Carpooled with Marcel Legrand and we had alot of fun just being kids in the car, at the expo etc. We stopped at the Spinerval booth at the expo and they actually remembered me and my antics from when we filmed the Spinerval videos in Freehold last year, kinda cool.

Morning of the race, Marcel and I were parked by 5am and already in transition. I was super pissed when I heard the “no wetsuit” announcement. I have a skinsuit but did not bring it for all week they were saying wetsuit legal for sure. As you know, the swim is definitely my weakest link and I had a serious bike crash on May 20 in which I separated my shoulder. I was contemplating just baggin the whole race but I decided to go for it.

My wave went off and I remained calm. I was focusing on long strokes and trying not to panic as I was literally getting swam on top of. I thought I was swimming great! My sighting was right on and everything. I am normally a 42-45 min half ironman swimmer and with my injury and the current, I was thinking I would be 50 plus minutes. Imagine my disappointment when I got out of the water in 1:06!!!!

Got over it and got onto the bike and started to hammer away. I wanted to average over 22 mph for the course. I came close. Think i did not drink enough though and my shoulder was sore in the aeero position but I would not give up.

Onto the run, or the death march. I got out on the course and it was mass carnage. People were walking everywhere. I vowed that I would not walk, no matter what. Thank goodness for all the people who came out to hose us down with garden hoses! The aid stations were well stocked and I hit every one. Had to use the port o john once, which meant I was hydrated so I did not mind stopping for a minute. The run course did not have mile markers and it seemed to go on forever. I got to see several other familiar athletes on the course and everyone was suffering. Finished the race and went straight home. had to work the next day.

Was hoping for a Kona spot but with my injury and the performance I gave (my worst) it was just not meant to be. Hopefully Timberman will be a better race for me.

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