This was my second triathlon. I was pumped to do this race. I had my fast new road bike (better than a very heavy mountain bike) and there was a open water swim. I am unlike many triathletes in that I like the swim part. It is probably my best event. I had done a couple of open water swim practices and was ready to go. I even had a free wet-suit rental from PowerTri in Lehi. Then the bottom dropped out on me. On Wednesday before the race the Salt Lake County Health Dept closed the lake at Daybreak due to possible round worm contamination. I was crushed because swimming is my best event. The race directors scrambled around and came up with a plan B. Instead of the usual 800 yard open water swim, it was changed to 75 yard pool swim with a mile run. Great just what I need more running. I was disappointed but decided to have fun anyway.
Race Day
We (Tiff and I) stayed in Sandy at a hotel instead of getting up at 4:00 am to get to the race. It was cold and Tiff stayed in the car while I went to set up my spot in transition. I became a member of the crazies. The people who get up before dawn to swim, ride and run. At 5:30 am, I was freezing as I set up my bike and running gear in the dark. Now I just had to wait for the race to start 8:00 am. Since the pool was a mile from the transition area, they bussed us to the pool. We were lined up based on our swimming 
speed and they were starting people about every 15 to 30 seconds. I was near the front of the line. In 3 lengths of a pool, I passed 4 people. I am fast in the water but slow on the land. I finished my swim, got out and put on some shoes and ran the mile to the transition area. Tiff joined me for a short stretch of the run.
I hoped on my bike and headed out. The bike course is 12.5 miles long. The first 4 miles were a false flat, looked flat but was up hill, the next 2 miles were straight up a steep hill. I was in my lowest gear for the final climb. Bikers one after another zoomed past or creeped past but I was getting passed by everyone (or at least it felt like it). Then came the turn around and I would have my revenge. I turned the corner and headed down that infernal hill. Bikers that flew past me earlier were no match for me and my new best friend gravity. I was passing riders who were peddling there hearts out with out having to peddle, at one point I hit 40 mph. I knew I had made it, the bike was down hill the rest of the way, and the run well, if worse comes to worse, I could just walk. I was going to finish my second tri. I dropped my bike, changed shoes and headed out for the run.
My brother met me at the start of the run. He helped pace me the entire run, Thanks Brandon. You are a great brother. The run was uneventful, but I am not that fast so it felt like an eternity. Then one or two more corners, I could hear the announcer say the finishers names, I sprinted(or more likely just ran faster than I was) to the end. I did it, I did it. I was not just a one hit wonder I finished my second tri. I was a triathlete.
speed and they were starting people about every 15 to 30 seconds. I was near the front of the line. In 3 lengths of a pool, I passed 4 people. I am fast in the water but slow on the land. I finished my swim, got out and put on some shoes and ran the mile to the transition area. Tiff joined me for a short stretch of the run.I hoped on my bike and headed out. The bike course is 12.5 miles long. The first 4 miles were a false flat, looked flat but was up hill, the next 2 miles were straight up a steep hill. I was in my lowest gear for the final climb. Bikers one after another zoomed past or creeped past but I was getting passed by everyone (or at least it felt like it). Then came the turn around and I would have my revenge. I turned the corner and headed down that infernal hill. Bikers that flew past me earlier were no match for me and my new best friend gravity. I was passing riders who were peddling there hearts out with out having to peddle, at one point I hit 40 mph. I knew I had made it, the bike was down hill the rest of the way, and the run well, if worse comes to worse, I could just walk. I was going to finish my second tri. I dropped my bike, changed shoes and headed out for the run.
My brother met me at the start of the run. He helped pace me the entire run, Thanks Brandon. You are a great brother. The run was uneventful, but I am not that fast so it felt like an eternity. Then one or two more corners, I could hear the announcer say the finishers names, I sprinted(or more likely just ran faster than I was) to the end. I did it, I did it. I was not just a one hit wonder I finished my second tri. I was a triathlete.
Swim 75 yard pool with a mile run 16:15
Bike 12.5 miles 45:55
Run 5K or 3.1 miles 38:51
Total 1 hour 45 Minutes
Finished 273 out of 327
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