I easily swam an extra 200 meters. I nearly swam to too the markers on the other side of the rectangle before a kayak caught me and sent me back into the blinding fog. Smooth water...it was calm and pretty.

Bigger kick coming into the last 200 meters.4

Uphill mount for bike is always tricky. I spent extra time drying off and putting on arm warmers, long shirt and gloves. Wore socks too. I walked part of the path up from the water to the bikes was pretty winded. I was focused on having a good day on my bike, not on record times so I didn't have too much worry about the extra clothes. 13th T1 time for my AG.

Move faster with the shirt/socks.

I rode 5 minutes faster than 2012. I failed on the wall at Westernport which is a huge disappointment. Not only was I nearly 10 pounds lighter than last year, I approached it with a perfect line and no one in front of me. I had clear sailing. I was fine and in the saddle for the first two blocks. Had no difficulty coming out of the saddle for the third and made it to about 1.5 bike lengths from the top before I just couldn't turn it anymore. I popped a small wheelie, leaned forward and then lost all traction on the back wheel before dumping onto my left side. I was 39th in the KOM competition taking 41:16 to climb 7.2 miles.

Bike split was 5:02 faster than 2012.

Several times -- at least 3-4 times -- I felt like I wasn't going to make it over a hill. It wasn't just the Wall or Killer Miller. It was like my top-end power was cut off and I had 98 percent of my legs up to a certain point...but then when I needed the last part of my power curve, I had 0 percent of it available to me. I could barely make some of the climbs that in the past I've spun over. I think the six days between races isn't nearly enough recovery for me especially considering how much climbing was in Las Vegas. There is no doubt that I'm riding much more smoothly and faster in the two biggest gears. When I'm on a flat or nearly flat downhill I can comfortably spin 90 rpm in the 13 or 11 and hit 35 mph or better. This is a big improvement...now I need to work on the 25 cog and improve the 8 mph up to 12 or 14 mph.

Crush that Wall!

As I racked my bike, I heard the race announcer call for the race leader coming through the woods. He passed me about 800 meters into my run...wow. It was Kelly Williamson from the Ignite Endurance team.
5th T2 time in my age group

I walked about 1/2 to 2/3 of fire road both times. I walked part of the campground the second time around. I had some pretty bad pulling/cramping in my hamstrings -- especially on downhills. I felt like I was on an autopilot -- couldn't speed up and didn't want to slow down. Never got "out of it" in my head which made me happy to keep the focus the whole way through. Significant disappointment that I ran the same time as in Las Vegas on an equally or more difficult course...because when I started the day my legs felt trashed and in Las Vegas my legs felt awesome. I guess I had a better day at the race where it mattered less (maybe because it mattered less!)

Run split is 5 1/2 minutes faster than 2012.

I swam at 90 percent the whole way, I rode hard but didn't kill myself and I ran with everything I had left. I should probably stretch a little in T2...but otherwise really tackle the uphills because on the flats and downhills I was more competitive.

Ate my ice cream first, talked with Ryan, ate the pork sandwich and then waited for everyone. Cleaned up the house and got out of dodge.


I raced the week before...and did not recover. I didn't climb particularly well. I swam off course a couple of times. Still, I had a great time and the scenery is the best in the area. Really good vibe to the race -- everyone was laid back and smiling through the grimaces. The course is absurd and you just have to take it with a grin.


Shared the house with Dan, Ryan (who won his age group and earned 10th in KOM), Aaron and Dale Toce (dtoce from BT) as well as Dale's son Michael. It was fun to meet up with and swap stories with everyone. I cooked pre-race dinner and I think the day worked out well for everyone.

I beat my 2012 Savageman PR by more than 9 minutes (5:57:13). I went into the race thinking I would participate and enjoy the scenery. I was pretty sure the run would be ugly because my legs felt so trashed. As it turned out, my ride was pretty good but the climbing (the most important feature of this course) was off. And, as it turned out, my run was way better than expected. I never really felt cooked on the run although I did experience some significant pains in the hamstrings.