Updated - Seeley Lake Triathlon

First off, I love sweet kits and sweet outfits.  All my friends know this.  Looking sharp isn't a crime. and it is impossible to have a bad day when you have a sweet clothing situation going on.  When I somehow convinced Jodi to wear matching Montana tie dye tshirts to the race, I knew that even if I finished last, I would be looking like a million bucks...or in this case $29.90, the best cash I have ever spent.  :)

*How can it not be a fantastic day when you buy matching tie dye shirts to wear to the race?

There is nothing that compares to the feeling of victory after suffering the agony of defeat.  I’ve had some success at this race (two runner-up finishes) but, at the 2011 race I had one of my worst races ever.  I trained all year with that agonizing memory on my mind.  The memory was always there motivating me, pushing me, and keeping me focused.  The difference between me and a lot of people is the fact that I finish the unfinished.  If that takes a year, as this activity did, then that is what I will do.  I was at this race to finish the unfinished.

It was a fantastic day, I was so lucky to share it with my triathlon friends, my parents, and Jodi. It was nice to have my parents there to watch me race.  That's always fun.  Ms. Jodi was very supportive with her cheers and pictures; she even got up at 5am to come to the race with me. I really appreciated her company and support throughout the day. A very big thank you to her and my dad for the pictures.

Most of the fun was post race when my parents, Jodi, Uriah, and I went on the boat for some wakeboarding and tubing.  After some sweet wakeboarding and some wild tubing, we were all tuckered out and went home.  The perfect ending to a perfect day.

*Jodi was nice enough to travel,  ride the racers' shuttle with me, and she bundled up to brave the cold temperatures at the lake :)

*Uriah working on Cinna-bun #1

*Uriah is my lil' Cinna-bun at the finish

*"Here uncle Doug, have some Cinna-bun"

*What do you mean there are no more Cinna-buns?

*Lookin' like a goon, what says "flattering" like neck to ankle neoprene?

*Uriah telling me, "There are fish down there."

*Jodi did some wakeboarding

*My mom subjected by dad to the tube

*I did a little shredding

*Uriah did all the driving....just kidding.

Okay, well how about the race?  The 2012 race was a complete success; I couldn't imagine a more perfect story.  I struggled with this post because it could very easily come off as bragging, everything went so perfectly and I felt so great that the only holding back I have to do is on the race report.  The true challenge of a good writer is to keep piece of literature short and to the point.  

Let me keep it short and sweet by saying, I finished the unfinished. 

The swim started off perfectly.  I had no issues with bumping bodies, jostling, or impedance.  The swim course was changed for this year and it seemed better suited for the athletes.  By the first buoy I had gone clear of the pack and began putting time into the chase pack.  

*Checking the swim gaps

Halfway down the back stretch I missed my sighting buoy and had to stop.  I came to a dead stop and found the buoy, I resumed swimming and quickly found my way to the swim exit with a nice swim gap. 

This race is rough, literally.  In all years I have passed on using my race wheels because the road is a bruiser.  This year was no different, the road was rough and I didn’t ride my race wheels.  Once on the bike my power felt great and I set course to the turnaround.  

I made the bike turnaround and took time checks to the chasers.  I was lucky this year because many of the people who beat me last year at this race, and beat me at previous races this year, were here racing.  I took time checks to most of the favorites and the gaps were comfortable.  I finished the bike course very satisfied in averaging over 24 mph which for a wimp like me is pretty good.  :)

I had a little “whoops’ in transition and lost a few seconds, but made it out on the run course feeling great.  At a minute into the run I knew I was going to win.  My run has taken off after a lot of hard work and I really was confident that I wouldn’t be run down.  My footstrike was great, my turnover was quick, and I was having some fun. I was loving the tri!

*Another sweet kit, yes!

*Heading out on the run

I navigated the long open pavement stretch, the twisting dirt road, the campground, and quickly found myself on the home stretch.  I looked back with about a mile to and saw no one.  Seeing nothing in chase is the best feeling in the world.  I backed down the pace a little and focused on keeping my running form.  I cruised to the finish line with the feeling of being redeemed.  The feeling is indescribable.

*Fist pump, it's all mine

*Lucky arm charm!

*Cinna-bun #20

*Bitter rivals during and best buddies after the race.

Finishing behind me were some studs who had beaten me in the past.  Matt Handwerk had a great sprint finish to get 2^nd place, Russ Gates had a great lean at the line to take 4^th, and King Jeremy was also in the mix. In last year's race post for the Seeley tri I wrote how I always shake hands and say good job to people who beat me.  All of my competitors did just that, it was a great day.

*Matt and I on the podium, #3 is the invisible man.

*Redeemed :)

Hang on, it's a wild ride!