My goal is to beat last year's 4:38 and earn an Ironman slot that I can hand down. It shouldn't be too hard, I'm swimming smarter (also just bought a new wetsuit to replace my 4yr old one), I'm more comfortable on the bike, and my running is stronger. However, my left Achilles tendon has been hurting for a month and the day before the race I pinched a nerve in my shoulder! I tried jogging but at 1mi I end up walking back to camp with my shoulder immobilized. Swimming is out of the question. I've had this before and takes 3 days to go away. All I can do is put my faith in God, enjoy the beautiful camping at Lake San Antonio and sleep well.

Race Day. 4am. Nerve in my shoulder still pinched. Anxiety sets in. "Why did I think it would go away over night. There's no way I can race now." But I realize I'm obviously not putting full trust in the Lord by worrying. From experience I know there's nothing I or a doctor can do. God has a plan. I finally commit fully to His plan and not mine, and go back to sleep for another hour.

5am. The nerve has calmed down! I carefully dress. Dale & I ride to the transition area. Wow, 1300 athletes, warming up for the first and toughest race of the season. Down at the water, near the front of my wave of 250 fueled up tri-guys, we sing the anthem, say a prayer, and reflect for 20 seconds.... do I remember where my bike is? Is my wetsuit comfortable enough? Do I have enough Gu in my run bag? GO!!!

The Swim.

I have the best start ever. Far to the left. Deep breathes, keep my head down, hold my position. Swing wide of the first buoy. Not much contact out here. Good rhythm, good draft, already enjoying myself. After New Zealand, this swim feels short and sweet. Then I realize... my shoulder is totally fine!! But something still keeps me focused more on form than hammering (this theme remained throughout the race). I follow a good draft on the way back while dodging many 25-29 swimmers from the wave ahead. My guy swims far left of the pack, not to his benefit, but he's strong and doing all the sighting for me so I just stay on him. The last 200yds we sprint side-by-side and run up the boat ramp. My new suit slides off easily for a cheer from the crowd and I jog the long, painful, gravel, black-top to my bike. Transitioning, I think about how calm and methodical I am, like Paula Newby Frasier in the '96 Ironman, when she walked instead of running through the transitions and still won. Everything goes smoothly as I exit with a 26:36 swim (1:45 faster than '98 but they say the course was a minute short) and 3:08 transition (40 secs slower than '98 but 30-34 racks are farther back).

The Bike.

Wow, it feels really good. A bit cold. Can't wait for the sun to break through. Although I'll regret that when the run comes around. John Dougery catches me at 10 miles and I think I'm feeling so good I'll try staying with him. After he re-adjusts his shoes, the 'Doog puts the hammer back down and, 27mph into a slight wind, he's gone before I can look up from my JetStream. I peer down the road, "where did he go?" After he tele-ported out of here I knew I wouldn't be seeing his bike again.

At 18mi a pack goes by. Emilio DeSoto and I are watching them ahead, talking about how bad it is that they're drafting. The rule is: you can pass or drop back, but at no time are you to be going the same speed while near another bike. If you're in a pack, you're probably near another bike and you're definitely going the same speed.

Heading into the "5 rollers" there's a slight tailwind, perfect for this long back stretch. This is where I work the descents and cruise the climbs. I've put off eating longer than I should but I know it's a mistake so I force down a PowerBar and lots of fluids.

Drafting.

I lose some respect for the racers in the pack. First they complained as I did. Now they in it, using the draft. I pass and get re-passed by this pack of 20. I work like crazy to blow by them on the downs, screaming "on your left!" or "move right!", to get as far ahead as possible but inevitably get caught on the ups and must let them all go by.

At 30mi I began pinpointing riders. Those staying clear I shout, "good job, way to ride your own race, way to keep away". Those blatantly drafting I shout, "It's an individual sport! Pass or move right!". They look at me sheepishly. But they know there's no marshals in sight (turned out the race director's volunteer team flaked, leaving only 3 referees in the race) I'm riding fast and working hard but being a lone marshal has gotten my heart rate high.

At 34mi I rest a bit, calm down, and brace for some headwind ahead. I watch for miles as the pack stays tight and moves into the distance. At 40mi teammate, Kevin, goes by looking strong and I can't hang with him on Heartbreak Hill. Usually the hardest, the last stretch of the ride is going real well. I pass Kevin with 2mi to go and he passes me back with a mile left. I drink what's left, stretch my calves and coast into the transition.

I'm feeling good about the ride and eager for the run... but only 1 shoe awaits me! I don't panic but am confused. I've never had my stuff knocked around before. There it is! A couple sites down. And 1 sock is over there. Minus 1 sock, I exit onto the hot ½ marathon course with a 2:38:20 bike (4:15 slower than '98. ??) and 2:19 transition (1:19 slower than '98).

The Run.

Our support crew cheers me on. Mile 1 is hilly. Mile 2 is nice trails. I keep reminding myself that an easy mile always follows a hard mile. I see Kevin a ¼ mi ahead. I feel better than my many training runs here. I start on the GU's at mile 4. The Achilles is holding up, all systems go, just gotta get over the tough hills of mile 5 then it's my favorite part... the pasture.

At 6 miles my splits are 6:58, 7:10, 6:44, 7:18, 8:30, 7:06. I forgot to set my timer so I don't know if I'm ahead or behind, just that the times seem pretty good. It's hot but the breeze is cool. I look forward to the fun trail on mile 7, the "high" point of mile 8, and the long descent of mile 9.

I can't see Kevin, but I've been picking off guys from the draft pack... what a good feeling. My left shoe is tight to support my Achilles but is causing a blister. I stop twice to take it off for adjustment. The top of my right foot, without the sock, is scraping my shoe and starting to bleed.

I tear open my last GU and it slips and falls! I reach for the Power Gel a volunteer is offering….don't let it be…. Ugh, it's chocolate! My most unpleasant experience was swallowing that gel. But soon I'm flying down to the hot turn-around and see David (8min ahead & running next to Ironman New Zealand champ, Melissa Spooner), Dougery (6min ahead), and Kevin (3min ahead) coming back up.

I worry a little about the weird tendon on the inside of my left leg that flared up last year and just started to hurt a little on the last climb. I pull my hat down low and focus on the long climb back up. Soon I'm on top, giving it everything I've got to the 12mile mark. Just over the last hump and I'm home free! Slapping my feet down the last steep mile. This is where I had to push 110% last year to catch 2 guys in my age group but this time it looks like the Lord has treated me to non-confrontational race. No one is around me. I maintain a safe speed and finally encounter the crowds lining the chute. My friend, Chad Hawker, is commentating (because of his injury). He looks down at me from the tower and I think of his faith in God during his injuries and how it's the faith, not the outcome, that is the real key to happiness.

Good Race.

I'm happy with the race God gave me. I raced "by the book", smooth, steady pace. It felt good and was even pleasant at times. I pushed hard and did everything right. My last 7 splits were 7:47, 6:19, 6:43, 6:00, 7:40, 6:52, 5:57 and I finished with a 1:31:46 run (same as '98!). But total time was 4:42:09 which is 4:10 slower than last year.... although it still seems so much better in my mind.

I'm really proud of this race! And also proud of my STARS (Southbay Triathletes and Runners) teammates. Our results are below.

Troy

The STARS, "Although we were 'against all odds' with serious injuries plaguing the team, it was amazing to see the hearts shine through un-dampened!"

STARS LONG COURSE RESULTS:

STARS OLYMPIC COURSE RESULTS: