Soma Triathlon - Triathlon1/2 Ironman

I started out swimming well for the first 400m but then after we turned to the West I got dunked and swallowed some water. Had to cough it off and that takes a little bit due to it being Tempe town lake. After that anger took over a little and this one guy would not swim straight. He kept bumping into me and trying to climb over me so I finally pushed him off with my foot. He got the message. It kept up like this too as when you do not swim well the waves behind you start to catch up and then you feel your feet getting hit and people trying to climb over you.

It was just one of those where everytime I got my stroke going I got knocked around and lost my stroke.

On one side note though, one of the guys I train with said he saw me in the water and waved as he went by.

Try to keep my cool. If I shook everything off better and kept my composure, perhaps I could have kept my stroke flowing more smoothly.

Well, when I got out of the water, I ripped the zipper right off of my wetsuit. Fortunately there were wetsuit strippers and I was easily helped out of it. (this time actually was included in my swim time)

Large transition area, so I got in and out pretty quick.

Not rip my zipper off. Had the wetsuit stipper not been there it may have been difficult to get that thing off.

Rode very well. Since my swim was pretty slow (front of the BOP) I had many people to pass. I was passing many people like they were not moving. I had a 3 guys I train with that swam much faster than I did ahead of me and I caught 2 of them on the 2nd lap. Also saw Mike (abqkid),Tim (lobo), John (jchyte who I also train with) and Elaine (pirate girl).

I started to cramp a little 30 miles in so I drank up my Cliff Shots crisp apple and tossed a bottle so I could grab a gatorade. I then started tossing the gatorage and placing a new one in the cage and grabbing water and squirting it into my aero bottle.

I was able to fend the cramps off and keep riding a good pace.

Drink a little more water/sports drinks earlier in the ride. I think salt pills would help a lot too. Need to keep the cramps away. They only slightly effected my bike ride though.

Good quick transition. Forgot to put my race belt on though and only realized it about 3 miles into the run.

Put my race belt on.

Due to the cramping on the bike, I ran the first 4 miles of the run with cramping issues. I started taking gatorade and mixing it with water at each aid station and this worked to get rid of the cramps.

After getting rid of the cramps I started moving at probably around a 7 minute per mile pace as I started feeling good. Did the first lap at about 7:35 per mile average, but the second lap was around a 8:44 per mile average. After feeling good for a little while, I struggled through the last 3 1/2 miles to a well awaited finish line.

More hydration with salt on the bike. I meant to take a couple of salt tablets in transition, but they were probably underneath my forgotten race number. LOL

Put down average for the run because I fought through the cramps and the lactic acid buildup at the end. If not for that I would have had a really good run.

Right after finishing they gave a finishers medal and then they took my chip off. I look to my left and they had a case of red licorice. I grabbed about 15 pieces and engulfed them right down. I then proceeded to eat 7 pieces of pizza and drank a water and a pepsi. I then found Commodore and the AZ Tri Club tent and that Guinness tasted very good.

Congratulated others who I have raced with in the past, AZ Tri Club friends. Also saw Alaina from BT finish and congratulated her.


Cramps and anger during the swim.


Really enjoyed the race. It was my First 1/2 Ironman and thus was a great challenge. I really liked all the commaraderie that I recieved from people on BT, people I have raced with, and AZ Tri Club members. It makes races even more fun when there are people you know out there, so thanks BTers. Looking forward to seeing and racing with some of you again at IMAZ!

Oh, I also was sporting a orange mohawk for the race (well that which stayed orange).