Hi Crew, 

Bloody Hell! My third second for the year (Geelong, Port, now here). Just got the legs up ready to head out for some food and a couple of beers post IM Japan. Not really the result I was after, especially in the context of the winnability of the race, but Luke had a blinder. He set a new course record for the swim, and overall in a scorching 8:29. I was second in 8:38. I set a new course record for the bike by 8 minutes, and in the process knocked off my WA nemisis Matt Illingworth. 

So here’s the skinny, the fat will come later.

swim: 52:44 (10th overall), solid without being special. Missed the second bunch by a bees wang, which would have been perfect for me.

bike: 4:37 (Course record), new position felt good, but I still need some more long rides to see the benefit of the extra glut/ham.

run: 3:08 (?15th), solid first 30km even though I lost 60-90 sec through a misdirection. Let my emotions get the better of me in the last 10.

overall 2nd 8:38:34: this time would have won any other edition of this race!!! 

check on First off the Bike for an interview and photo’s in the next few hours.

we’re off to Tokyo on tuesday but see you at the coffee shop the week after,

Mitch 

PS big thanks to Bridie for putting herself through the mental anguish of watching her 11th IM race, and for big Dazz from Shotz for making the trip over here for the race