Started on the right side a few rows back. I got to swimming pretty quickly and thought I was going straight. The Garmin would indicate otherwise. I fell into a reasonable rhythm and tried not to let the incidental contact or getting squeeze distract me. About halfway out the first leg, things started to clear up and I had some room to swim, other than the occasional stray person going the wrong direction! (or maybe it was me).

From the top of the course back in, the rest of the swim was ok. Tried to focus on form and not the other swimmers.

Finishing I saw the low 40's on the watch as I was exiting and was pleased to be ahead of FL, but still a bit disappointed as I know I can break 40 minutes based on my training times.

Hire the old ladies at the Y with the noodles to simulate the other people in the race.

Practice sighting more.

Standing water in transition meant running around it.

Maybe move a bit quicker.

Settled into the bike pretty quick heading out of town then the rain started. At first it wasn't too bad, but it was consistent. Nothing I can do about it so I just get moving trying to maintain my power numbers of 210 on the flats, 250 - 270 on the hills. Picking off the better swimmers one at a time.

Eventually the rain has gotten to a point where I have to put the visor up and it is making an impact on the ability to descend the hills. At the first water stop someone ahead of me starts wobbling after the aid station, then its side to side, and finally over the handle bars into a barrel roll. I'm thinking this guy is in trouble, but as I holler to him asking if he is ok, he pops up and says he is fine. So I keep going.

After about 35 miles or so, the legs are cold and I am struggling to hold the numbers. I think it is more mental than anything. I had caught Dudley and told him I wasn't doing any more races in the Adirondacks as this made me 2 for 2. Now I am hearing something rubbing but can't find where it is coming from. At halfway I stopped to look for the rubbing, no sign so I hit the porto potty and head back to transition.

I kept pushing, hoping to keep the time under 2:45, but as the rain continued the roads were wet and on one of the downhills, I try to let the bike go but as a truck went by, with the wet roads I begin to hydro plane and decide that caution is a better idea.

I usually like the bike, and for the most part I did with this race, but I was glad to be back to transition and off the bike.

I probably should have gone with the shallower wheels instead of the 808's, and maybe gone with the 12 - 28 cassette instead of the 11- 23, with the compact on the front.
My bike has seen significant gains this season, but the more I improve, the more I am expecting of myself.

Also, avoid wet races.

This should have been quicker but I needed another trip to the porto potty. This one would cost me, and I should have just skipped it.

Use my head.

The goal pace was 8 - 8:15 so I started off at about 8 and it seemed ok. I settled in to the pace and started to click off miles. Passing some. being passed by others. The sun came out a bit and although it wasn't warm, it was humid. Lost some time on a couple of pretty good climbs, but made some of it up on the down hills.

I got a chance to see Dud a couple of times, for someone who had knee surgery not long ago, he was moving along really good. Nice to see a familiar face.

At the aid stations I was taking in water, dumping some over my head and occasionally an orange slice or watermelon for the sugar. I also had my EFS flask to take a sip off of every three or four miles.

I started struggling with a combination of the hills and a sore back about mile 8 or 9, but pushed through. These miles did drop down to a 9 minute pace though so my hopes of a 1:4X:XX HM started to fade, but I knew I still had a shot at breaking 5:30 for the overall time, so I tried to focus on that to get to the finish.

With about 2 miles to go I pass an old high school friend that I see once in a while at races. He is a pretty good athlete training for LP, so to catch him puts a little pickup in my pace which helps me gets to the finish a bit stronger.

Making the final turn towards the park, looking at the watch I know it is going to be close on the overall time but I am giving it my all. I finish, and come up short. Still, it is the best run time I have had in a HIM, so small improvements continue.

I know I can run a 1:45 HM in a HIM, I need to get over the hump mentally in the middle of the race when the going gets tough.

Walk around sipping some water, Tim (old high school friend) comes over and we spend some time catching up. Nice to see him and here about his racing, family and career.

Caught up with Dud when he finished, grabbed a snack and a beer and headed home.


This wasn't an A race and time wise it was another significant PR overall, I still have areas to work on, mostly getting over the hump mentally knowing that I have the ability and endurance to push harder.

I am overall happy with the outcome.


Not a bad race, they have been doing this for a while.