2006 Miami Man 1/2 Iron - Triathlon1/2 Ironman

I positioned myself in my normal spot. Front Row and on the outside. I wanted to finish under 32 mins and wanted to get out in front early and play catch up to the waves ahead of me. At the first buoy I was reaching the previous waves, a left hand turn and basically didn't need to site at all since the water was so clear. I could just swim up to someone pass them and then find the next person. The sun wasn't a problem on the first lap and heading into the beach for the conclusion of the first lap I felt great! I had been in a swimming slump the last four weeks but hadn't been in the pool in awhile and my gills were ready to work! I finished the first lap in 14: and some change, I quickly glanced at my watch as I dolphined back into the water. Same strategy for the second lap bounce from person to person, the Sun was an issue heading to the last buoy but I was in my zone, catching and throwing the water, I found a fellow green capper and stuck on his feet from about 200yds from the last buoy and rode his feet all the way back to the beach which helped bring my heart rate down...out of the water and up the beach, my dad yelled 11th out of the water...sweet. Finished the swim in 29:43...oohhhhh somebody wore his wetsuit. :)

Happy with my swim time, I could have kept on the gas down the home stretch but I think easing up a bit really helped.

Long run to and through the T Zone. I wanted to take my time. I was going to be out there awhile I didn't want to forget anything causing a bad ride

Nothing

My biking is my weak link and I just wanted to have a strong ride (for me). I actually passed a few people which never happens since I'm normally in Wave 1 and kept trucking trying not to think about a distance I've never covered, my longest ride was 3hrs prior to this race at an easy effort. I couldn't believe how flat it was! Florida makes Chicago look hilly!! I got a lot of 'good jobs' 'all the way from Chicago?' kind of talk...I was popping a gel every 30mins and drinking my souped up Amino Vital every 10 mins trying to keep my engine going...I really started to fatigue in the last 5 miles. It turned out I was working way to hard, a fellow tri cluber passed me about 2 miles from T2 which gave been some energy to try and hang with him...I saw my dad again which felt good and hit the timing mat in 2:59:16. I couldn't believe it!!! I was tired but felt pretty good! -now I'm hearing it was short of 56 :(

Easy up a bit

Stopped in the bathroom to unload my four bottles :)

Again, no hurry, take my time collect my thoughts and go run!

I was looking at my watch in amazement! I was thinking all I have to do is run a 2:15 half mary and I'm going to break 6hrs! Hot damn! I was fired up, I had just run a 1:47 in Chicago last month this was going to be a piece of cake! AND THEN IT HAPPENED, 1 mile in the run my tummy started to hurt, oh no, no GI issues, PLEASE! I stopped to walk and the cramps would settle, then I'd run and they'd come right back. That's okay. I have plenty of time - run/walk your way to a 6hrs finish. The first loop of the run was awful, I was taking ecaps and oranges hoping to settle my stomach, but no luck. My stomach cramps and the sun were ripping me up but I knew I could finish just needed to find my pace. Having stomach cramps and smelling elephant crap is NOT something I needed! but eventually was able to start to run more than walk although it was a shuffle, my legs wanted to go but my body said no. At the mile 10 marker I guess I had enough water/oranges/ecaps that my stomach finely settled and met a woman going my pace and we talked and ran the last two miles together. We talked about our goals and how alone the last lap of the run felt, we didn't walk the last two miles, just sort of got in a zone talking and running and next thing you knew I heard...All the way from the windy city welcome him in...and there it was the banner that I waited to see for over 6hrs was finally here! I had made it!

My calories, more liquid. Who knows but something wasn't right.

I got my medal and walked around. Both hammys were ready to cramp and I needed to be near a bathroom in case of GI issues. I showered at the hotel and took apart my bike and fed ex'ed back to Chicago. Then we went to dinner at Joe's Stone crab and I pigged out!


Maybe stronger off the bike and my run would have been better. I plan on working on my biking strenght through the winter.


This was my A race. My first season of Triathlon was finally over!!!!! Training in Chicago through October was brutal on me, I was burned out and it was cold!

I wanted to break 6:30 and would have been happy, but for some reason I knew I could have been better. I wanted more from myself. That run just wasn't me. Hopefully those thoughts fuel my training through the winter. I'll be back in July to tackle the 1/2 iron distance again but next time I'll have fresh legs and a better engine! I going to take a couple of days off since my legs are still sore and then ease back into swimming before I set the bike up the trainer.

BUT the more I think about it, I'm never really happy with my performance. I just finished 70.3 miles, maybe I need to smack myself in the head and have a drink and toast my first season, which all in all was wonderful and life changing. Sometimes you need to call yourself out when you're being a dumb ass. :)