Ironman 70.3 Muncie - Triathlon1/2 Ironman

Started at the very back of my wave. Gun went off, I walked into the water, splashed water on me, fell into the water, felt pretty good and then I had my usual swim panic about 100 yds into it. I was swimming a few strokes, doing good, not getting jostled or anything and all of a sudden, I couldn't get my breath. Tried some breast and back stroke, but was spending too much energy on it, so I signaled for a paddleboard. I hung on it for about 4 mins. or so, til I relaxed. I put my face in the water when I could fully exhale in the water, I took off. From that point on, I felt great. I swam fluidly, buoy to buoy, swam in packs and felt the momentum of the packs..I was blind coming in on the last stretch, but even that went great. Overall, it was a great swim.

I hate this question- I would like to know why I have the panic-type episodes, but I relish in the fact that I am able to overcome it and still continue. And really, WGAF about my time anyway? It is what it is!

Man, this was long trot up from the water. I walked most of the uphill as the youngsters tried to run me over. LOL! Once I hit grass, I trotted it way over to my bike!

I had a great bike ride! My goal was to be under 3:15, and I was! I used an aerojacket and I'm not sure if it helped or not.. but I felt really good on the bike. I didn't push too hard, but I don't think I should have gone harder either given that it was really heating up outside. I haven't looked at my watts yet.. that will be interesting.

NOTHING

By now, it was hotter than Hades out and I wasn't going to waste precious energy.

Everyone has to set a PW (personal worst) at some point in their life. This was mine. It was so hot out, no shade, and just one hill after another. I did the best I could and that's all I can ask for. I started off running easily from aide station to aide station. I stuffed myself with as much ice as my outfit could hold. Finally, the hills, heat, and lack of shade, did me in. By mile 9, my HR wasn't going up past 144 no matter how hard I tried to run. I just did the walk/run as much as I could. I was so happy to get up that last hill and run it in. That was the best part of the whole race! LOL!

Again, hate this question and my answer is not a darn thing! I feel like I hydrated as best as I could, I took in what I could stand- with the knowledge that I had leading up to the race. Yeah, others may look at my race and say "well, you should have done this this and this.." I'm open to that advice, but for the actual day, 7/9/11- I wouldn't have done anything any differently. I met so many nice people out on the course that had things been different, I may not have met those people.

Hung out with tri club friends, family, went down into the lake and cooled off.


Heat, lack of shade.. Heck, it was a race in July in Indiana! What was I thinking?? LOL!


The day was what it was. It was hot to say the least. I have no regrets. I did the best I could in my training- hitting probably 97% of my workouts perfectly. My nutrition was good up to the race and during the race. I feel like I left everything out on that course and that's all I can ask for. It was so nice for me personally to have so many on the course that I personally know and can call a friend. I had my Tri Tippecanoe clubmates, my Team T3 teammates, my family and friends waiting for me at the finish line,and my dear hubby was out there suffering on the course too. All of that gave me motivation and comfort. Joseph was a guy that I met out on the course. He was an older gentleman with a big knee brace on, just walking as fast as he could.. He said something really motivational to me.. "Sometimes you have to push your body to limits that even YOU didn't know you have to really know what you're made of. And today, I'm digging real deep." Thanks Joseph for those words, I think those words summed up the day pretty accurately.