Ugggg terrible swim. I havent really had the chance to swim due to the move from Florida to Michigan for the past month, and it showed. I was also anticipating a wetsuit swim, and it would have been the day before, but the race day, nope. 79 degrees. I really have to wonder where they took the temp though, as there were some legit cold parts of the lake.

The lack of swim practice hurt me, as I didnt get into a rythem until about 3/4 of the way through. I dont know, my heart rate was skyrocketed and I went right through my lactic threshold within the first 150 yards. then i psyched myself out and couldnt convice myself to swim freestyle.

Oh well, room to improve.

Ummm... Out of the water, ran to rack (which was set up really weird. I had to run all the way to the edge of transition and then back to the middle. Not exactly the fairest setup with the in/out locations if you were all the way over like me) Helmet/sunglasses/socks and took off running. Did a "modified" flying mount. I just took it really slow and then off i went.

Took off and I didnt think I was riding as fast as I was. Bike mount area is on the grass, so I started in a much lower gear than usual. Mental note to self, I need to start in an even lower gear. Got my feet into my shoes and took off. My goal was to make up the serious time loss I got from the swim (again...). This was the hilliest course I have ever riden (not saying much is it) But I remembered to keep up my speed for the downhills to make it up the other side with as much momentum as possible. There was a lot of people just coasting down the hills. About two miles in, I realized that my cruise gear (22 mph) was having trouble getting into it as I downshifted. So I was having to double shift up to get it to go up. Weird, I tested it all out right before the race. Kept hammering. Only a 12 mile course. Halfway through there is a set of train tracks though. I wasnt ready for that at all! Hit them at top speed and.... My water bottle ejected. SO stop, get waterbottle, secure it, and then get going. About 5 people I had just passed went right back by me. Very annoying. The way back was uneventful, keeping the average speed around 25-26 mph.

Finished with the 13th fastest bike split, including a stop in the middle . Without the stop (30 seconds) and the slow down/speed up time, my split probably would have been around 24 mph. Oh well.

Flying dismount, no issues, rack bike, helmet off, shoes on. I have this transition down.

I need to get elastic laces. Tying my shoes continues to cost me serious time.

Run started out with a good mile uphill. I wasnt ready for it. This coupled with some side stiches coming on just turned my run to crap. Oh well. I should see an improvement next time. More run training in the future.

walk around, a slight jog.


A move from FL to MI. Also trying to re-discover some training routes. General unprepardness. Not trying to complain or make excuses, it just wasnt what i was hoping for.


It is going to take a while getting used to hills on the bike and run.... Man I enjoyed training and racing on pancake flat roads! It was a fun yet challenging course, and the fact that there are two more races over the exact same course should help figure out if I am improving or not.

Post race was a complete crazy show. No organization to awards or anything. I dont really care, but I mean one guy trying to talk over everyone just didnt work.