Michigan DU Champs - Getting the Run around

Well, after a bit of a nasty week for me, I had to gear up to head to Michigan for the Tri/Du Champs, to score more points for that Mideast Du Series Title. I got stung by a wasp a week ago, and I am allergic, so, I got to log some fun hospital time, complete with an oxygen mask, shots of adrenaline, Benedryl and IV bags. Loved it. Just how I wanted to spend my Labor Day weekend. So, all that junk left me out of it all week, and I wasn't sure how the race would go. Fortunately, I slept a ton Friday night and on Saturday, so I was rested. The course on Saturday was much nicer than Sunday, when it rained all morning. It was cold, and a steady rain fell during the whole race. We started out with an opening 5K, that was later determined to be at least a half mile too long. So, I was happy to see my bike when I hit T1. Having crashed in the rain earlier this year, I wasn't about to take too many risks on a mike course with a lot of turns, lots of traffic, and very wet pavement. We did these crazy turns into other parks to make up distance, but I rode steady, kept myself in second place, and figured I could catch the leader on the second run. Got to T2, about 2 minutes down on the first place guy, but my legs felt good, so, I took off, although I couldn't get one of my flats on completely, so, I ran with my heel coming out of my left shoe. The run was rollling and on, well, mud, and rocks, but I was crusing, and then, I ran into a volunteer who told me to turn around. She was insistent, even though I knew better. It wasn't until the guy who was in third came up to tell me, to keep going straight, that I got it right. So, I went about 400 meters out of my way, and ran super pissed off from there. I tore through miles 2-4, then, they had us go through some weird subdivision, and I knew I was making up time. I could see the leader, and he was hurting, so I put it down again. And again, another volunteer had me take a wrong turn, until she realized what she did, and shouted at me to come back. By then, the eventual winner, went past me, and I ran after him, hoping he would come back to me. I never did catch the guy who finished 2nd, so, I ended up 3rd, about 45 seconds off of 2nd, and visibly upset. It didn't help when we discovered that the second run was also about 3 quarters of a mile too long to boot. But, my hats off to Kenny and Annemarie at 3D. They admitted the error in the distances, and apologized, and apologized for the confusion on the run course. I kept my cool, b/c, I like Kenny and Annemarie, and I know the issue with the volunteers wasn't thier fault. Just an FYI for those doing 3D races. It was my first, and it was a little dissapointing. But, I did get much needed points, and ran into the Sprint Tri Winner - our own "Batman" Matt West, who gave me a nice high 5 on the run, and watched Tom Link put on another amazing performance in the Oly. Tri. We had some fun afterwards in the post race party. Of course, that was after I crossed the line and puked all over the place. Yes Greg, I puked again. But I waited to finish to do it.