Ironman 70.3 Muncie - Triathlon1/2 Ironman


View Member's Race Log View other race reports
Muncie, Indiana
United States
World Triathlon Corporation
89F / 32C
Sunny
Total Time = 5h 48m 41s
Overall Rank = 696/1530
Age Group = W25-29
Age Group Rank = 30/71
Pre-race routine:

I picked this race as my first Half ironman because it was just the right amount of time before my first ironman,IM Lou coming up. What made it better was my best friend who lives with us, Loraine, is from Muncie, so she knew the area. We left south GA early Thursday morning for the 14 hour drive. Arrived Thursday evening, we stayed with Loraine's parents. Friday did the athlete check-in/expo thing and I was starting to get nervous. At this point all I had done triathlon wise was 4 sprints and an intermediate distance, I had also done 4 half marathons and a marathon. Since November 2009 I have lost 142 pounds, and have been training hard for this race and IM Lou. I honestly did not know what to expect, but I put trust in my training. I was sad my husband wasn't able to come since he could get out of work, he has been my biggest fan and supporter since I started the journey to ironman.
Event warmup:

Got to the race site at 4:30 am when Prairie Creek opened, with the thought that doing this we would beat the crowd and get a great parking spot. Well, for waking up at 3 am and leaving at 4 am to be one of the first cars there, we were "rewarded" (insert sarcasm)with the farthest parking spot away from transition. I had dropped off my bike the night before, so at least I didn't have to wheel it all the way over. Ate breakfast in the car, then made the long walk to the transition area with all my gear. Set of transition triple checking everything to make sure I was set. Got a lot of compliments on my hot pink bike. We potty maybe 10 times before my swim wave went off. I was so nervous
Swim
  • 49m 14s
  • 2112 yards
  • 02m 20s / 100 yards
Comments:

That was the best I have ever felt in a long distance open water swim, but it felt a little too long. I swim 1.2 miles in open water in 42 minutes any day of the week,so maybe it was too long, or I was just having a bad swim. Nonetheless, I didn't feel too gassed and was ready to get to my bike when I exited the water.
What would you do differently?:

Learn swim technique
Transition 1
  • 04m 46s
Comments:

Said hello to skully (my bike) and told her we have some catching up to do out on the course. Took my time, this was my first half ironman, so I wanted to make sure I had everything I needed, 56 miles is a long way when you have forgotten something.
What would you do differently?:

Skipped socks! My socks were soaked after the first mile of the bike. I have triathlon bike shoes so don't even know why I bothers with socks
Bike
  • 2h 46m 36s
  • 56 miles
  • 20.17 mile/hr
Comments:

Was happy with my bike. To me the course was slightly hilly, but that's only because where I live in South GA is pancake flat. I took it easy up the hills When we hit some tailwinds on a downhill I hit 30 MPH, I have never gone that fast on a bike. My only goal going into the bike was sub 3 hours, so I was trilled. At the aid station at mile 30 I refilled my aerodrink so that took some time, and I took an ironman perform for my down tube cage. I got a lot of compliments from other ladies on the course about my hot bike bike, so that was cool.I got a look of double takes in general because the pink paint I picked out for my bike is so bright. Even the high school girls at the aid station were yelling out "I love your bike" as I passed them, that made me smile.
What would you do differently?:

I would switch to a torpedo mount instead of an aerodrink for race days, its took some time to fill that think up.
Transition 2
  • 06m 25s
Comments:

Made it too the dismount line to a crowd of spectators, which was really cool. The energy of the people was amazing. A few people yelled out "I love your bike!" I smiled and yelled thanks. I took even more time in this transition, really wanted to make sure I was good to go, I was getting so pumped up, all I had in front of me was a half marathon and I would finally be a half ironman finisher. Since it was a hot day I went with a visor instead of a hat, so I took the time to put sports gel in my hair and took my brush and put my hair up nice and high.Made the mistake of putting on socks again.Double checked the make sure all my nutrition was in my tri top pockets. Went to the porta potties, and stopped right before the transition exit to let the volunteers put sunscreen on me.
What would you do differently?:

Skip the socks! Once again I put on socks and was miserable, worst mistake of the whole day, but more on that later.I wear zoots, so I should have just worn them sockless like they are intended to be worn.
Run
  • 2h 01m 32s
  • 13.1 miles
  • 09m 17s  min/mile
Comments:

