Pretty solid run for me - my goal was to stay on Chris's hip for a long as I could hang - I figured if I stayed within a few minutes of him at the run finish, I should be in good position for a Top 25 finish (although secretly, I wanted a Top 20) Apparently I thought i was challenging for a Top 5 cause I took off out of the gate - looked to my left - and no Chris, uh oh...........too fast. lol I see Chris catch me on my left side and I just tucked in behind him for the first 3/4 to mile - hit mile 1 at 7:08 (my stand alone 5k first mile PR was 7:14) - wow, and I felt pretty decent..........lets see how long I can hold it? Chris started to pull away at this point and I settled in with a couple other pacers. I saw Brian and Pat at the turnaround (Clydesdales started 3 minutes in front of us) and I was within striking distance, so I pushed a little more............that was a nice carrot to have out there. I finally caught Pat with about a .5 mile to go and just as I crossed the bridge, I heard the T3 bells ringing (wow............I'm not far off Chris) As I come into transition, I see Chris just hitting the bike out mat as I grab my helmet - ok, plan executed perfectly at this point.................although I knew I had no chance to get him on the bike - I wanted to just stay as close as I could.......more to come on that below!

Do a relay and have Gary Cates run the 5k! Other than that - notta; this was a PR 5k for me

Time wise..............aight, I guess......goal was 30 sec.

Need to figure out a way to get clipped in quicker - struggling with my new cleats.

Ok - so struggled getting clipped in, but no biggie - I got this. Got the Aerospoke on...........52nd off the run..........time to make the donuts!! As I'm picking them off one by one, I see a guy up ahead moving a barracade off to the side of the road (bout 3.5-4 miles in? I need we had to turn at some point, however, it just seemed too early. So I see him walk over to this pick-up after moving the barracde and start chatting it up - ok, maybe this isn't it.............I blow by him (I could not see any bikers in front of me or making the turn)..............HEEEEEEEEEY!! he yells - I lock them up - WTF~!!!!!!!!! I knew it dammit - no waving to turn, no signal..........just leaning in the F N pick-up truck talking. Turn around trying not to dump the bike, out of the saddle and start hammering back to the corner, make the turn and start picking off the same damn peeps I just passed..........ugh. Oh well..........that's racing, but was determined not to get passed and kept hammering away - in the end, it prolly cost me 30 sec or so between stopping, turning, comeback......etc. So I get to the turnaround in 34th.....well, got me bout 18 and I say to myself; self......you forgot to make long johns.......yep - still got more donuts to make......9 mo. Oh shit...........that was Pat........nope, not today big boy, not gonna happen...lol. See Bob on the way back in..............he was barking something at me - no idea what he said, but it didn't matter - it gave me some mo go-go juice. Started picking peeps off 1 by 1 on the way back and crossed the mat 25th, but 3 relays in front, so officially 22nd. I really like this bike course though - had a blast!

idk.............prolly yell at the guy ahead of time and see if he would have started pointing? I had time as I watched it all unfold for about 200 yards

Pat was right on on my heels coming across the line - spun for a few minutes and chatted it up with some folks. Took bikes over and loaded them up, got medal, watched Bob come in on the finish, got some eats and hung out for the awards.


Bone head move............not sure I left anything on the table though - low to mid 22s is about where I am on the bike, and felt I had that today w/out the missed turn. Run was great for me, so no complaints there.


This race is a definite 'Must do' race - had an ABSOLUTE blast and glad Chris talked me into it. I will be back!! (and this time, I would need chatty cathy out there at the turn............I know where to go now - THX! lol