I went through the first 1/3 of this swim like a breeze and then something happened!! I started to second guess myself and then I got slapped in the head and my goggles got messed up. I am not good at re-setting my goggles but I survived. I then made myself to the halfway point and stopped for some reason and admired the scenery before I started back. I finally made it to the last turn buoy and thought; I am going to kick it from here on in when I look up and see the kayak guy motioning me back the other way. It seems I forgot to stay on course. So I kind of head back the right way and keep heading for the dock when I look up and realize I have passed a buoy on my left!! So I stroke back out to get it and then head for the dock!! Whew, out of there finally!!

Swim straighter and keep my mind on what I was doing. I panicked ever so slightly out there and it messed with my stroke and I did not rectify the situation until I made the last turn. It also made me start feeling the waves more instead of just swimming, which is what I was there for!!

Okay, not too bad. Other than my calves cramping up trying to get that dang wetsuit off, I was okay!!

Maybe one day I will go ahead and attach my shoes to the bike!!

I started out and my legs just did not feel energized!! I was riding at a descent speed but my legs felt like they were not ready. I knew I had not fully tapered but I was hoping for my legs to be ready to go. At about mile 15 my legs decided to come to the party and once they got there they were ready to go!! Felt good most of the ride. I realized during the last 20 miles, on the worst of the road conditions that I had forgot my butt butter. Not Too Good!! Also my left quad near my knee was experiencing some pain during the last few miles. I need to make some minor adjustments to my bike setup!!

My nutrition on the bike was excellent. I had two bottles of Accelerade, 3 GUs, and 2 bottles of water!! I would have had a little more water but missed the bottle at one of the water bottle handoffs!!!

Apply butt butter!! Taper better for my legs.

I got to transition and got everything switched out. I did not wear my glasses b/c it was not too sunny out today, more overcast. My left leg was killing me when I got off the bike I thought I might have to DNF but decided to start the run and see if it would loosen up.

Leave my shoes on the bike!!

My left leg was killing me after getting off the bike. It was right near the bottom of my quad near the inside of my knee. I basically hobbled on to the run course. I figured I would give it a shot to warm up and go from there. As I started to get into my run the first few minutes it started to feel better. I felt like I was running a 9:30-10:00 pace and when I got to mile 1 and looked at my watch it said 8:18!!!! I was speechless!!! I was like if I can run that pace with my knee hurting like that and now it is feeling better.....let's go. I wanted to take it conservative on the first loop and then steadily increase as the race progressed. After the first loop I was at 53:32, so I started to increase it. At some point I started thinking I could go under 5 hours and the adrenaline kept pushing my heart rate and pace higher....but I kept it under control. At mile 8 I realized I had miss calculated...BUMMER!!! Then the adrenaline left pretty quickly!! I decided to maintain and at mile 10 up the stakes and see what I had left. At 10 I just let my legs loose and they steadily increased from there. I couldn't believe it!! I should have let them go earlier but was scared of bonking!! They surprised me and were able to go further!! My second loop was 50:55!! Negative split.....what a way to end the day!! Okay not quite....I did celebrate with a few beers later!!!

I took enduralytes every 30-40 minutes, 2 GUs, and what ever they handed me to drink at every water stop.

Speed up a little sooner....my legs felt awesome!!!

Grabbed a cool towel and put around my neck, went and changed my clothes, and put my legs in the lake!! All I needed was a six pack!!!


My ass!! Not tapering properly after riding 300 miles last week and running a trail half marathon. No complaints though....I needed the mileage for my Ironman training and this is just how it fell. This was not my A-race but I do not see how it could have went much better!! I definitely had some rust in the transition without doing a tri since last June!! It was a good reminder of what I need to do for the Ironman.....especially with the body glide and butt butter, whew!!!

And of course not having any Nature Valley Sweet and Salty Nut Bars at the aid stations!!


Good competition and a flat course. The lake is probably only about 14' deep!! If you are used to placing, you might not fair so well here unless you are an elite athlete!! Other than the chaffing I got from my wetsuit, which was my own fault, I can't complain.