I led the first lap. I knew Dan was drafting on me. I expected that.

The second lap my cap kept wanting to come off so I kept pulling it down. That slowed me down. I figured that and the congestion of catching the other waves gave Dan the opportunity to pass me.

I can't figure out why my cap always seems to want to ride up and off my head. Damn cone head I guess

This is where my day starts to get a little odd for me. I walk up the long steps which slow me down a lot, but that I expect. Then I take off my wetsuit and I realize I did not put my tri suit over my shoulders, before putting on my wetsuit. So I am pretty lucky that I was not completely naked when I removed my wetsuit. Or should I say the spectators were lucky. So I had to put that over my shoulder and zip up. My tri suit has a zipper in the back that is not easy to get to when I am dry. Joy I thought. I finally got it.

So I got my self going. Thinking to myself: what the heck was I doing prerace?


Be ready to race

Next bone head move: I left most of my nutrition in my back pack. I realized this about a mile out. I had 2 gels mixed Ina water bottle and a bottle of water. Zero solid food. So I am thinking maybe with the Gatorade bottle at the halfway point I can make it, with a relatively cooled day.

The winds were tough and were worse (directionally) the second lap.

I still had a strong bike performance. I gained 10 minutes over last year, which was right in line with the rest of my race results this year

I love my aero helmet and am pleased with my bike performance

Have my nutrition

I took my time and got set. I grabbed a gu, which I normally don't do. My stomach does not like stuff added to it during the run, but I thought I might need something. I should have just downed it and grabbed another. But I thought I could nurse it and make it through

So I was out of transition at 3 hours and 9 minutes. If I ran the exact same pace as Chisago , earlier this summer, I would finish in 4:54.xx. I would be very happy with that, after the way the race was going. So I purposely held myself back to 8 minute miles.

That lasted 2 whole miles. Then things started going wrong. I was slowing down and my heart rate was much lower then my normal run heart rate. And I was starting to cramp in my gut. I figure I am not used to that much Gatorade during the bike. I really did not know what to do.

I kept going holding 8:30-8:45. Then at mile 4 I stopped and peed. That helped with the stomach.

But I could not go any faster. My legs just had nothing left. I started to take in Gatorade at every aid station to get some fuel. I slowed more and was more than ready to quit after the halfway point. By then I figure how will I get back so keep moving. I walked some and shuffled some. Now I had to go to the bathroom. I was not going to go poop on the side of the rode. This happened in one other race. That pizza the day before was not very smart.

I finished. And then damn near filled a porta potty

To many things to list

Poor decisions


I enjoy square lake a lot and hope to redeem myself next year.