Going into these last two weeks I had been nailing my key workouts and felt that despite only being back training a short while I could race well. Additionally, I had the confidence of racing well in the first race of the year at Memphis In May

I took off and left for Maryland with a packed car on Wednesday before Blackwater. I met my girlfriend, Brooke, in Baltimore on Saturday before the race and the plan was to race on Sunday, recover while relaxing in the mountains of western Maryland for the week after. Then return to Wisconsin and race at the State Championship, which is a qualifier for the Best Of The U.S. Nationals in New Hampshireon August 20th.

The almost 20 hour drive to the eastern shore left my right IT band less than happy, but with a bit of stretching, message and race day oomph, I thought things would work themselves out. The swim started out a bit rough; I hadn't put on the P-Flex since IM-Wisconsin last fall and the wetsuit was a little or ...a lot tight. I was choked by the shrunken rubber, but a good warm-up helped the situation. When the gun went off and I decided to try to mix it up with the lead pack, but quickly realized that the pace was just too quick. As we rounded the back side of the triangle swim course, I was dropped and the current turned pretty wicked. Sighting became impossible and myself and another athlete, who were caught in-between the first a second pack, were forced to work really hard into T1. With shoulders that felt like they were going to fall off, I exited in 29:57. Slow on any other day but this one.

I got onto the bike and put the hammer down right out of transition. It was windy and extremely hot and high. As I rode it felt like every turn was into the wind. You would ride out into the wind, make a few turns and logically expect a tail wind, but what did you get?????.... Another headwind! Go figure? One bonus, my Zipp 404's were the perfect choice for the windy day!

As I rode I felt good, mostly because my primary focus was staying on top of my nutrition using Hammer Gel (Expresso Flavor J) and Endurolytes. As I rode I noticed something that I think every athlete would benefit from. I race in Oomph! Race Wear and this was the first race that I had worn their Lava Compression Shorts. These things are sweet! They are designed with a pocket on the top of the shorts to store either gels or as I use it, salt tabs. Most athletes store their salt tabs in their singlet pocket, but how much of a pain in the ass is it to reach behind and up to take them out? It is a huge pain, if you don't believe me, go put on your top and try it, you'll see! This pocket is in a location that it lower than a singlet top pocket and is really easy to get to. No over-reaching, no dropping salt tabs, the shorts are awesome!

Anyway, I rode strong until the last 10miles and decided that I may be pushing a bit too hard. I backed off a bit and came in riding a 2:16:32. I took off onto the run confident that I could run well. Well, I got to the half-mile point on the run and both legs locked up with cramps, I couldn't move. I tried to relax and massage then back to life. After several minutes I finally was able to walk and then run with a short stride. I went through mile 1 in almost 11 minutes. I took in as much Gatorade and water as I could and just focused on relaxing. I got somewhat back into a rhythm and was able to pull of 6:30ish miles. Far from what I hoped, but better than 11min/miles J

I just cruised in the Kona like heat, which was in the 90's with humidity and after getting a mental boost from seeing Brooke at miles 4 & 9 I came into the finish in 4:18:41, running a 1:28:55. I ended up 15th overall and first in my age group by 12 minutes. I received an Ironman Hawaii slot, but let it roll down. It was satisfying end to a tough day.