I started in the middle of the pack which was a good spot for me. Just as I got to the first turn I started to realize something was wrong, the lake was getting rough the waves were high. It was getting very hard to sight. It was almost as rough as Eagleman, but without the whitecaps. I knew I had to stay tough and I would get through the swim. I was hoping for a much faster swim but that wasn’t happening in those conditions.

long run out of the water along the beach to hit the mat...took my time wanted to make sure i had everything in order.

I knew the bike was going to be hilly which I was looking forward too, it seems this year I’ve been better on the hills than flats. The bike started out with a nice little hill, about mid way up I passed a guy on the right (I said sorry) since there was so much race and car traffic on the left and he was right in the middle. I looked over as I was say “on your right” and saw the guy I was passing was Mr. Hoyt. At that point I could have ended the race and felt good about it. It was a honor to be racing right night the him, unfortunately he didn’t have his son with him, I guess cause of the wet conditions. The first 15 miles was up and down. About mile 20 or so it flattened out with a tailwind which was great but I knew that tailwind would turn into a headwind soon. Sure enough I hit that headwind which slowed me down big time. I rather have hills than a headwind. Wind just kills me. I couldn’t wait until we hit some hills, I needed a change of pace and terrain. On the way back I passed a few teammates it was nice to see some familiar faces on the bike. At one point of the bike it started to drizzle, I started down a downhill and hit 45mph, that drizzle felt like little needles, kind of weird. Got off the bike and it was time to start the dreaded bike to run.

i could have went a littl harder on the flat section. I didn't really have a problem with the hills, they were a nice change of pace for me.

not much happen here, took my time again made sure i get some calories in me.

I say the dreaded bike to run, cause I am terrible off the bike. I normally feel like shit during the run, the past 2 half IMs I had to walk portions of the run. I started the run and felt good. I couldn’t believe how good I felt. I was actually passing people on the run which I NEVER do, no matter what the distance. The run was 2 loops which I liked much better cause it seemed more manageable then an out and back of 7 miles. Plus I was able to see my teammates/friends going the other way. I have been battling a lower back issues when I run which only really seems to bother me while I am running hills. Of course this run course had somehills. I finished my first loop feeling good, but I knew the 2nd loop would be a struggle. The 2nd loop was a little bit more difficult and my back was hurting on the hills, I knew if I stopped to walk the hills I would walk again and again and that was something I didn’t want to do so I kept running. I made the final turn and headed for the finish. I was so happy that I was able to run the entire run. I was happy with my race and I don’t think I would have done anything different.



other than run faster i don't know what i would do differently, considering my last 2 half IM runs this was a good run for me.

it was hard to get warm when most of your stuff is wet :)


a great race, sorry to see the weather wasn't great but overall it's a A+ race. I would do this race again.