Firmman Half Iron Triathlon - Triathlon1/2 Ironman


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Narragansett, Rhode Island
United States
Firm Racing
77F / 25C
Sunny
Total Time = 6h 12m 12s
Overall Rank = 191/246
Age Group = F25-29
Age Group Rank = 5/7
Swim
  • 41m 44s
  • 2112 yards
  • 01m 59s / 100 yards
Comments:

The swim went something like this: run from the beach into the water, step in holes and twist ankles and/or fall, get battered by waves until finally getting past the breakers, swim out to buoy and take a right, then lose all sense of direction. Swim for a few minutes, look up and realize I am half way to Block Island because the current is pulling me. Shit. Start swimming towards shore and the invisible buoys that may as well be invisible because they are so small and the waves are so big you can't see them! Swim some more and then look up and realize that I am once again the one-person Block Island ferry. Shit. Start swimming towards shore. This pattern continued until I finally reached the last buoy and headed into shore with the help of some waves. I wasted sooo much time and energy on this. My time was still ok but could have been better if I had navigated better.
What would you do differently?:

Not get so off course!
Transition 1
  • 02m 58s
Comments:

This went smoothly. I took a moment to wipe the sand off my feet before putting my socks on and I'm glad I did.
My bike mount went really well- I have improved a lot on that. My dad and C love to comment on the guys who have their shoes attached to their pedals and waste more time trying to get into their shoes. LOL.
What would you do differently?:

Nothing.
Bike
  • 3h 10m 25s
  • 56 miles
  • 17.65 mile/hr
Comments:

There was a head-wind on the way out which made route 1 pretty tough at times since it is wide open. I tried to stay aero but my legs were taking a long time to warm up and were cramping a lot so I had to move around to try and make myself comfortable. Just as I turned off route 1 onto Kings Factory road (and the climbing section) they finally started to loosen up. By this time I was basically riding by myself and at times I was afraid I'd gone off course but eventually I saw another rider or a painted arrow. Some of these hills were steeper than I remembered and really kicked my ass. Then I was back on route 1 for a while battling the wind until the turnaround, then it was a tailwind all the way back and I was able to make up some speed. On the very last turn before transition I took the corner too fast and nearly bit it. Oops.
What would you do differently?:

Nothing, this was as good as I could have done on this day.
Transition 2
  • 02m 40s
Comments:

Nothing special. Changed shoes, grabbed my visor, hit the portolet.
What would you do differently?:

Nothing.
Run
  • 2h 14m 24s
  • 13.1 miles
  • 10m 16s  min/mile
Comments:

In my last 2 HIM races this is where I really blew it. My main goal for this race was to have a good run and finally have a good HIM. Right away my legs felt good and I ran the 1st mile in 9:12. I knew that wouldn't last so I slowed it down and tried to maintain a steady pace. Usually by the end of mile 1 I develop a side stitch and that is the beginning of the end for me. I did get a stitch after about 2 miles but it wasn't a bad one and I was able to run through it and it eventually went away.
By now it had really started to heat up and there wasn't a cloud in the sky. I was pretty hot. I saw Cappy at his mile 5 and he was looking strong. Run run run. Drink drink drink. Some neighborhood kids had set up their own little aid stations and were giving out water and ice. On a hot day that was really helpful.
I tried to step up the pace for the last 3 miles so I could make it under 6:10, and I was on track to do that until I hit the sand. Ugh. Running in sand SUCKS, especially when you are tired. But I eventually made it to the finish, just not in under 6:10. Not a big deal. This is still the best run I've ever had in a HIM or olympic distance race. Goal acheived!
What would you do differently?:

nothing
Post race
Warm down:

met up with C, my dad, Rob and Meredith on the beach. Took off my shoes and got back in the water :).

Event comments:

FIRM did a good job with this race, I'm just not a fan of the ocean swim and bike course.




Last updated: 2008-08-05 12:00 AM
Swimming
00:41:44 | 2112 yards | 01m 59s / 100yards
Age Group: 6/7
Overall: 0/246
Performance: Below average
Suit: 2XU Sleeveless
Course:
Start type: Run Plus:
Water temp: 74F / 23C Current: High
200M Perf. Good Remainder: Below average
Breathing: Good Drafting: Below average
Waves: Average Navigation: Bad
Rounding: Average
T1
Time: 02:58
Performance: Good
Cap removal: Good Helmet on/
Suit off:
Wetsuit stuck? Run with bike:
Jump on bike:
Getting up to speed:
Biking
03:10:25 | 56 miles | 17.65 mile/hr
Age Group: 4/7
Overall: 0/246
Performance: Good
Wind: Some
Course: Play dodge-car on route 1 and then turn off into a quieter wooded area with lots of rolling hills, then back onto route 1 some more, then turn around in the middle of a busy 4-way intersection and head back up route 1.
Road: Rough Dry Cadence:
Turns: Cornering: Average
Gear changes: Hills: Average
Race pace: Hard Drinks: Just right
T2
Time: 02:40
Overall: Good
Riding w/ feet on shoes
Jumping off bike
Running with bike
Racking bike
Shoe and helmet removal
Running
02:14:24 | 13.1 miles | 10m 16s  min/mile
Age Group: 7/7
Overall: 0/246
Performance: Good
Course: a short jaunt up route 1A, then 10 miles through residential neighborhoods, then back down 1A to the dreaded sand run to the finish.
Keeping cool Average Drinking Just right
Post race
Weight change: %
Overall: Good
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:
Race evaluation [1-5] 3