Endurasport Half - Triathlon1/2 Ironman

Immediately after the national anthem they announced 10 seconds to start. Most everyone, including myself, weren't ready to start right away like that. I wanted to move to the side a bit more but ended up right in the middle of the group. I got kicked in the face and got pushed under the water a couple times. Actually, it wasn't as bad as it sounds but it did race my HR and make it hard to get my rythm. For some reason I couldn't see the yellow bouys so sighting was hard and I swam off course some. I got some water in my goggles and when I tried to stop to get it out both my calves cramped BAD. I moved my feet up and down for a couple seconds to try to loosen them up. Seemed to work ok but they still felt sore for the last 1/3 of the last loop.

Possibly stretch before the race. Maybe I could have avoided the cramping. Swim more and practice sighting more?

I washed my mouth out with water a little. Drank some water to get my hydration started after the swim. Everything seemed pretty smooth. I didn't rush but I didn't drag my ass either.

Practice getting my wetsuit off more perhaps but it was only a couple seconds extra.

My plan was to do the first loop relatively slow to get caught up with nutrition and water. Seemed to be ok although with the hilly course it was hard at times. At the water hand off I realized that they were handing bottles smaller than what I expected so I'd be behind on my planned hydration plan. I had a little stomach issues but not as bad as last year. Over all the first loop went pretty well.
As I started the second loop I saw Cheryl coming out from the mini race. I tried to catch her since I knew it would be the only time I could say I passed her but I couldn't quite do it. I did use her as a rabbit for half of the 2nd loop. She slowly was pulling away but I was close to her speed. One of my Endurolite capsules came apart in the dispenser but I didn't realize it till it was in my mouth and all over my lips...Yuck! Somewhere just after half way in the second loop my water bottle fell out of my behind the seat cage. (The water bottles were cheap plastic that stuck in squeeze form so it was thinner than it should have been.) I knew I really needed that water so I stopped for it. As I started to go again my CO2 fell off my bike and my Powertap computer fell off too. I didn't realize at first what it was but thank God I heard it. Obviously, I ran back to get them. Aly had her "GREG" sign at the corner which was cool. I was still having some stomach issues but the rest of the loop went good and felt fast!
3rd loop was uneventful except for the person that tried to ride next to me and chat. I ended up passing him again as well as the mountain biker that passed me right before my water bottle/bike pieces drop fiasco. Stomach seems to be more settled. I may have gone a little too hard on the 3rd lap but I felt good.

More bike time with more hard/long rides. Figure out some thing different for hydration. Tape my power meter computer to my bike so it can't fall off.

I made sure to lather up with sunscreen and try to take in some extra water since I was behind fluid intake from the bike.

Slow down. Relax.

I came out on the run feeling pretty good but my legs were tight. More importantly my HR was way to high (168+) and I was having trouble catching my breath. I tried to keep running slowly but still couldn't catch my breath. I started walk at 145 HR and run at 130 HR. I drank a lot at all of the aid stations to try to catch back up on hydration. Second loops went a LOT better than the first.

Go slower in the begining out of transition. I'll have to think about bringing my fuel belt with me next time.

Sat around and talked.


1) Water bottles given by race were too small and too flimsy. 2)Need to do longer brick runs. 3)Might have gone a little too hard on the bike.


Hilly course and I suck at riding hills. My over all time was much slower than I'd hoped. That being said, it was my first HIM and I completed it!!!