Ironhead Dallas Triathlon - TriathlonOlympic

Didn't feel like my best swim. (Although several of the swim times I saw/heard from others made me wonder if the course wasn't just a smidge long?)
Started off too fast, and HR/breathing wasn't under good control. Fixed then by the first bouy; however, never felt like my balance was a good as it should have been. Also, I usually breath every third stroke in the pool, and I found myself breathing every other stroke during much of the swim.

Need to get back to more setting aside more time for basic drills. I've been following a plan with verious sets (e.g. speed sets, endurance sets, easy/build/easy/hard, etc.), but it didn't includes the basic drills that I had previously been doing a lot of (e.g. side-balance, fist, one-armed, etc.)

Don't know what took so long here. My rack was at the far end of transition. (But I had a nice end spot on the rack!)

Socks and shoes were pretty smooth. Fumbled w/ race belt (which we had to wear on the bike for this race). I had taped Gu and bag of Endurlytes to the top tube so I didn't have to load them during transistion. (Just shoved them in a pocket once moving.)

Change order slightly? Put race belt under helmet so it goes: glasses, helmet, race belt (as I'm bending over to grab socks). Or put race belt on ground with HRM strap and pick up both at same time. Hmmm.

This ride felt good. It was a steady, hard effort, but not grueling, and not "hammer/rest/repeat". I felt good staying aero, although I had overinflated my tires a bit and my butt could certainly tell by the end. A slighly higher cadence (~100 rpm) worked well for me today, and I didn't have any problem with my knees.

I took one Enduralyte capsule at the start of the second loop and about 1/2 bottle of Amino Vital. Otherwise I stuck w/ water. Temp wasn't as warm as I'd expected, and my heart rate stayed lower then I'd anticipated. That was good news for starting the run.

I might need to consider removing a spacer. I feel like I'm hnching my shoulders to get lower, sometimes.

Most of the technical aspects of T2 went well. I was a little slow getting the bike on the rack. (Mental lapse -- I racked by the seat instead of just throwing the handlebars over the rack)

However, I as I ran from the rack, I realized I didn't have my glasses. I must have pulled them off when I took off the helmet. I turned aroudn and ran back. Didn't see them on the towel, so I picked up the helmet to look underneath. That's when I realized I wasn't even at my rack. So I had to run back one more rack to get them. Without this little snafu, I probably would have made my stretch goal.

I did get some ice dumped in my hat as I left transiation. That felt good!

Rack by handlebars. Leave glasses on.

Right foot was hurting a little as I started the run, again. Need to make sure to relax it during last quarter or half mile of ride.

I've done much better on some of my other runs. I did, however, do a good job of pacing and keeping it steady. (That 9 minute miles was because of two aid stations in that same split.) I walked all the aid stations, putting ice in my hat and drinking a little water. That really seemed to help. HR stayed under control, I didn't blow up, and I didn't have to walk between stations at all. Still managed a burst near the end, but it wasn't as strong as it could have been. Saw Andy, Aaron, Tommy, Emily, and Haley out on the course at various points.

Skip last aid station. It wasn't worth it for the final half mile.
Also, try to walk at only every other aid station, although I don't know if this would result it my HR getting out of control. I need to train more in evenings, when it's hotter, rather than mornings.

Crossed the line and, as they were taking the chip off my ankle, Aaron came up to congratulate me. I grabbed the bottle in his hand and said, "Hold on, I need to sit down" and walked away. He politely asked if he could have his Endurox back, as he wasn't actually offering it to me. I chuckled at myself; clearly I wasn't thinking straight. (Sorry, Aaron!)

I drank lots (water I mixed with some Gatorade). Met up with Tommy and Shannon (who didn't finish when she missed the swim cutoff - credit to her for even *trying* to swim with ruptured eardrums!) and we cheered for Andy when he finished.

I was getting dizzy when I walked, so I had a couple of cookies and a bagel. After loading my bike and gear back in the car, I went back for a little pizza and talked with Aaron, Haley, and Emily.


Need core workouts (to support swim drills) and more running in the heat (acclimation). A little open water practice wouldn't hurt, mostly to get used to the feel of different water (and the temp..it was like a bath today)


Jack did a great job ensuring he was prepared for the heat. Lots of ice and plenty of drink stations. Food included only bagels, cookies, and eventually pizza. Gatorade and water in abundance. Smoothies were available for purchase. No realy activities (other than awards), and I think only one vendor. Really, just anther of Jack's standard, 'minimal frills but really well executed' races.

There was a great BT turnout, and kudos to Sebastion for taking some BT pics.