EagleMan Ironman 70.3 Triathlon - Triathlon1/2 Ironman

I did well. I need to figure out how to get past a logjam of swimmers other than slowing down. I got scratched in the face by someone and almost lost my goggle. I did pretty well with navigation except for the last turn when I briefly couldn't find the exit arch and found myself going at right angles to it when I did find it.

Not much, really, just work on my stroke so I don't have the tendency to turn to the left.

I actually thought that I was pretty snappy in T1 until I saw this time. I have no real idea why it took me so long.

I guess practice transition?

I had to pee from the time I got on the bike, but held off until the second station at mile 20. By then I was in pain, and it was a huge boost to my speeds right after that and I did a bunch of 22 mph miles. I then felt great for much of the ride until the wind, which was a steady headwind for most of the last 16 miles, started to wear me down. Still, none of the usual aches and pains that can bother me on the bike were there, and I held back a little not knowing how much I'd need left for the run. When I was pulling into the transition I thought briefly about how I'd only done two half marathons in my life and was about to do one after a serious swim and bike. I quickly banished such thoughts, though. I held off a second pee for the last 10 miles or so, so I was getting uncomfortable.

Put sun screen on. Figure out how not to pee so much, but also get enough hydration. Train more on the bike.

I'm not as bothered by this transition because a big chunk of that time was going to the bathroom.

I went out and kept slowing myself down-- I started running 8 minute/mile pace, then found someone doing 9:15 to keep my speed down. I decided before the race to walk while drinking at each water stop, and there were 10 or 12 of them. I started to fade around mile 5, then saw Carrie who told me to catch up to her, so I picked it up quite a bit, but around mile 9 it started to get real tough. I also calculated that unless Carrie was walking, there was no way I would catch her anyway; and I had to stop to go to the bathroom at around mile 8. The sun blazed down the whole run-- I didn't feel that hot, but kept pouring ice down my shirt at each stop to be sure. I kept talking to myself to get through the last three miles and then there was a little shade in the last two. I kind of picked it up again for the last mile or so and felt energized again.

Definitely run more miles than what my training plan called for, although I'm pretty happy with what was not that much slower than my first half marathon ever.

Walked around a bit, drank, and waited for Stacey to finish. We hung out to wait to see if Tri-Linda would get a Kona slot (she didn't because she finished second). Stacey needed IV fluids after the race, then Carrie almost passed out when she saw them taking the IV out of her arm.


Having to pee three times, and my slow transitions.