Beach2Battleship Half Iron Distance Triathlon - Triathlon

Pushed the swim harder than I normally do. The goal was to increase cadence and try to get through quicker. Slowly improving overall and age group placement.

Goggles are tinted and they were perfect. The sun rises to your right.

I've been watching too many OCEARCH updates about Mary Lee and the other fish in the area and caught myself thinking about what I'd do if I saw one of our 2000+ lbs. buddies joining us for the swim.

Draft more...I kept coming up on ppl, trying to draft, then passing them before I could really benefit.

WORST T1 EVER.

I sprinted out of the water and ran so hard that I was breathing HARD at T1. I was determined to have a top T1.

When I got to my bike, I tried putting on my dry tri top on a wet body...Nope. Had to try again. Then, I put on sunglasses and grabbed my helmet....and RIPPED OFF the clip! I accidentally flung it into the grass.

It took me at least a minute to find the small, black clip in the grass and another full minute to thread it through the strap. My hands were kind of cold and I fumbled around with it, growing more and more impatient.

After I finally secured the clip, put it on and rushed out. I lost a little over 2 mins to my tri top and helmet.

FAAAAAAAQQQQQQQQQQ!!!!!!!!!!!!

Exited T1, jumped on bike, and took off.

This is the year of bad luck. Every.Single.Race.In.2014.

Best bike I've had at the half distance. The start was really bad, though. New wheels, which are too wide for the brake calipers I'm using, so my front wheel CHIRPED throughout the race...LOUD. I had to adjust, then readjust, and adjust again.

The first mile was slow. A few corners, and the roads were wet. There are also these plastic speed bumps that jar the crap out of your bike (if you go over them).

After the first mile, freedom! I settled in and rode a little above my comfort level. There was some mild wind, but nothing like the past 2 B2Bs that I had raced. I fully expected some gusts or strong winds here and there. There was a head wind for a ways, then a tail wind for a ways, but nothing too bad.

At mile 35, or so, bike peloton came roaring by me. I was pissed. In fact, I let my emotions get the better of me and picked it up, passed them all, then recovered...right in front of the leader. I did this 2 or 3 times...Each time, they'd sit there for a second, then go around me, spitting me out the back. I finally let them go b/c my quads were burnt...cooked...toast. Bunch of cheaters...and based off calf ages, mostly in the 42-47 range.

Saw a buddy a little after and he talked about the peloton ahead. he then pulled off and I saw another guy get on his tail. I was starting to tire and fell back maybe 100 meters when I saw the race official come up behind them and give the drafter a penalty. At least SOME justice was served today.

I was hoping the officials would keep going and catch up to the peloton, but they did a U turn not long after and went the other way. I just looked at them as they turned around and watched them head back the way they came.

Rolled into town with Art ahead by about 10 seconds. That guy is a freakin' machine.

Keep emotions in check.

Came into the dismount kind of fast, but have done this sort of thing a bit. Everyone was yelling at me to slow down, but I just got close to the dismount, jumped off, and kept going. Heard a few shouts about my dismount and entered T2, handing off bike to volunteer. Thank you!

Ran to my bag, got everything, and exited T1 with Art.

Go sockless. Socks take too long. ;)

Went out a little faster than I had planned, but I felt good and wanted to make up a little time on Art.

As usual, saw Daryn at the hill around mile 1.8, or so. I think he loves to see us suffer as we run up! He's probably thinking, "Better you than me, sucker!" ;)

Only passed 3 guys in my AG for the whole run. I kept looking, but couldn't find a single other 35-39 AG. I just assumed they were too far ahead to catch.

At mile 7, the hard bike ride caught up to me and I slowed WAAAYYYY down. Quads were destroyed...cramping and threatening to lock up at any minute. I had to go into damage control. I started to drink nothing but Heed...as much as I could as fast as I could. The thought of UCAN, which was in my side pocket, repulsed me.

The slowdown started and I could barely keep an 8 min mile towards the end. I was dying. Art passed me at mile 11 or 12, but I could make him out in the crowd until closer to the run down towards the chute.

I finally crossed the line and smiled large for my family. I was glad to see them and happy to be done.

Slow it down at the start. Goal was to run 6:45, but I think I went out too hard and paid for it later. Ahhh, the competitive juices were a flowin' today!

Cooled down and hung out with family for a short time. Checked results and was surprised I was 2 in my AG. I did not expect that, at all.

It kind of stung when I saw that I went two minutes slower than the 1AG...the two minutes I lost in T1 b/c of my aero helmet...


It'll always be the swim.


Great race and they really try to bring in things for the family to enjoy while they wait. The location is unbeatable and downtown is really a neat place to be.