Date: July 11, 2004
Official Results: Official Results
Official Website: http://www.friendsoftheriverfront.org
Race Pictures: http://community.webshots.com/album/162802411hwhSdP
Course Map: Triathlon Course Map
Finishing time: 2:24:33 (2:26:33 w/ 2:00 Minute Penalty)
Place: 49/313
Bike Pace: 21.7 mph
Run Pace: 7:11 / mile

Race Splits

Swim	Trans 1	Bike	Trans 2	Run
26:44	3:20	1:08:43	1:07	44:41

This years race represented my one year anniversary to the sport of Triathlons. My main goal coming into this years race was to simply go faster then my time from last year of just under three hours. I thought that I would be happy with knocking 15-20 minutes off of last years time, but as it turned out, I actually knocked off close to 35 minutes. The day started off very cloudy and perfect for racing. The air was slightly humid, but other then that it was good weather. I'm in no means a good swimmer, and consider the swimming leg the weaker of my three events, but as it turned out I was only lost five minutes to the leaders. The 1.5K swim took place in the Allegheny river right outside of PNC park and Heinz field. The water was 78 degrees and was very hot especially with a wetsuit on. After the swim I emerged from the water in 26 minutes and 44 seconds and already I was 12 minutes faster then last year. With my new Cervelo P3 bike, I planned on tearing up the bike course. I averaged a pace just under 22 mph (21.7 to be exact) much faster then last years pace of 18.6. My transitions were smooth except for a two minute penalty that I got hit with. A USA Triathlon rule states that when dismounting the bike you must dismount and have both feet on the ground before crossing the orange spray painted line on the ground, and my bike supposedly creeped inches over the line when I dismounted. 29 other riders throughout the event got the same exact penalty.

Since I ended up going all out on the bike, I had little energy left for the run, but still managed to pull off just over a seven minute pace. As I inched closer to the finish line, I knew that I was under 2:30, and even under 2:25. My finishing time was 2 hours 24 minutes and 30 seconds, not including the 2 minute penalty.