I’ll try and make this as brief as possible.
Background: Second 140.6 race, the first was CDA this year. Splits there: 1:03:xx, 5:27, 4:09 Total 10:50. 132nd overall. The air temp was 94degs when I started the marathon that day. As compared to CDA in June, I am currently a better swimmer and runner, about the same biker.
When the howling wind woke me up at 3:30, I knew we were in for a rough day. We got down to the race start about 5:30, pumped up the tires put the wetsuit on and headed down to the water. Race start: Air temp: 50deg, 13mph wind. Water temp 64deg.
The first ~300m of the swim were not too bad. People were considerate and the harbor protected us. After that it was BRUTAL. Huge swells, it was impossible to keep any kind of rhythm. I found a guys feet about 500m in and followed those exact same feet for the next 3300m. The course takes you out around the middle of a three island chain. Around the islands there were whitecaps hammering us. I got incredibly seasick and just wanted it to be over. I’ve never wanted out of the water so bad. About half way back I lost my breakfast. I felt better, but that was the start of continual stomach problems all day. Swim time 1:09:30. 10th overall 4secs out of 7th. I had no idea I was that far up. I was expecting 1:00-1:02, so it was a little disappointing, but I was just happy to be out of the water.
T1: I take my time and walk in transition. Bibs, long sleeve cycling jersey. 5:30
Bike: I used 52-36/ 12-27 for gears. I’m a spinner. The first hill out of the water is ~1mi long. I kept my HR down and spun up it. 1st mile 5:54. Well at least it was over 10mph. The first 12miles is rolling. Then we turned into the 15-20mph head wind for the next 40miles. It was really hard to control my bike with some of the crosswinds on the descents. Stressful. My legs felt tight and crappy for the first 25miles or so. Pretty much the same as CDA. I just relaxed kept my HR down and they came around. 7-8 guys flew by me in the first 10miles. I just maintained my target HR, kept eating and drinking. It was kind of lonely out there. I passed 8 people between mile 20 and the 52mi turn around. 3-4 of these guys were people who had passed me in the first 10 miles. No one passed me. One great thing about the hills, there was no drafting. I grabbed my special needs bag and used the bathroom was on my way. My first 56mi was 3:22. I passed 5 people in the next 6miles, then at mile 63 my chain snapped right in half. The wipperman connex link broke in two. Anyone seen that before? It was a pain to get off. Since each side was only half the length, I didn’t have the torque to pop the connex link out. I wasn’t carrying a connex link, only a pin to I popped one inner link out, and put a pin in. Just as I was finishing the tech guy came up and put the final touches on it so it was not so tight. Total time lost 5mins. I was pretty happy it only too that long. Roll with the punches. Soon after I stated having stomach problems, I realized I had been eating at the same mile markers as I had going out, but now I was going a ton faster. So I backed off the nutrition and I felt better. The 3 hills on the path were very steep, but none very long. I was happy with my 36-27. 
From mile 68 to to the end I passed one guy. No one passed me. It was kind of lonely. Second half 3:01. That was with 5min to fix the chain, so the wind helped me way negative split it. 2650kcals consumed. Time: 6:23, 6th overall bike.
T2: When I came in, a guy told me I was 4mins behind 4th place. I was in complete shock. I thought I misheard. I had no idea I was that far up. I changed to a running shirt and shorts and was off. Time 2:40
Run: I am not a great runner so I expected a bunch of people to pass me in the marathon. I was thinking it would be cool to get in the top 10-15 at that point. The first mile was downhill, then the ups began. From 1.5-4mi is uphill then down to 5, and then back up to 8. Then you go down until ~11.5 and slightly back up hill to the finish. Then repeat for the second loop. None of the hills on the run are very steep, just long. At the 3.5mi point I came to an intersection with cones straight ahead, to the left and to the right. With no one to tell me which way to go. I decided to go straight, wrong choice. I ran ~1min in that direction before realizing that was wrong and turned back. I was pissed off for the next 3miles, then I decided I had to let it go. I had stomach pain the whole first half. Dry heaved a couple of times. I tried salt, different drinks, etc. They only thing that helped was to stop drinking and eating. I didn’t think that was a good option. I passed the 4th place guy on the dirt section around mile 10. I was 6min down on 3rd at the 12mi point, so I didn’t think catching him was in the cards. I came through the first 1/2 at 1:52:40. My prerace goal was to break 4hrs, so I was on pace. It was getting cool, perfect for running. At mile 14.5 I finally threw up, and felt a ton better. I decided that I was better off just skipping aid stations at that point. I only took 3 drinks of gatorade from there to the end. It was dark, and there were first lap people out on the course so it was hard to tell who my competition was. I just kept pushing, my legs hurt on the ups, but I knew the last 5miles was down hill. As I came up to the finish the workers sent me out for a 3rd loop. After ~200m I thought, this isn’t right. So I ran over and jumped over the finish line fence and ran into the finish. Marathon: 3:51:37 (1:52:40/1:58:58) 5th place overall run. Eric’s garmin had the course at 26.6mi. That was a marathon PR for me, despite it being 0.4mi long and going off course for another 2mins. I was pumped. Then they told me I was 3rd overall. I have no idea when I passed the 3rd place guy. I was in total shock. Completely unexpected. Granted it wasn’t exactly World Championship competition, but I’ll take it. Total time: 11:32:38
The race was really well put together. Tons of prizes and stuff. I was kind of annoyed for a while that I got 2nd in my age group, so no free plane ticket from Allegiant. Then I decided I didn’t care, I was just happy to have hit my taper, and to have rolled with all the day’s difficulties so well. Everything that the RD could control was great. He was incredibly friendly, it doesn’t seem he’s in this to make a buck. He said he slept 6 hours total from Thursday to Monday morning.
It was a really hard day, but we knew it would be going into it. 151 finished out of 285 starters. A few of people quit during the swim, and then a ton missed the bike cutoff. The wind was rough, but what are you going to do? Funny thing is Monday there was not a lick of wind. ZERO. The lake was like glass.
This wasn’t as brief as I had hoped. Sorry.
BTW: Tyler’s bike split is way more amazing than it seems. Based on other people’s power numbers, we guess that he did ~350watts for the ride. That’s at about 140lbs. I have lots of cynical drug comments to make, but I’ll leave it at that.
