Spirit of Racine - Triathlon1/2 Ironman

Swimming out to the buoy was difficult... in fact, I thought I'd never get there... swim swim swim... nope, still no closer... swim swim swim...maybe a bit closer now...A slow process... Once we turned right at the first buoy, things picked up a bit, as we were no longer swimming directly against the current. The swim time includes the sandy run from the shore to T1, which apparently took me 3 minutes, because my watch said I exited the water at 37.xx.

I swallowed about a gallon of Lake Michigan. Will try not to do that next time. Sighting was better this time... after last week's terrible OWS in Crystal Lake... where I couldn't see a thing to save my life... this seemed to go a bit smoother. Although the waves made it more interesting...

Not my best swim, but considering the circumstances, not bad, either.

Leisurely T1. Decided I was going to take whatever time I needed because it was a long race and I wanted to make sure I got everything the way I wanted it...56 miles is a long way to go on the bike with your sock all bunched up or something. In an Olympic or Sprint I'd just go...but for something like this, I wanted to make sure all was well.

Learn how to do the above FASTER!

As I was riding my bike... and thinking ahead to the run.... I was trying to decide if I should hold something back on the bike FOR the run, or if I should just hammer the bike and hang on for the run... I ultimately decided to just hammer. Whatever I'd be saving in the tank would do me more good on the bike than the run anyway. Those of you who know me know I am not much of a land mammal. Am improving, but still am pretty slow on land. My efforts were better used on the bike.

Nutritionally, I stuck fastidiously to my plan of an early Powerbar... 15 minutes in, and then a Gu every 40 minutes after that... drank all my Gatorade, and had water as needed. I never felt sick or hungry.

Not much. Hammer harder... maybe? I don't know... At this point in my triathlon "career" saving something for the run just isn't that important. The run is going to blow no matter what I do. Am working to change that... and it's coming along... but it's a slow process.

I thought this was faster than it was. Again, I wasn't rushing through transition because I wanted to be sure I remembered everything and got myself all situated.

Maybe learn how to pee on the bike... I don't know. Had to stop in T2 to pee. Was planning to stop on the bike, but never found a good spot. Rode it into T2 with a FULL bladder after guzzling Gatorade for almost 3 hours.

I just can't imagine the chafing involved with peeing in my own shorts. Ugh.

Well, this was a Half Marathon PR for me, by about 3 minutes. Although I've only done one other Half Marathon, and it was very very hilly. I tried a run/walk plan for this event... Running til I felt like walking... not very scientific, and probably not even a PLAN, really. But that was the best way for me to get through it. My knee started to protest around mile 8-9...

Am happy my average was under 12 minute miles, though... (!!)

Keep working my run. Slowly getting better. Slowly.

Maybe try to run more instead of walking so much.

Wander around in a daze... saw Chris and his father... saw a couple of my other friends... ate some food... waded in Lake Michigan.


Genetics. I was just not created to move one foot in front of the other in a quick efficient fashion. Am training to change that. But it's a slow process.


Very well organized, very fun, lots of drink stations, a running route where you could see your friends SEVERAL times... it was great. I'm generally happy with my performance, and the run was a Half Marathon PR. Not fast, but at least I'm not getting slower.

Great to see Cindy and Mark and Chris and his Dad and I think Autumn yelled WHIZZZZZZZZZZZZ while we were running past each other!

A long day, but FUN.