IronMan Cozumel - TriathlonFull Ironman


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Cozumel, Quintana Roo
Mexico
WTC
78F / 26C
Overcast
Total Time = 12h 30m 26s
Overall Rank = 469/1800
Age Group = 40-44
Age Group Rank = 86/329
Pre-race routine:

Saturday there was a race practice at 7 which I did. There were a few hundred people and it was a good way to feel out the current and swells. It was super mild compared to Thursday and Friday.

Had an average sized pasta dinner at the hotel and then got to bed at 8pm. I slept straight through until 1 (ugh). I kept hearing the release of hydrolic brakes and kept thinking it was the bus arriving to pick us up from the hotel - turned out to be delivery trucks ;-). Dozed off an on until 3:45 and got up and had a cup of coffee and a mug of oatmeal in the bathroom to not wake up Wendy. Got downstairs at 4:30 and the buffet was open so I had a second breakfast of oatmeal, fruit and yogurt. Got to the race start at 5:20, pumped up the tires, met up with Sean, had a mix one and a banana.
Event warmup:

They didn't allow a warm up, so we just got our special needs food bags checked and then went out to the dock.
Swim
  • 1h 10m 45s
  • 4156 yards
  • 01m 42s / 100 yards
Comments:

I hung back 100 meters from the start to avoid the chaos. It was a perfect strategy for me because I got to choose my line and timing to overtake instead of being swam over.
What would you do differently?:

Move up into the pack more now that I have a little more confidence. I wasted 100 meters. Oh, and I'd also start my stop watch :-)
Transition 1
  • 10m 38s
Comments:

The tent was packed so it took a minute just to find a spot to change. I took the time to get on spray sunscreen but put it on while wet. I also did a quick porta potty break before heading on the bike.
What would you do differently?:

Just do it faster. I was taking my time because I set my expectation to just finish and enjoy the race.
Bike
  • 6h 11m 37s
  • 112 miles
  • 18.08 mile/hr
Comments:

Low z2 in the first lap, mid z2 in the second and high z2/mid z3 in the third. I wanted to be sure I had gas for the marathon. Sean caught me half way through the first lap and we rode with each other until the end of lap 1 and then I got dropped. I stopped at the special needs tent on lap 2 to find my back and looked for 10 minutes. I was just about to give up when a little Mexican girl proudly announce she had my bag.
What would you do differently?:

Electical tape what I need to my bike and skip the special needs bag.
Transition 2
  • 07m 46s
Comments:

Did a full stop before getting off the bike. Again the tent was packed (and HOT). I changed socks to get into a fresh/dry pair which turned out to be brilliant. With the humidity, tons of people were walking just because of blisters.
What would you do differently?:

Nothing.
Run
  • 4h 49m
  • 26.2 miles
  • 11m 02s  min/mile
Comments:

First lap I was focused on staying in z2 and getting a good efficient stride going. I got passed by Yvonne Van Vlerkin like I was standing still. Caught up with Sean at the end of the first lap and then ran together for 6-7 miles. I picked up the pace with about 2 miles left in the 2nd lap. I said a quick hello to Wendy and the end of lap 2 and then went off into the dark. By this point, I could not stand anything sweet and my stomach would not let anything pass. I was limited to orange slices, ice and ritz crackers. Also, holding ice cubes kept the heat off.

I walked the aid stations but ran the full course. I was so pumped at the end and really felt pretty good.
What would you do differently?:

Practice nutrition on the bike and run better next time.
Post race
Warm down:

Walked around the finish area with Wendy. We waited for Sean to finish (10 minutes) and then got some pizza and the finisher tees. We were pretty tired so we picked up the bikes, got a taxi and headed back to the hotels.

What limited your ability to perform faster:

1. goal of just finishing
2. more important to stick a friend...this time ;)
3. playing it conservatively to finish


Profile Album


Last updated: 2009-01-25 12:00 AM
Swimming
01:10:45 | 4156 yards | 01m 42s / 100yards
Age Group: 160/329
Overall: 0/1800
Performance:
Suit: V.002
Course: Open ocean in a long rectangle along the coast with the first leg up current. Down current was the longest leg and then back up current to the finish.
Start type: Deep Water Plus: Shot
Water temp: 81F / 27C Current: Low
200M Perf. Good Remainder: Good
Breathing: Good Drafting: Average
Waves: Average Navigation: Good
Rounding: Good
T1
Time: 10:38
Performance: Average
Cap removal: Good Helmet on/
Suit off:
No
Wetsuit stuck? No Run with bike: No
Jump on bike: No
Getting up to speed: Bad
Biking
06:11:37 | 112 miles | 18.08 mile/hr
Age Group: 93/329
Overall: 0/1800
Performance: Good
Wind: Strong
Course: 3 laps around the southern half of the island and then cut across the middle. It was a cross wind, headwind, cross wind, kinda course. The down wind leg was protected so you lost the benfit. Flat.
Road: Rough Dry Cadence:
Turns: Good Cornering: Good
Gear changes: Good Hills: Good
Race pace: Comfortable Drinks: Too much
T2
Time: 07:46
Overall: Good
Riding w/ feet on shoes
Jumping off bike
Running with bike
Racking bike
Shoe and helmet removal
Running
04:49:00 | 26.2 miles | 11m 02s  min/mile
Age Group: 87/329
Overall: 0/1800
Performance: Average
Course: 3 8.7 mile laps and flat.
Keeping cool Good Drinking Too much
Post race
Weight change: %
Overall: Average
Mental exertion [1-5] 4
Physical exertion [1-5] 3
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: Average
Race evaluation [1-5] 4