great navigation on first lap, second I was wide right on the way back in, cost me maybe 30 seconds.

had to put on an under armor type shirt due to cold bike temps. Took forever to get it on wet arms. Both the volunteer and I was pulling on the sleeves to get it on. Took maybe 45 seconds. Slow T1 for me. Bike was positioned at the back of transition which meant I had to run in bike shoes all the way through transition to the mount line. I ran to my bike with out shoes but had to put them on before grabbing my bike as i didn't want to try to put them on while trying to hold my bike at the mount line.

Pushed miles 30-50 too much, ave. watts for that section were 35 over race goal, burnt too many matches here.

hold pacing and let things unfold. Attach the first time over the bridge like everyone else, got left in the dust while I spun up it.

pretty good T2, had to remove the under armor shirt which only too a few seconds.

last 5 miles were a death march for me. I knew going in that if I walked even 1 step on the run my Kona chances would be gone so I had to just keep going. Pace had dropped from 7:20 to 8:00, then 9:00. First 13 miles, all miles splits were sub 7:15, which was about 5 sec faster than target. Held sub 7:30 until mile 19, then a 7:40 then the stomach issue had me at 8:00 until mile 25, then over 9:00 for last 1.2 mils which seemed like I was walking. Got passed by 3 guys in my AG during last 2 miles. I didn't know if they were the last of the Kona slots, but I had absolutely nothing in me to stay with them. They were running in the mid 7's and I had my hands full just telling my head "no f'ing walking" I wanted to walk like I was a crack addict needing a fix, but I couldn't let it happen. Its a good thing because the next guy was less than a minute behind me. As it turns out, I was right about walking even one step and my Kona chances.

try not to pass out.


inability to get any calories in after mile 20 on run.


I have been chasing a Kona slot for the past 5 years, realistically the past 3. Last year was a huge disappointment for me with getting hit by a car on mile 2 of the bike. It feels like a huge weight off my sholders to have finally accomplished this goal. Now on to figuring out what my goal is going to be for Hawaii next October.