Pigman Long Course Triathlon - Triathlon1/2 Ironman


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Palo, Iowa
United States
JMS Racing Services
75F / 24C
Overcast
Total Time = 5h 10m 40s
Overall Rank = 57/341
Age Group = M55-59
Age Group Rank = 3/15
Pre-race routine:

Normal - Honey Nut Cheerios & banana. First time at this race and we wanted to get into the close lots so we left early and were on site before transition opened at 6am. I forgot my aero bottle and could not get one from Gear West or in Cedar Rapids so drove down to Iowa City and picked one up there on Sat. Supper at Chili's on Sat.
Event warmup:

Got an end of rack spot. Short run & bike. Plenty of time for a short swim as well. They added an Olympic race this year and they went off 1st so plenty of time at the start. I was in the 2nd wave of AG and started about 10-12 from the beginning of my wave.
Swim
  • 40m 6s
  • 2112 yards
  • 01m 54s / 100 yards
Comments:

Time trial start was different, no early congestion. I felt comfortable the whole way. Good rhythm with my breathing and stroke. I needed to get some water into my wetsuit a couple of times but wasn't ever real hot. SInce we were more spread out, difficult to find a draft.
What would you do differently?:

Not much
Transition 1
  • 02m 38s
Comments:

2nd in AG +3 secs. Efficient, grabbed my gels/endurolytes, bike, helmet and sunglasses and took off. Barb was there just outside the fence in transition and said I was about 40 min in the swim.
What would you do differently?:

Nothing
Bike
  • 2h 37m 55s
  • 56 miles
  • 21.28 mile/hr
Comments:

I wanted to keep HR 135-140 but with the overcast skies and cooler temps I thought I'd go a little harder and still be OK on the run. I did hold back 1st half but increased my effort on the 2nd half.
What would you do differently?:

I stayed pretty much with my plan, just went a little harder than I originally targeted. Negative split on the bike. Wind was helping a little more on the return overall I believe.
Transition 2
  • 01m 59s
Comments:

Good T2, Barb was right there and I talked to her some. Grabbed more gels, my hand held water bottle, and more electrolytes. I remembered my Garmin unlike last race at Chisago.

5th in AG, +32 sec
What would you do differently?:

Not much
Run
  • 1h 48m 4s
  • 13.1 miles
  • 08m 15s  min/mile
Comments:

My goal was to not cramp and run the whole half marathon. I started out easy watching my heart rate. I ran the 1st 5 mile or so with Cory from Nebraska but then pulled away. Sun came out about then too. I passed a 55 yr old just pass the turnaround, he said the guy about 300 yards ahead was 55 as well. I passed him in mile 8. Then the runners thinned out. I started fighting the calf cramping feeling just after entering the park. I did not need to stop until after mile 12. I had to stop 3 times and just bend over and stretch my calves. Never walked, never seized up completely.
What would you do differently?:

Easier for a little longer or not quite so fast when I picked up the pace? One thing I've realized is all the times I have cramped have been marathons or HIM and I've been wearing my racing shoes. I will wear my Brooks training shoes at Madison, was planning on doing that anyway. Maybe that will help.

I'm not at the pace I think I know I should be able to run a HIM but I felt I ran a smart race today. Slight negative split. I would be good to get closer to a 8:00 pace, I've run as fast as 7:40 in the past.
Post race
Warm down:

I got a post race massage that felt great. I did have to wait awhile and drank plenty of fluids (HyVee pop) while waiting with Barb and Susan.

Since we didn't stay for awards, I'm not sure if I was officially 2nd or 3rd. Greg Taylor at 58 finished 5th overall and the awards page do not include him in the M55-59 AG. The overall web page lists him in the AG as the winner. This guy is wicked fast, he finished in 4:33:27, He's been to Kona like 20 times and has won his AG there. He used to live in MN but moved to SD a few years back so I don't see him at as many races.

Event comments:

First time at Pigman. I would consider again but it's not a definite. Awards and door prizes were going to wait until the last finisher was in, they were looking at 5:00-5:30. That's 4 hours after I was done, way too much of a wait.


Profile Album


Last updated: 2012-08-20 12:00 AM
Swimming
00:40:06 | 2112 yards | 01m 54s / 100yards
Age Group: 10/15
Overall: 171/341
Performance: Good
Suit: DeSoto Black Pearl
Course: A big triangle
Start type: Run Plus: Time Trial
Water temp: 72F / 22C Current: Low
200M Perf. Good Remainder: Good
Breathing: Good Drafting: Below average
Waves: Navigation: Good
Rounding: Good
T1
Time: 02:38
Performance: Good
Cap removal: Good Helmet on/
Suit off:
Wetsuit stuck? No Run with bike: Yes
Jump on bike: No
Getting up to speed: Good
Biking
02:37:55 | 56 miles | 21.28 mile/hr
Age Group: 6/15
Overall: 54/341
Performance: Good
Garmin had mileage at 55.16 and speed at 21.0. Avg HR was 144. At the turnaround I was avg 142 HR and 20.7 mph. I worked a little harder on the way back.
Wind: Some
Course: Out and back
Road: Smooth Dry Cadence: 97
Turns: Average Cornering: Average
Gear changes: Good Hills: Good
Race pace: Comfortable Drinks: Just right
T2
Time: 01:59
Overall: Good
Riding w/ feet on shoes Good
Jumping off bike Below average
Running with bike Good
Racking bike Good
Shoe and helmet removal
Running
01:48:04 | 13.1 miles | 08m 15s  min/mile
Age Group: 3/15
Overall: 63/341
Performance: Good
Avg HR = 155 1 - 7:54 144 2 - 8:16 147 3 - 8:08 143 4 - 8:29 144 5 - 8:26 146 6 - 8:10 153 7 - 8:05 159 8 - 8:05 160 9 - 7:55 163 10 - 8:06 162 11 - 8:09 163 12 - 8:09 166 13 - 8:36 166 .21 - 10:20 163 I may have left my Garmin a little extra. I don't know why I had the .21 and slower pace.
Course: Out and back course. Out of the park, then left on a highway. Highway was open with no shade. Decent downhill coming out of park and a smaller hill at the turnaround.
Keeping cool Good Drinking Just right
Post race
Weight change: %
Overall: Good
Mental exertion [1-5] 5
Physical exertion [1-5] 4
Good race? Yes
Evaluation
Course challenge Just right
Organized? Yes
Events on-time? Yes
Lots of volunteers? Yes
Plenty of drinks? Yes
Post race activities: Average
Race evaluation [1-5] 4