The start of an IM race is always a cool experience, the helicopter flying overhead, the national anthem playing! The gun went off and the day began! I settled into a pretty good rhythm and tried to keep calm. It seemed like there was a lot of contact in the water, I bumped into some girl a couple times and she must have gotten mad because she kicked me in the side pretty hard. If you get mad about people running into while swimming in the murkiness of TTL you're probably going to be mad most of the swim! I set a good pace and felt solid the whole way. Got kicked in the goggle about 200 yards from the finish, fortunately it didn't hurt too bad or knock my goggles off! Swam to the stairs and I was out of the water!

Nothing really, good IM effort swim, about 1 minute faster than my previous races.

The strippers did great, got me out of my wetsuit quickly and I ran off to get my T1 bag. I usually just change in the grass outside the tent, it's too hot and crowded in there and since I wear the same thing the whole time it's just easier and nicer this way. Grabbed my bike and away I went!

Felt great leaving transition and had a solid first lap, during the second lap the wind picked up a little. I tried to keep my heart rate down and spin my way up the hill and then roll down at a good clip. On the third lap I backed it off a little to ensure my legs were ready for the run. I could have pushed it a little more but I feel like I rode a smart ride. Did a good job taking in calories and ate 3 bananas from the aid stations. It's a great feeling to get to Shea Blvd on your 3rd lap, all you have to do is roll on back into Tempe and you're done with the bike ride!

You can always be a little more fit!

Handed off the bike to the volunteers and headed into the changing tent to get a little break from the sun. Ate some pretzels they were handing out in the tent, got the shoes on and got slathered up with sun screen!

Pretty happy with my run. In the past it has been my undoing in IM Races and this year I was determined not to let that happen. I started out a little fast, but settled into a comfortable, sustainable pace. The first lap was probably the toughest for me, the end seems so far away and it's been a long day already. About 1/2 way through the that 1st lap my right foot was feeling numb, this worried me because I didn't want to have to start walking. I sat down and took off my calf compression sleeves and this totally fixed things, from here on out I just started feeling better and better! I walked through the aid stations and ran to the next one, these little respites from running gave me just enough rest to keep cranking out some good miles. I wanted to finish under 12 hours and knew it would be close, I picked up the pace about 4 miles out from the finish but just couldn't make it happen. I was bummed I wasn't coming in under my goal but dug deep to get as close a possible, while I was hurting pretty good those last few miles it felt great to be pushing that hard. It's awesome to make the last turn on to the lake path and run past all the cheering people, really helps you keep going! I made the turn towards the finish and the feeling, like usual, makes all those hours of training worthwhile!

This is my best IM run by far, and I'm pretty happy with it!

Found Amy and my parents,grabbed a few sodas and sat down...
Had sometime to kill while I waited for my friends to finish, actually had a post race cocktail (something I've always tried and failed to do post IM), it didn't taste that good. Met up with our cheering section and watched my friends finish!


Could have been a little stronger on the bike.


While I didn't come in under 12 hours it was still a 31 minute PR, I'm happy with that.

They always put on a great show and this race was no different. I think this will be my last IM for awhile, it just takes up so much of your life, but the whole thing was a great experience. I was lucky to have some of my best friends to train with and my wife to support me during the long summer of endless bike rides and runs. Like usual the AZ Tri Clubs folks were great out there, they had an awesome cheering section that kept me going!