Time in Z1: 16:33
Time in Z2: 15:39
Time in Z3: 8:24
Time in Z4: 12:12
Time in Z4: 0:44
Well, 8.5 min in Z3 and 12 min in Z4 - not such a good idea. But it was hard to hold back. And also, a lot of the trails were single track, so I felt obliged to run so as not to hold up the people behind me.
Stopped once when a few people ahead thought they were lost and were looking at the map - turned out we were OK, just some OCD guy got too worried.
I'm surprised the pace wasn't faster - I was running at a good clip. Either the course is measured short (vaguely possible), or (more likely) I'm just that slow. But, it's a tough course, so what did I expect?

Well, not spend 12min in Zone 4 would be a start...

Took my time, got dressed.

Wasn't efficient. Should have put a towel down - the ground was damp (frost), so had to struggle to get shoes changed without getting socks wet. Forgot to put bike shorts on over tri-shorts, so had to take shoes off again.

OMG, how am I that flipping slow?? I mean, yes the course is a bitch, but that pace is just embarrasing. The pros did it at 20mph.
The course is 3 laps, each one basically up & down 2 peaks in the Shawangunk mountains.
First lap went OK, except that my rear brake was rubbing going up the first climb and I didn't catch it until about 10 miles in. Second lap I was going slow, but got a little excitement when the pros started lapping me.
The third lap was a bitch. Every hill I was in my 37x27, even the small rollers. And on the big hills, every pedal stroke was just painful. My cadence was ridiculously slow. By the start of the third lap, it was apparent that I wouldn't be able to finish the race before sundown. That made it mentally tough to keep on going. Also, the girl that I had been riding near for most of the first two laps pulled off the road along the first climb of the third lap, her head over her handlebars. I don't know if she kept on going, she was talking about throwing in the towel. So after that I didn't see a soul the rest of the ride.
One pickup on the third lap came from the state trooper who was manning one of the few turns. He had already left his post, since virtually everyone was already off the course. He was driving away from the intersection, but then saw me, turned around, went ahead to the intersection and stopped traffic for me. That picked my spirits up just before starting the 2nd long climb. Also, I have to thank all the volunteers, but especially Wayne V from Polar, who stayed out at the mid-loop bike aid station until the very last racers came through.
I really didn't know if I would bother to run at all after the bike. With no chance of finishing, it was mentally tough.

My training has been terrible the past 2 months, and it shows. Not consistent. Bad diet. Too many key long training sessions missed. I did 2 laps of this course at 13.57mph, although without a run before or a third lap. Even so, my poor training has shown.

I was embarassed coming back into T2 so late. I had to be one of the last ones. The guy that won cheered me on as I came into T2 though, which was very nice - he was already finished (THAT is fast!). Kudos to him - Josh Beck - the other pros and uber-fast AGers weren't as courteous to the slow-asses like me.
Stopped for a bathroom break. Got shoes on and started running before I had time to think too much about how I had no chance of finishing, so why even keep on going?

Bike faster. Train harder.

I DNF-ed. I missed the cutoff to start the final lap of the run (5 miles).
I had back pain for the first few miles, which prevented me from running uphills. And after that I walked the uphills anyway (steep ones at least) since my quads were tired and/or cramping. By the middle of the first loop, and most of the second loop, I really didn't feel too bad - back pain was gone, and quad cramps were only intermittent.
On the 2nd loop I walked more, since I knew there was zero chance I could keep on going, even though I entertained thoughts of sneaking by and starting another lap anyway. The trails were rooty and rocky and I didn't need a broken or twisted ankle, or to get lost out there after dark and turn into dinner for a family of bears.
Many who have done this race say it's harder than an ironman. So I guess I can't be too upset I didn't finish given my level of preparation. I'm happy I at least did 10 miles of the 2nd run, since I knew I wouldn't finish anyway.

Bike faster. Train harder.

Ate some food, had a beer, drove home.


Poor training & bad diet.
Only 42 people finished the race (35male, 7 female). 73 were registered. Don't know how many started.


The people that do this race are incredible. I was talking to one woman afterwards - her rear derailleur cable broke during the bike, so she did about a full lap with her rear derailleur stuck in the smallest (toughest) cog. I don't know HOW she was able to do that. I was in my biggest cog and even then was struggling. THAT is impressive.