Wasn't expecting such a hilly course, and living in a pancake flat region of the US, I had no hill training.I walked through all the aid stations dumping water on my and drinking plenty. This is where the sock misery started. from the first aid station to the finish line my socked we soaked from dumping water on myself. It made my feet heavy and I was miserable.I did the best I could to ignore it.I had to dig deep to get over the hills.I had flashbacks on when I deployed to Iraq in 2003, and walking across Iraq in the summer in full gear in 140 degree heat, I told myself if I survived that while being at war then I can HTFU and survive this race that I am doing for fun.I started singing cadence in my head from my Army days, and before I knew it I had crossed the mat for the halfway point in just under an hour, hearing squishing noises from my socks the whole time. Mile 8 I really started getting excited and pumped up about finishing. After the aid station at mile 12, I walked about 20 extra steps to gather my strength so I could finish strong. I finally made the turn into the finishing chute, there was another girl in my age group directly beside me who looked like she wanted to gut it out to the finish line. This was my first half ironman, so I wanted to enjoy the finish line and have it all to myself. I felt strong, but I slowed it down so she could go ahead of me and I glanced behind me and saw nobody was there, so I got my wish of the finish line to myself. I raised my arms in victory crossing the finish line, feeling like I buried the old morbidly obese me.
What would you do differently?:

No wear socks! Felt like I had trench foot.
Post race
Warm down:

Gave Loraine a big hug, and she told me congrats. Then the biggest shock of the day. My time goal was anything sub 7, and Loraine told me I went sub 6, and I couldn't believe it, she showed me the online tracker on her phone and I didn't think it was correct. Then my husband Joel and my dad both called to tell me congrats since they had been watching the tracker, and I asked them both what the total time was and they both said the same thing. I went to the people at the computers and got a print out of my time. Sure enough, my official time was the same thing.I got some food but wasn't able to eat much, my stomach was revolting after the run, and I don't think it liked the ironman perform. We waited for transition to open so I could get my gear, then went back to Loraine's parents house,we had to pack and get ready since we were heading back home to south GA the next day.

What limited your ability to perform faster:

Soggy socks! Also having no hills in South GA doesn't help.

Event comments:

The volunteers were awesome! So helpful, supportive, and motivating! This was a great race,glad I was able to do it as my first half ironman. WTC did an amazing job putting on this event in such a small Midwestern town.


Profile Album


Last updated: 2011-02-16 12:00 AM
Swimming
00:49:14 | 2112 yards | 02m 20s / 100yards
Age Group: 52/71
Overall: 1141/1530
Performance: Average
Suit: 2XU tri top, Orca tri bottoms
Course: rectangle
Start type: Wade Plus: Waves
Water temp: 80F / 27C Current: Low
200M Perf. Average Remainder: Below average
Breathing: Average Drafting: Average
Waves: Average Navigation: Average
Rounding: Average
T1
Time: 04:46
Performance: Below average
Cap removal: Average Helmet on/
Suit off:
Wetsuit stuck? Run with bike: Yes
Jump on bike:
Getting up to speed:
Biking
02:46:36 | 56 miles | 20.17 mile/hr
Age Group: 29/71
Overall: 692/1530
Performance: Good
Wind: Strong
Course: Not exactly sure, but some sort of out and back
Road: Rough Dry Cadence: 88
Turns: Good Cornering: Good
Gear changes: Good Hills: Good
Race pace: Comfortable Drinks: Just right
T2
Time: 06:25
Overall: Below average
Riding w/ feet on shoes
Jumping off bike
Running with bike Good
Racking bike Good
Shoe and helmet removal Good
Running
02:01:32 | 13.1 miles | 09m 17s  min/mile
Age Group: 30/71
Overall: 517/1530
Performance: Average
Course: Out and back with rolling hills the entire course
Keeping cool Good Drinking Just right
Post race
Weight change: %
Overall: Average
Mental exertion [1-5] 5
Physical exertion [1-5] 5
Good race? Yes
Evaluation
Course challenge Just right
Organized? Yes
Events on-time? Yes
Lots of volunteers? Yes
Plenty of drinks? Yes
Post race activities: Good
Race evaluation [1-5] 5