Walk in, wait a couple minutes and start! Least time ever to stand around, but was OK. Found fast feet immediately and was in top 6 or 7. Lost said feet about 2/3 of the way through when I was just winded. Got breath under control and hopped on another fairly fast dude's feet. Finished toward the front of the wave, and was happy with that.

Course read long on my and many others' GPS - closer to 1.33-1.35 miles on average. Could be poor sighting, but I was pretty on target. Garmin had 1:19/100 as a pace, and I was very happy with that!

Warm up. Not be injured for a couple months prior. Have unlimited time to train. So, not much, really...

This was longer than I'd have liked. Got slowed a bit with everything being wet, glasses all foggy, fingers cold and not wanting to buckle helmet, etc. Usually much faster, but whatevs - my HR was spiked from the run through the long transition in a wetsuit, so probably just as well!

Remember to do helmet/wetsuit off at the same time. Stuff glasses into back pocket instead of messing around trying to clear them. Basically just move through more smoothly (first race of the year, too, so I was rusty).

Overall, VERY happy with this ride. I hadn't trained nearly as much on the bike as I'd have liked and was still able to break 2:30 (my stretch goal). Miiiiight have burnt a match or two passing. But, hey, you gotta have FUN, too!

Specifics: Got passed by a BIIIIG draft pack about 10 miles out (looked and sounded like the TdF pelleton - would have been a pretty cool sight if it hadn't been during a tri) and then held my own wrt position in race. Had to spike my HR a couple times on the back half passing a couple lines of racers from the earlier waves (long lines, but you have to pass them ALL once you come around). Better to blow up than to cheat! Was fun, as there were some fast riders out there, for sure…

Wet and wild, but thankfully the actual rain had stopped shortly after starting the ride. Roads were wet and sandy, with potholes and debris - saw a BUNCH of wrecks, more than any other race I've done - but was able to race mostly to plan. Pretty flat, overall, which helped with speed...

See swim wrt injury, unlimited training time, etc. Given life's constraints, I'm very happy with this one!

Another slower than normal one, but mostly because I chose to put on socks (wet wet wet and I didn't want blisters). Even with the socks, I just felt slower than normal trying to remember how to do this, but was OK with it (17th in wave).

Practice at least once before the first race of the season, I guess, but it's not that complicated…

This, like the bike, was a HIM PR (OK, this was only my second HIM, so not a high bar!). Buuuuuuut, this was also about my open HM PR from last season, so I was very happy with the run! Passed by 3, maybe 4, dudes in my AG - all the other fasties were already well ahead of me.

Having had a very poor April and not much better May of training (two injuries), especially wrt run training, I was most concerned about fitness coming into this. And, that's how it went. I was running 7:20-7:40's for the first 8 or so (fast, not hard) and then just sputtered, going to 8-8:30's the last 4-5 miles.

Prolly should have taken more than 1 GU on the run. Maybe should have gone out slower, but I think it was more that I had a certain amount of time in me, less than pace. In the end, this was a good run for me (getting better at being a runner, but certainly not there yet). I think I have a few minutes to gain from better endurance and also another year of training...

Lots of FAST dudes! Last year my overall time would have been within 4 seconds of the podium (and I think I had 4 more seconds in me), but not this year. Lots of great athletes showed up (ITU Nationals seem to be gaining some traction - and Sweden is one heckuva carrot!). Doesn't bother me a whit, as I took over 12 minutes off my HIM time and am psyched with how it went. It was actually really cool to see how fast and how fit others of my "advanced chronological status" can be - inspiring!

Duh - train more! While that is often a specious answer to this question, it's kind of true here. I should have trained LESS after my March HM (which I am convinced would have helped prevent injury) and then trained MORE in April and May. Oh well, pretty happy regardless!

(although I have NO IDEA how people do a full IM… the pain at the end of this one was "notable" - pretty sure I didn't have another HIM in me on the same day!)

Water, pizza, etc. Spent some time looking for the beer-truck in vain. :) Went and cheered for the awardees. Had an outside hope that I'd make the list for Sweden (far outside!), and managed the roll down list - so that was part of the fun, too. Talked with a BUNCH of very cool people - I really do love the midwest.


Same old same old...


Great race, terrific competitors and volunteers, fast course and faster racers! Overall just a great time!