CATS - Half Iron (Iron Mt. Man) - Triathlon1/2 Ironman

I really enjoyed this swim. Initially, I started at the edge of the group on the starting line, but there were guys climbing on each other to get a better spot before the start, so I just slid back 10 feet and watched the melee. I went out at my normal swim pace and ended up getting pinched between two guys and then getting dunked. At about 400 yards I had to stop to adjust my goggles, but only cost me a few seconds. This unfortunately ended my budding relationship with the guy I planned to draft...er ummm...site off of. I then had to switch fish, and I should have drafted off one who took better lines, because I'm sure we swam further than required. I guess I could learn to navigate on my own, but that seems so much harder. The 'race map' of the swim implied that the course is a rectangle, with a 100 yard backside. This, however, only served to disorient my already suspect navigating skills. Backside was more like 600 yards and the course was a triangle, or a rhomboid, or some other shape with a really short final leg. I'm an idiot for not seeing this before jumping in the water, but that goes without saying.
One of the women in the wave behind me caught me and dunked me with authority in the last 250 yards of the swim, I couldn't tell if this was out of anger or just part of her race technique, but I was so impressed I couldn't be upset.
Overall I felt really good on the swim. There was a lot of boating presence for the safety factor which greatly increased the comfort level. The water was relatively clear, for an arkansas lake. We started on time and everyone survived, what more could you ask for?

not much

I couldn't stand the thougth of spending 3 hours on an uncomfortable bike seat in my Speedo with no padding. So, I pulled up a towel, pulled off my suit, put on bike shorts, and took the towel off. This coupled with the fact that I didn't swim with my race jersey on, probably accounted for the extra 2 minutes.

1. New seat
2. Tri shorts, with butt pad
3. Swim in race jersey
4. Learn to ride without socks
5. Already have HRM on during the swim.

I felt I had a good nutrition strategy, unfortunately I forgot my banana and my peanut butter and honey sandwich in the car. I did however remember to eat a packet of GU every 20 minutes, and drink a bottle of Gatorade every 8 miles with some water thrown in the mix for good measure. Man, nothing feels better than dumping a bottle of cold water on your head in 101 degree heat. Towards the end of the ride the GU and Gatorade brick in my stomach caused me concern for the run, so I stopped eating with 10 miles to go. I wish I had remembered to start eating again when I no longer felt "the brick," ahhh live and learn.
On another not I felt really bad for Little Tom when he had to pull over for cramps on the back portion of the bike, and was really happy to have that brick in my stomach then.

Get faster and more efficient

Removed a lot of crap, had to tie shoes, have no idea where 3 minutes and 13 seconds went.

Practice, practice, practice

My feet got soaked in the first mile and I managed to rub blisters within the first 3 miles. Then I went to a 'run one mile walk one mile' strategy. I met a lot of nice people on this run and heard some good stories. I wish I could have kept pace with any one of them, but my back and butt cramped from about mile 6 on and my calves cramped to the point of preventing running at 9 miles. A 4 mile "death march" (with blisters and cramps) is not anyones idea of fun, I can't wait to do it again next year.

Drink more and pour less on my shoes. I would also vaseline my feet prior to my run.

They had a firehose spraying water 60 feet into the air. I almost drowned, it was awesome.


My feet. I should have been 30-40 minutes faster, cramps and all.


Great race, well organized, lots of food, medical staff, and course bike support by "The Ride."