Was a 2 loop course. There was only 3 buoys though so it was a little hard to see at least the one at the shore was since it wasn't as big as the other ones. Was also very hard to see where to get out at. I slowed down a bit so I could follow some guys to the exist. Finally saw a kayak and flags on the beach. I didn't really lose but a few seconds so it wasn't too bad.

This is actually one of my better swims. I just suck at OWS. I don't know why. I'm still hoping for a ~25min oly one of these days.

Swim faster. I freaked out a bit the first 200m but after that I got into my zone and away from people and kept a pretty good pace (for me).

Not the best T1. Wetsuit was stuck a little but I was just oxygen deprived and making slow decisions on what to do.


Move faster. Need to work on getting new wetsuit off. Was a lot easier this race than the first time with it. Think it just needs a little breaking in.

So this is where I wanted to make up time. My goal was 240-250 power...wanting to be closer to 250. At least I flew out of the park but I kept it sane. I just wanted to get around some people before the first big hill. Me and another guy were playing leap frog for a few miles. He would power it up the hills and then I'd ride right past him at the top. I couldn't believe this was this strategy. No power meter for him. I asked him about this after the race and he said his run sucks and he wanted to put it all out on the bike. Makes sense but a PM would have really helped him have a better overall time by not lighting matches. Anyway...

2 loop course which is about 26.5 miles, so ~1.5miles over a 40K. I'm passing people and doing a pretty good job. It's 60-65 or so out right now but I am literally dripping sweat every 2-3 seconds the entire time, even with the wind. I really wanted this to be 250 watts or so. Last year I did it in 230, which I know is pretty low for an oly effort for me. I was at lower 240's and then started to fade a little at the end but I toned it down while riding into the park. I thought I was first and was pretty happy with myself but then I saw a running about 1-2 minutes ahead of me. Oh...it's on!

Bike harder :)

7 seconds. yup...you read that right....7 seconds. I saw that guy running and I flew through T2 like a bat out of hell. I have no freaken idea how I was this fast. I was the 3rd rack in but we had to wear numbers on the bike so I only need to put on my speed laced shoes (awesome btw) and my hat, which I put on while running.

Get a time machine and aim for 6 seconds?

So I start my run. I shimmed through the thread we had on here recently about why we stop trying when it gets hard and it really hit me this week. I told myself I want to feel myself suffer on this run. I was to PR on this even though I'm still a little slower than last year, I didn't care. I wanted to push myself. I started out at a 6:20 pace. "I can do this!" Well giant hill number 1 hit me and my pace went to 6:40. It's ok I told myself, I'm really aiming for 6:30 to see if I can get a 40:00 10K (42:00 is my fastest 10K ever, so I was aiming high). I get done with giant hill number 1 and turn to the gravel road section.

I don't like this section. It's hard to step on since they just recently regrated the road with giant rocks. It's very hilly too. There's an aim station at the bottom but I see my guy I'm after. He's still ~1:30 ahead of me. I yell at him "Good job, keep it up!". Silence....the normal case with fast runners, which is annoying. This guy is suffering though. His face looks horrible. I told myself I can make up the time! I stop at the aim station for 5 seconds to drink some water and off I go.

Up the hill on gravel and it's hard. Really hard. I get to see the people behind me. Errr...they are a little closer than I want them to be. I want to walk. I want to walk very badly. I look at my watch the the stupid thing isn't on auto lap mode and I can't hit to the lap button since I'm in tri mode. No way to switch it back either. At least I didn't know how...so I'm going off overall pace speed here.

Jump ahead to the 4 miles turn around and I see my guy and he's still 1+ minute ahead and I know I just can't reach him. I look for the guys behind me and I looked at the mile marker before the loop...ok I'm about .5 a mile ahead of the guy behind me with about 1.5 miles to go now. I feel really releived. I didn't give up but I knew I wouldn't get first but I knew unless I walked, there's no way the guy was going to make up 3-4 minutes in 1.5 miles. I still kept my ass in gear though since anything is possible.

The last 1.5 miles are pretty uneventful. It FINALLY evens out a little on the last mile and I run it in. I missed first place by 74 seconds. That's it... I was super happy with getting 2nd OA but know it's very unlikely to have a race like this where the super insanely fast guys don't show up and do 2:10-2:15's

Not much. I pushed hard on this. I could have maybe pushed a little hard and got 10-15 secs lower but that's about it.

Stood around and shook the peoples' hands who finished for a while. Then had some water and a donut hole.


Swim and run fitness could be better. Swim was one of my better ones and with my run injury at the beginning of the year, I'm just happy to have 95% of my speed back so I really can't complain about that.


Good race but with only 54 people this year the RD said it will probably be the last. Pretty sad. I don't understand why tri numbers are so down this year. This is a really good local race that reasonably priced and comes with a tshirt. Guess I'll have to travel even more for races now.