Started off in front. I knew the course was likely long from reading last year's RR. I figured that should only help me. Dove into the water and started swimming with one guy who was really going too fast for me. I didn't slow down trying to catch him, but he did drop me. I was then swimming with 2 others and we were all going the same speed. After about 50m of that, I decided to draft off the one guy, but the other guy wanted his feet worse than I did. So, I dropped to 4th and just conserved since I wasn't going any faster than them in the open water. This worked good as they sliced a hole through the 4 or 5 waves in front of us. I just stayed on their feet for the first 1000m or so. At the turn, I decided to make my move and passed them both, but they latched onto my feet. I stayed wide, but at least one of them stayed with me. Got to the exit ramp and the guy I was swimming with passed me as I was giving a high five to my awesome family who had come over to watch. Turns out this guy was Marc (Robertson), whom Amy introduced me to earlier.

I ran up the long transition right behind him.

Not sure. I think I did the right thing conserving on their feet since I couldn't drop them, but I really wanted to drop them. But I hit it pretty hard those last 400m.

Excellent transition. 2nd AG, 8th OA. Free time, people, free time!

Nada. I could have run faster through the long transition, but probably not worth the 3-5 seconds I would have gained.

I ride this course every once and awhile, so I knew what to expect. Nice little rollers, wind on the east side of lake (always) and one or two short, short climbs. Passed Marc in transition, and proceeded to strap my shoes in. About mile 2 Marc passes me and is going pretty good. Since, it was hot out, I concerned myself with getting as many fluids in as I could. I had 3 bottles on the bike (a ton for an oly, but it was already close to 80 deg). I "only" got 2.25 of them down, but more than happy to lug the extra around, as opposed to getting dehydrated.

After the first couple of rollers, I noticed Marc wasn't really putting any more time into me so I decided to burn a match and catch him. When I caught up to him, I entered the draft zone, so I passed trying not to look tired. He re-passed after another mile, and then I did the same the next mile. As I was passing, I told him, this could go on for awhile....and he laughed in agreement.

We jockied back and forth for awhile and then I tried to pass with a fevor and see if I could drop him. No dice. He tried the same on the one hill of consequence just south of 176. He did put some distance there, but as we hit the downhill, I passed back.

Lots more of the same on the second loop. We both picked it up towards the end, but he got me by 7 seconds going into T2. It truly was a great race between us as we pushed each other harder than we really wanted to go at times. And now we had raced the first two disciplines together. The whole time I was chasing or passing, I was thinking that this was definitely going to come down to the run. Early on in my tri career, this wouldn't have been good for me....but with all the work I have been doing on the run, I had a good feeling on this day.

Again, not much.

This was 1st AG, and 4th OA missing by just 4 seconds. Marc was pretty close to me in transition, but I was able to get my shoes on faster and passed him. He re-passed me just before the mats and I told him, "have a good run".

Not sure I can do this any faster...

Leaving T2 my legs were a little more fatigued than I thought they might be as we were working on this the last couple weeks. As Marc started to separate, I just knew my legs would come around. I just pushed with what I had and tried not to blow up...but also wanted to keep him in range. The 1st mile is mostly uphill, but very small grade. It makes for a tough start. After the 1st half mile, I was feeling pretty good, but I checked my watch at the same spot Marc was and he had 18 seconds on me at that point.

The next mile, the legs were coming around and I started to slowly pick up my pace. When we hit that first hill, I checked my watch again, and I was only 9 seconds behind him. On the flat portions of the course, I was running 6:20-6:25 and it didn't hurt (that bad). I felt very confident that I would be able to pass him eventually. After the first hill there is a very steep descent at the 2.25 mile point...I just let the legs go and I was basically on Marc's feet. I didn't pass b/c I wanted to catch my breath and pass with a purpose, as I didn't want to go back and forth like we did on the bike. As I passed him about 1/4 mile before the turnaround, he said, "you must have found a second wind"...I just replied that I expected to keep seeing him.

When I got to the turnaround and looked back at him, I already had about a 15 second gap, and I could tell I finally had dropped him after trying multiple times on the swim and bike. Nice to have the run as a weapon, instead of a weakness. Now I just needed to keep working to get a run PR. I just kept it redlined and hit up all the aid stations. The last half of the course is a little easier and I pushed it all the way to the end. Wish I would have known I only needed 2s less to beat 2:08..but oh, well...I had the most fun I have had "racing" a triathlon. This was an epic battle between the two of us.

Run Splits:
1m: 6:41, 153ahr
2m: 6:32, 157ahr
3m: 6:39, 161ahr
4m: 6:37, 163ahr
5m: 6:29, 164ahr
6m: 6:26, 165ahr
0.21m: 5:51, 167ahr <- too much gas ;)

AHR: 161, Max: 171 <- LT is around 160

Not pull up at the end and break 2:08. Not sure, I paced this good, although I did have a little too much left at the end.

Talked with the family and Amy's sister. Then saw Shannon Schroeder and congratulated her on her 2nd place OA woman's finish. Then Marc came in and we talked about what a great/fun race that was. Had some food and got out of the rain.


Genetics, humidity, long swim, hilly run (all in small increments). No complaints really. I do believe I have a faster/better race in me.


RAM puts on a good race. Lots of people participating in the three events of the day. Good venue, good breakfast afterwards. Not sure why they didn't do the award ceromony on site ,though? And why the heck don't they have a bib pickup on site???

Oh yeah, the goodie bag had a nice bike jersey in it. So, now I have another one to compliment my Pleasant Prairie jersey. This should make Whizzzz happy.