Black Diamond Half Iron Triathlon - Triathlon1/2 Ironman

I was worried about the swim. I figured anything close to 2 minutes per 100 would be great. Seeing this course and knowing I had to go around twice was a bit unsettling. I had done the distance in training, in open water on many occasions so I knew I really did not need to worry, but I still had reservations.

About 75 yards in my left goggle filled up with water.... NO! I stopped to fix it, started swimming and 20 yards later it was full again. Stopped AGAIN. I thought this was going to be a LONG swim like this, but this time it was good for the rest of the swim.

It got a little rough from time to time, especially at the first turn, things bunched up a bit. Nothing too bad though.

Got into a really good rythym. 8 strokes and sight, 8 strokes and sight. Really felt good.

With about 200 to go my left hammy started tightening up. This had happened on occasion in training and I got a little nervous about it.

Finishd the swim without to much troubles but when I got out it locked up bad. I had to stretch just past the timing matt and pretty much walked to T1, every time I started to run it cramped up and I had to stretch it out.

My time range I gave my kids was 41 to 51- thinking 41 would be a SUPER swim, so 43 was pretty much super for me.

I am going to try to swim with the masters group over the winter. And practice swimming faster. I think that is what I down to. To swim faster you have to swim faster, right?

T1 was slowed drasticly by the cramps. Walking and stretching is not the same as running!

Without cramps I would have been around 2:00 I think so I would not change much.

It was cold the first 20 minutes. Once my clothes driep I was fine.

I settled into my HR zone after about 30 minutes, I was worried early as I was hovering around 145 and knew this was way to high. Once I settled in around 125 I felt real good. HR hit 155 or so on some hills and got as low as 105 on some down hills.

At 15 minutes I started my nutrition plan. Gatorade Endurance every 15 minutes for a total of 24 ounces per hour, gels every 20 minutes (hammer gel out of flask) and sip water out of aero bottle.

Since it was cool I was not sweating much at all and the fluid started to take its toll at about mile 25. I HAD to pee. When I came to the porta potty it was occupied so I just rode by.

I wanted to stop drinking but since GE was a large part of my plan I had to keep putting it in.

There came a point I finally decided I was just going to let it fly on the bike. Not that I am that hardcore but I HAD TO GO, so bad that getting aero put to much pressure on my bladder so I had to stay on the hoods. Well, on a sustained down hill I stood and was going to let it fly... no can do. I suppose this is something one has to practice.

I managed to make it though, and other than have to go REALLY BAD this was a great ride. I never felt uncomfortable and was surprised I just spent 3+ hours on the bike- time flew by.

PEE!!!

I didnt rush. I wanted to reign in my HR and not start to hard, plus I had to PEE SOOOOOO BAAAD and running caused to much bouncing.

PEE ON THE BIKE!

I concentrated real hard the first mile on going smooth and easy, control the breathing. Gel and water every 30 minutes was the plan but without my watch I had to improvise and took it as close to every 3 miles as aid stations would allow and hope that I was running 10 minute or so per mile.

I hoped to keep pace under 11 per mile so this was a good run.

As I approached the mile 6 aid station I heard "Go Daddy!, I love you"... What the??? I looked and there were my 2 girls, and my friend that was racing on Sunday working the aid station. How cool to get water from my daughters. This was at the start of an out and back section so when I came back by I stopped and hugged both my girls. They said they would see me at the finish. What a great lift!

Around mile 9 the mental and physical problems began. I wanted to walk. I was hurting and wanted to be done. It was then I could see the folks who had started alternating walking and running and knew I could reign some folks in. I just kept plodding along and was soon passing people. That felt good, knowing that my pacing and nutrition was paying off and I had more left in the tank than some other folks.

At mile 11 I finally cought a guy I had been reeling in for the last mile and a half. I got real excited when I saw he was Clyde 39 and under. My group. I knew four had registered and that I was now at least 3rd in my division. This gave me what I needed to wrap this thing up.

When we came back into the park we had to run past the transition area where one of the event loud speakers was. I could hear the finish line announcer loud and clear welcoming folks back. "Congratulations, 70.3 miles, DONE!" he was booming. It was then that it sunk in, with only 1.4 miles left I could crawl the rest of the way if I had to.

I had other business though, holding my spot in my division. The guy I just passed was always within 100 yrads or so. But there were a couple of decent little hills that once I hit the top I would push as hard as I could, knowing he was going to have to slow down getting up while I was accelerating, albeit slowly.

Ended up holding him off by 18 SECONDS was all.

Met my kids at the finish line for hugs...

Not much I dont think. This was right in my range of paces I set out.

Ate, walked, etc. Nothing fancy.


By being able to pee I am sure I would have saved a couple of minutes on the bike (being able to be aero) and probably 2 minutes in T2. Could have got real close to my secret 6:15 goal.

My only real regret is that my wife was not able to be here. It was great to see my kids on the course but it made me think of my wife. All of the hours of training she endured with only a few complaints I wish she could have been here for the end result. She was selflessly volunteering to coach the High School "C" volleyball team while the paid coach was off doing whatever.

I miised her!



This is my 3rd race here. 1 sprint, 1 oly and now the half. Will for sure be back. This is a top notch event as far as I am concerned. Only though would be to have more port a potty's on the bike course.