I had difficulty getting my bearings and learning to sight. I was not very straight or online. I also had some issues learning to deal with the small waves. The second portion of the race went better than the first. I wasnt tired at all and I wasnt distressed but I wasnt very straight either.

Other than practice open water sighting more I think it went ok from a swim perspective. I wanted to be close to my previous best (37 something) so I met that goal.

REV3 tracks results with a rolling average of your placement in the age group. Out of the water I was 27/89

The transition area was very neat and organized. I was able to make sure I got everything squared away before I started. One small issue I had was that I forgot any sort of crotch protection. I was going to have to do the ride and run sans skin protectant. I have gone 70 miles biking without and 13 miles running without so I was going to try them both together and hope I didnt have ground beef in my pants when I was done :)

maybe bring some body glide or something to protect my bits.

My rolling place in my AG was 25/89

My goal was to hit 19 mph on the bike and I nailed it. The wind is mostly at your back for the first 35 miles or so. I did 39 miles in 2 hours. The way back in way a combo of wind in face, sidewind, wind at back. The first 5 miles out and last 5 miles back in are on a pretty rough road. You really needed to pay attention the some of the large cracks and holes in the road. It was also a divided road which meant there was really only room for about two riders abreast. Narrow plus dangerous passing due to road conditions led to some drafting/bunching up but I dont think it was because of blatant cheating more as a function of the course.
I saw the marshals about 7 times on my bike which I think was great. I only saw one instance of blatant drafting ( a group of four guys, one of them said " I am getting a little burned - someone else pull for a bit )
Aid stations were every 10 miles exactly as stated in the race packet. Good help. I refilled my water bottle once with a hand up.
I ate 1.5 cliff bars and a whole 20 oz bottle of chocolate soy milk during my ride (roughly 800 calories) I think it was good enough fuel for the run

not much - I think it went great

My rolling place in the AG went from 25/89 from the start to 43/89 at the end. Obviously my bike isnt my best

Didnt do a flying dismount. Found my rack space with ease. I ride without socks but for longer ditances I run with socks so I took some time putting my socks on. got some new gum, stopped for a photo op and peed - all in all that was a pretty good transition time for all those activities.

my rolling AG place actually went from 43/89 to 41/89 during the T2

REV3 tracks your pacing at several points during the running portion (they also do it on the bike too - very nice). My goal was for about an 8:20 pace. The wind is at your back for the first 2-3 miles. Consequently I did the first 3.5 miles at a sub 8 minute pace. I felt fine until about mile 7. I was getting sips of water, grapes and ice at the aid stations (also every mile and well staffed with people). I got caught by the Full distance leader around mile 6.5. I got passed by a dude named Bjorn (it was on his butt, not that I stare at guys butts but I didnt really have anything else to look at the time). He had three cyclists, a police motorcycle and a HELICOPTER following him. So I was a celebrity for the 15 seconds it took for him to catch and pass me.

Somewhere between mile 7 and 8 and left hamstring and quad started to cramp. I tried to stretch them but that didnt work as it made the muscle opposite the muscle I was stretching cramp. The last five miles I had to go at a slower pace because there was a cadence point that the muscles would lock up. So I just kinda jogged in the last few miles. I didnt feel bad other than when I would go too fast. My pacing for the last few miles was just north of 9 min miles.

When I finished I was covered in white dust. Because it was cool and windy out, I didnt really notice my sweat loss. I should look into a more aggressive salt replacement sometime. I tried Cerasport on the course when I started cramping and I decided I would rather cramp and crawl than drink that stuff. Not good.

My AG ranking improved on the run from 41/89 at the start of the run to 33/89 at the end

The finish line had lots of people and a giant TV and an announcer who actually pronounced my last name right. After the finish I went and got in an ice bath (shocking but it felt great) and a massage (all free man). I looked at the food but I wasnt hungry. In fact I didnt eat anything until 730 that night. I changed clothes, watched some friends finish then a group of us went and rode roller coasters for 3 hours in the sun.


Nothing. I hit or came close enough on my target goals, I didnt get hurt and I really liked the venue.


I think this was a tremendous race, especially for its first year. A good crowd, well organzied, lots of swag and extras (2 shirts, visor,bag, 2 tickets to cedar point, personalized racks, massage, ice baths, cool tech and tracking). I have never done a 70.3 branded race but I would find it hard to believe that it is much better than this. The location is great. The only downsides are that Lake Erie could be ugly (it was on saturday but turned nice on sunday) and a few first time event snafus from hotel and cedar point employees (not a biggie really).

We actually stayed to almost 11:30 PM. One friend (who was spectating) starting internally bleeding from a recent surgery and had to be sent to the ER and OR for surgery. Unfortunately her husband was doing the full so we hung around to see him at the transitions and cheer him on. His wife is such and animal that she started bleeding, got rushed to the OR, had a 1 hour surgery under general anesthetic got discharged and made it back for his finish. He then spent an hour in the med tent. Consequently we didnt get home to Toledo until 2 AM and I had to be at work in Cincy Monday at 12PM. I was a tired puppy.