent at the finish.

Not wreck on the bike leg

I got this far and I was going to finish. Got going and started to feel my left rib but I phased that out. I actually passed a few folks and that charged me up. Now listening to people lookng at me and the bloody face/ hands/ uniform and say, "looking good" is hearing people lie to your face. Actually the teenagers who got pumped up and pointed and yelled "hardcore" was pretty motivational. I heard someone pacing me as we got onto the bike path and worked to pick up the pace a touch. Had some spectacular pace booty to focus on and then finally my buddy passed me. I worked to stick with him and then someone blew past both of us as we hit the park. Had 2 little kids asking for high 5s , but my hands weren't ready so I had to pass. Felt bad. But running wise I was feeling good and as we made the turn I was ready to push it some more so I passed my new friend, then thanked the two kids for coming out, and opened up my stride a bit. I passed the last aid station on the bike path and got a medical worker following me on a bike and talked to me a bit, after we turned back along the river he came back with some bandages for my hands and I wrapped the left hand and thanked them for their concern and help. I passed a Terrier Tri dude and a few Team Javelin folks and encouraged them. I worked my way back to transition and again had somone offer a high 5 and I stareted to respond in reflex but caught myself and wiffed for both our benifits. Took the last hill well and worked up to the finish and had the finish chute to myself. Got to look at myself on the big screen and see how bad I looked. Had a race official meet me and escort me to the medical tent. A sub 50 min 10k with a in race bandage session and a negative split on the harder section. That was something to be proud of.

Not wreak on the bike and mess up my ribs.

None went to the medical tent and got alot of attention and some butterfly bandages for my chin and gloves for my hands. Got my medal and shirt, retrieved my stuff and got back to the hotel and colasped for a while.


Don't think I have to say it again


Despite me having to demonstrate why you need to have a closed course on a narrow 2 lane country road, I thought this was a well done race. Good expo, got to meet and hang out with BTers and pros alike. Nice course. I heards there were some timing issues but they were either fixed when I checked them. No ranking for the bike and run only real time position, ala Ironman's system.

*** Photo credit goes to Eric Willis*****