Finish Strong Half Triathlon - Triathlon1/2 Ironman

Well, it is what it is. Short or not, everyone did the same distance. I've had better swims, but heck, it felt pretty good out there. Got one big kick as some idiot was swimming diagonal from left to right, then more kicks as we rounded buoys, but nothing that rattled me too much. Just kept swimming.

Swim faster. I had to pee a bunch, and just couldn't make myself go the last part. Wish I could have, was even just pulling (no kick) and NOTHING.

Had to sit down to get the suit off, but still got business done. Came in at same time as my neighbor (#11) but was in and out and gone pretty quick. Results show 30:00 swim and 2:47 T1, but I had it 31 and 1:47.

Get suit off better, but the rest went pretty well.

Preriding the course really helped here. I was able to dial in just enough effort on the front half to keep the pace up (was at 21.1 for a bit) then let it drift back down to sub 20, as planned. Definitely a tougher back half of the course, and the wind started coming into play in the last 20 miles. For the first 30 miles I was passing a lot of folks, then kind of found my niche. Made a few passes, got passed a few times, but was happy with results.

Well, I practiced peeing on the bike, but I decided I didn't want to have to deal with smelling like pee for the run, so I didn't. Probably, had I stuck with it, I might've reeled in 3rd place, what with that and a few stops on the run that were time-wasters.

Got one foot out, but not the second, so had to unclip and then remove shoe, but ran sockfeet into T2 okay. Got in and out pretty well here, so can't complain.

Plan ahead a little better. I was working on a pass into T2, and I should've hung back and just gotten ready better.

Okay with this. Not my best effort, but I had a plan and went for it. Had a bloaty feeling for the entire bike up until mile 4 on the run, then it leveled out. The last 2 miles were a little tough nutritionally, and I was using the coke to try to generate some burps. Kinda worked a little.

Keep moving a little better. Stopped at mile 2 to pee (ah!), then dilly-dallied around the turnaround, then wasted some time on lap 2 at the mile 11 aid station as they were running out of water cups and water, and I was trying to figure out how to get what I needed with limited supplies. Didn't see the (advertised) sponges out there, which would've been nice on lap 2, but it all worked out okay.

None. Dad was there, as were Lainey and the kids. Was very glad to see them, and hang out. Jen, Scottie, and Alan were volunteering/spectating and checked in with them too. Sent the family to lacrosse clinic, then walked into the lake for a few minutes, broke down transition, got a milkshake from Taylor's, then hung around for a bit awaiting Carol (but had to hit the road to make lacrosse).


Swim. Comfort with pushing the bike. Having to stop twice on the bike. Wasting time on the run.


Great job to FS Series on the inaugural Finish Strong Half. I will definitely put it on my calendar for next fall as a season-ender.

Looking at race position in segments:
Overall male (out of 110 males):
Swim: 76
T2: 69
Bike: 36
T2: 36
Run: 19

In Age Group (23 total):
Swim: 19
T1: 17
Bike: 11
T2: 11
Run: 4

With a stronger swim hopefully next year, I'll have a better chance at making more headway at the start, and not have as much of the field to work through.