This swim was pretty disgusting. The water was pea green and full of "seaweed". I know it is not the sea but there was still seaweed. I had so much of this stuff on my face that I had to stop numerous times to pick it off. I actually carried some of it the entire race and Terri was picking it out of my whiskers at the finish line.

The run from the lake to T1 is long, but I was fortunate to be chasing a carrot out of the water (dar89) and proceeded to give him a big slap on his wetsuited arse as I passed him.

I haven't swam much this year but it really doesnt' show too much. I felt really good and got in a good rythym. Although I was 1 minute slower than last year I wouldn't change much from what I did.

This tranistion is long as it covers one entire parking lot in the park. Due to a snafu with my registration they had to add me to the Olympic at the last minute and thus did not have a rack for me. As Rham Emanual says "never let a good crisis go to waste", so I picked the far end of transition and established my transition spot right next to the exit. This meant I could run thru transition in barefeet and not in bike shoes - SCORE.

I had to dodge a few relay people but no big deal.

So I leave transition in my small chain ring and my chain starts jumping all over the cassette like a mexican jumping bean. WTF. I haven't changed anything since my last ride and everything worked great at Lake Mills last week - so I had no idea what this was about. Having done this course twice before I did know that there are enough hills that the SCR might come in useful. Alas it was not to be. So I made an executive decision to take it "easy" on the way out and hammer what I could on the way back. About 8 miles into the ride the roads got pretty wet so I took it very easy on the turns and the nice wicked downhill at the half way point. I must be getting old and not wanting to play daredevil. Was 3:30 slower than last year.

Not much. I have not tackled my training this year like I should. So with my caution and lack of bike training this was actually OK.

This was just OK. Figuring it took me only 13 seconds longer in T1 and that included getting out of my wetsuit, I have no idea what I was doing here.

Pick it up slow poke.

I actually wore my Garmin for this race for the run. I used it last week as well and it seems to help me keep my pace and plan an attack on when to pick it up. This course was alot more "enjoyable" today compared to last year. Thank the good lord above for overcast skies.

Train some more. But considering the difficulty of this course I completed my main goal - to average under 8:00 minute miles!

Sit around and have a beer .. yes just one beer because they ran out.

I then proceeded to check my times and got my printout...hey I finished 4th in my AG. Being the masochist that I am, I must go check the overall scores to see by how much I missed 3rd place.....6.9 seconds.....ya got to be kiddin me......I couldn't have found 6.9 seconds somewhere? This just proved to me that every little thing counts - another lesson learned today. (I really wanted a trophy.....they were giving out nice glass beer mugs). I guess this is God's way of saying I giveth and I taketh away....as I beat someone at Lake Mills last week by 9 seconds for first place in Clydes.


It was great to see everyone. A big shout out to Terri, Tammi, Tracy, Greg, Don, Suzy, Dave x2, John and anyone else I might have missed.


I really enjoy this race. It is tough and the conditions are always hot and humid, but I like the challenge. However, I think I will skip this next year.

My overall approach this year has been lack-z-daisy-gull. My plan for next year is to do both IMWI and IMAZ and I know that will involve a significant commitment. (doesn't help my new job is keeping me hooping as well).

It is interesting to see that I can still throw down some good times on limited training....I must have either a good base or been severly slacking in earlier races.