I tried to stay toward the back of the wave. I did not want to be flogged like the first time I did an OWS. The start was smooth and I immediately went into my modified swim. It wasn't long before I started to catch up with some of the straglers that were in front of me. I was sighting on the first yello bouy. After a while I looked up and saw that most of the wave was far to my right. NOT heading to the bouy. Then it dawned on me. The damn bouy is in the middle of the lake and was for the return! I made a course correction got back behind the pack and tried to avoid running over people. Going under the bridge it started getting a little crowded so I moved to my right. Too much. There was the wall. Crap. Crouse correction again. Made it to the turn around and tried to pay better attention to the next marker. Yeah right. It was hard to distinguish from yellow caps (the wave before mine) and yellow bouys. I had one more off course correction I had to make. I am sure I broke 2K in the 1900meter swim. Right before getting to the exit my left calf started cramping. Great!

It would have been nice to been able to swim the course once before the race. I also need to work on my sighting, and proper swimming technique in OWS.

Karen (KSH) was there as a stripper. I beelined it to her and her partner for getting my suit off. I did not even have time to release my cap and goggles. Karen yanked my suit over my arms and the cap and goggles stayed in the sleeve. At that point she yelled at me to get down - lay down. I did that and off the suit went. Holy crap. My fantasy of being stripped by two beautiful ladies comes true and it lasts all of ten seconds. A quick juant up the ramp to the transition area. Suprisingly I am not disoriented as I normally am out of a long swim. I did sit down to put on my socks and shoes. I know it is going to be a long ride and wanted to make sure all was on right.

I would have remebered my sun glasses. I think it would have been good to have had something solid ready to eat there. Other then that I think T1 went well.

The first two laps on the course was awesome. I think that I was upwards of 19 or 20 average by my half way point. But that was when tragedy struck. Somewhere along the second lap the main bolt for the brake loosened up (probably from my run in with the bridge two days ago) and the brake spring caused the brake to rub against the wheel. But with the wind blowing I could not hear the rub. It wasn't until I made the turn to start the third lap that I realized this. And here I thought it was just the wind. I flip the brake release which eased some of the rubbing, but its still there. Of course I don't know why the brake are doing this. I reach down to try to adjust the housing, but it springs back to the wheel. About two miles on the third lap I finally stop and try to get the front wheel realigned (thinking that the wheel itself has shifted). I jump back on the bike and its still rubbing. Only 9 more miles to the finish. I can push through this. And that is what I did. With my back screaming in agony, the brake rubbing, and the wind picking up speed I hunker down to get it done. I was quite happy when I made that last turn - even if my bike computer said it was 57 miles!

1) Get the freaking bike checked out BEFORE race day; especially if I just have had a run in with a bridge. 2) I need to work more on releasing fatigue on long rides. I normally will stop after 25 miles to stretch, but this was a no break ride. I probably need to work on strengthening my core - including my lower back. 3) I need to work on a better fueling plan while riding. I thought I was drinking enough water, but the start of the run I realize I was not. I did eat a banana and one Gu on the ride, but I forgot about all of that on the third lap.

Coming in to transition I take my feet out of the shoes and begin to take my gloves off - like I have done a hundred times, but this time the wind catches my glove as I try to wrap it on my aero bars and blows it to the ground. There is no way in hell I am going to stop to pick it up. Lost forever it seems. Okay so I did not run with my bike. My back was too sore to run at that point. Oh yeah! I got to run 13.1 mile now - lovely. The best thing about T2 was seeing so many BTers cheering as I left T2. What a confidence booster!

1) Again have something to eat while in transition maybe. 2) When dismounting put the gloves in the jersey pocket. 3) Put on more sun screen before leaving.

Okay so my time really bit the big one. But I knew I was in trouble the first mile of the run. My back was in agony and my heart rate was going ballistic. It was then that I realized I am probably dehydrated and underfueled. This changed my whole strategy. I know I have 13 miles to run with aid stations every mile or so. I need to take advantage of that. At the first station I grab water and a gel. I walk through and consume the gel. I wait for my heart rate to be below 130. I then begin running again - OMG! pain in the lower back. But I continue. Second aid station - water and gatorade. Walk until the heart rate is back below 130. And this is how it went for the first 5 miles. At this point I was running with another guy that was also hurting. I had run with him a while back until his hot looking jockstrapping girlfriend started jogging with him. I dropped back some for a while, but met up with him after the last aid station. At this point the pain in my back has eased and my heart rate had stabilized. I told him to lets try to make it around the turn around and back to the aid station with out walking. He lasted maybe half a mile before walking again. I was still doing good, so I let him fall behind. The last lap was much better then the first. I was able to run through the aide stations a few times, but I did walk a few of them. On the return of the second lap I knew it was only three more miles. I can do this without stopping. I kept at it. At some point I approach Mr. I Can't Make But I Have A Hot Girlfriend. WTF?! He is in front of me. When did he pass me? Oh!!!!! Freaking cheater. Dude still could not hang with me - even if he does have a hot girlfriend. I did walk the last aid station so I can finish strong.

Work more on the fueling plan on the bike so it does not take 5 or 6 miles to recover!! Other then that I think my adaptation to the situation was a good one.

LOTS of water and Accelerade. Oh yeah. I had my first ever after race massage. Okay it was my first ever sports massage. OMG!!! Was that painful. She had commented that I was in serious need of getting some work done on me.


1) Last minute change 2) No taper 3) No prepared race strategy 4) Malfunctioning brakes 5) Lower back strength 6) Not eatting enough - BUT!!!! I did have fun.


Playtri did an excellent job on having a good amount of people out there helping. The pasta dinner (my first ever) was outstanding. Great public speakers. The only comment I would have is that they should have had someone or a timing mat at the turn around to prevent cheaters - like Mr. I Can't Hang.