The big waves and chop made this swim really difficult. Sighting was much tougher and had to time your breathes more. Probably the hardest swim I've done, and it really took it out of me. By the halfway point I wanted to be done but I just kept plugging away.

Hard to say here, just had to deal with the conditions.

Used the wetsuit strippers and had a pretty normal transition.

Hamstrings felt a little funny but loosened up and felt really good on this ride. Didn't go quite as fast as I would have liked but was still happy with this performance. At mile 40 I saw a guy go over his handlebars a few hundred feet in front of me. Looked up just in time to see his face go into the pavement and his bike land on him. A group of 3 of us were the first ones to get to him. A girl stopped to check on him so I hauled ass to the next intersection (.25 miles away) and told the cop to send him so help right away. Took it pretty easy the last couple miles.

Maybe stretch the hamstrings a little more before the race to help them out. Other than that, more TITS and maybe an aero helmet.

Took a little extra time to use the bathroom but pretty standard here as well.

Started out pretty easy. Easier than my last HIM. Did roughly a :51 first lap and a :55 second lap, so I didn't fall off too much, which was nice. Was hoping for sub 8's, but at least I came close. I ran both hills both laps and only walked the aid stations to try to cram as much nutrition down my throat as I could. My legs never once felt like cramping up, which was great. I tried to run on the gravel when there was some next to the road.

I would have pushed it a little harder on the run to try to get it down to about a 1:43:00. But I don't run with a watch and just go by feel so I didn't know I would be just over 8:00/mile. Hindsight is 20/20. Maybe I'll start running with a watch.

Sat and got some rest. Then went and got some ice for my quads, which felt amazing. Drank some water and perform and actually felt really good afterwards. I think I'm getting my nutrition really dialed in.


Swim conditions really slowed me down. Would have liked to have gone around :36 instead of :42. Once I came out of the water I knew that sub 5 hours wasn't going to happen.


Another great job by WTC, the volunteers and the residents of Racine. The bike course could use some help as it's pretty chewed up in areas.