Cold, wet, raining, fast, terrible, and awesome. That pretty much describes how my race today went.

Alexandra Smargiassi, Ellie McCutchen and I decided we should do a triathlon relay since we were all strong in one of the sections. Ellie was our swimmer, I was the cyclist, and Alexandra was the runner.

Ellie did a great job on the .9 mile swim and layed down a 25-minute time that put us in 5th out of 27 teams. Once she got to the transition zone, things moved quickly. Ellie stuck her leg out and I ripped the timer chip off her ankle and put it on mine (this is how you switch in triathlon relay). I then went into a full out sprint out of the transition area to the bike mount area. I immediately start hammering to get up to speed and on my way.

Overall the first half was pretty uneventful. I had a great grab at the first feed (mile 10) and got a lemon-lime gatorade. Things continued to go well. I was constantly passing people and not getting passed by anyone.

Then mile 16, first a burp, then a rumble, then another burp. All of a sudden I’m throwing up to the left of my bike while rolling down a hill at around 30 mph. My best guess is that it was the gatorade that caused the issue. It was just too strong.

Once that was over, I felt much better. Around mile 17.5 I decide I need to put some energy in my body so I ease up and eat and drink. That’s when this fast rider caught up to me. He got about 30 feet in front of me and I stayed at that distance behind him. We stayed this way for about a mile

Once I was satisfied that my food and drink was settled in my stomach I overtook him and led him for about 2 ½ - 3 miles. He then overtook me in a full out sprint (not sure if he liked that some college kid was maintaining pace with him!). He never got far from me, but I lost sight of him when we reached a hill with turns and surrounded by forest.

I then see the fast rider on the side of the road looking at his front derailleur. I yell “come on buddy!” think that he just dropped his chain and I wanted to encourage him to get going. Then I notice the bontrager shoe covers. The disc wheel and the bike. Then he looks up and I think “Oh shit! That’s Lance!!!”. This entire time I was riding with Lance Armstrong!

As much as I wanted to stop and help him out, I just could not do that and take time away from my relay team. Unfortunately, that was going to happen anyway.

The rest of the race I was moving. Rolling along in 52/11 (the largest gear ratio on my bike (aka, the fastest)) for many segments. Then I reached a roundabout with a car in front of me. Of course this car decides it needs to stop, so I move to the right, yell to the officer that I was going around, and moved around the SUV. Fortunately everything went smoothly, but it still caused me to slow down a lot.

The next circle did not go nearly as well. Two volunteers were standing on the far side with the stance suggesting we needed to go straight, so I shot straight through and hammered away. After between ¾ and a mile I realized I was not seeing anyone. I then saw a circle with no markings. I was off the course. I got back to the course as fast as I could, and continued in the correct direction. This did not make me happy, but what can you do at this point? It just really bothered me that no one indicated the proper direction and furthermore that no one yelled at me that I was going the wrong direction.

About 3 miles later my rear wheel all of a sudden goes flat. I was not going to let the race finish like this. I kept riding on the flat (and I actually passed two people) until I saw two riders shaking furiously on the side of the road. I stopped and realized that both of these riders were pulling out of the race due to hypothermia. “Can I borrow your rear wheel?”. Their answer was the difference between finishing the race or letting my team down. The two kids (both were college racers, one from Virginia Tech, and the other not wearing his school kit). After some thought (these guys must have been having serious trouble because they were just crouched there shaking furiously) the Virginia Tech rider said I could use his. Yes! I quickly take my rear wheel off, go to his bike, get his, throw it on mine and go away. As I’m riding away I yell “I owe you a 6-pack!”

The rest of the race was just a complete hammerfest for me. I even bypassed the last feed zone (it was only 8-10 miles from the finish). Shortly after the feed zone a lady yells “Lance is only 4 cyclists behind you.” I look and see him about 200-250 meters behind. “Oh no he is not catching me” I thought. I shifted into a harder gear and laid down more hammers. 3-4 miles later was the split where the Half-Ironman racers and Olympic distance racers split. When I looked back at this point, I did not see Lance. Mission Accomplished. I still had a bit to go to the transition area, but I was very proud of this moment. All things considered, I beat Lance Armstrong between miles 17-30.

When I realize I am close to the transition zone I give it my all. I’m sprinting down the final hill and pass a cyclist right before the last turn. I then slam on the brakes, dismount my bike, and full-out sprint to the transition zone. I throw my bike and stick out my ankle for Alex to take the chip and then she’s off. Our entire transition was done in only 36 seconds!

After Alex leaves, I tell Ellie what happened and I was having breathing pains and had to sit down and relax. I gave it my all. I just wish I didn’t get lost and get the flat.

Overall I would estimate that those issues caused me about 12 minutes on my ride. That was the difference between getting 4th (the place I came in out of the bike and the position Alex maintained through the finish) and 2nd. We lost to third by only 2 minutes which would not have existed if I had not gotten the flat.

I truly felt I let the team down and I apologized to them. We still finished 4th out of 27 relay teams! I am so proud to have been a member of that team. I will also never forget my ride with Lance.