June 19th, 2010
Pre-Race - I was not very well prepared for this race as i didnt get home until 11pm from Cirque du soleil. I made sure I had everything ready for the race sitting by the front door. I even was too lazy to put on a new tire; i had a small cut from Issaquah tri on it. I just brought the tire and figured maybe i'd get in changed in the morning. I don't think I got much sleep. I get a little anxious for races. I woke up at 4:30, ate some yogurt and pop tarts. Greg picked me up and I had a small donut at 6. My stomach was a bit upset, but was ok. I was really hoping the rain would hold up. I had plenty of time and the on-site bike shop was not busy, so i had them put on my new tire. I got my wetsuit on and swam a bit. Water felt great!
Swim – 6:17 4 out of 10 Age Group
I was in the middle in the front, only 2-3 people behind me. My goal was to relax to first buoy and then turn it on a bit. I started the swim and could not find open water. Lots of slower swimmers in my way and I was constantly hitting their legs with my arms. I found it tough to find open water. I felt like I was passing a lot of people between the two buoys. Finally I got out in front of a group and really focused on the swim to the shore. I saw the first group getting out. I felt really good for this section and wished I could have swam that well for the entire race. I got out and ran pretty hard to transition. I felt great. I had a little difficulty getting my wetsuit off my ankles.
T1 - very good, minus 10 extra seconds with wetsuit.
Bike - 41:19 5/10 AG
This was going to be my first race since getting a cortisone shot in my back (cuz of flat at issy) and I was hoping it would really help me out. I was passed by a couple guys going really fast. I was able to pass a couple riders and was feeling ok. I also got a new bike fit to take some pressure off my back. I was pretty comfortable, but my hamstrings were in a bit of pain, but not as bad as before the cortisone. I don't have a lot to say about the bike, I wasn't as fast as i hoped i could go, but I held my own.
T2- I came off the bike right behind two guys. I had a great T2 and it paid off. I was ahead of the other guys who came in right ahead of me.
Ok, time to make up my bike time here. I passed two guys in the first 100 yards with ease. I then passed another at a 1/4 mile in. No one was ahead of me. I had no idea what place I was in for AG. I felt like I must have been behind quite a few after the bike. I then hear these really fast feet behind me. I rarely get passed on the run, who is this guy? At 1/2 mile I get passed, and he is 45. So this guy is fast, he started after me. I tried to follow him but his pace was a little to fast for me as we hit the first climb. My Garmin 
beeped, first mile 6:32. I was happy with that given the hills. Mile 2 was very painful. Lots of rollers that were wearing me down. Somehow mile 2 ended, 6:45 pace. I can't complain, it was a lot of climbing. Here we go, one mile to go. Finish Strong, as painful as it felt. I wanted a fast finish. I turned it up a bit. I enter the park and was HURTING. I hear someone on my tail. I told myself, you can pass me but I'm going to blow by you the last 50 yards, so good luck. I kept my pace and kept waiting for him to make his move, making last turn and ready to kick it up. He never made a move, so I sprinted the last fifty yards and finished in miserable sprint like pain. I'm not sure on my mile 3 pace, but I finished with a 6:25, so I must of really had a great last mile.
Post Race - walked around in pain, knee and calf. I felt good about my race and talked to Greg who said I did really well. I didn't think much of it. Then Greg runs over and said I was 3rd in my AG. I didn't believe him for a while. I checked it myself and was really happy about it. After looking at my results I didn't kick butt at any particular event, but I put a great race together with great transitions. The two guys in 4th and 5th in my AG beat me by two minutes on the bike but my transitions, swim and run held them both off.
This was the most fun i've had racing i think. Team showed up big, and a well-run, fun race. 3rd place was icing on the cake.
18th overall out of 220, 3rd out of 10 Age Group.
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