St. Croix Ironman 70.3 Triathlon - Triathlon1/2 Ironman

Started off to the right of the crowd because the "lane line" that arc'd around was very loose and others were getting caught up in it. As soon as I hit the water, my right goggle lens got 1/2 full of water. I had to decide to stop or keep going. I decided to keep going. I pushed hard for the first 100 meters and started to head for the hot gates. I was right on track which surprised me very much. I though I had overshot them. I settled into my stroke pretty well on the out portion. You could feel the up and down of the chop and it seemed like every time I was sighting, I was on the downside of a swell.

I saw several scuba divers beneath me and that was really neat. They were holding onto the buoy ropes taking pictures I think. I never had anyone to draft off of because I was passing everyone around me until we approached the boat at the farthest point. Then I saw a guy with a neon orange cap come by me. I tried to hold on but he was WAY too fast.

I rounded the buoy and headed for the fort. About 3/4 of the way to the fort, some other neon colored swim caps came by. I held on for a while and then started to think. Am I off course? Did I cut it? The pro's had that color cap and they went off 6 min in front of us. Finally, I took a moment to look at my watch and where I was on the course and realized that I was ok.

I lost focus about 3/4 of the way and fell into a 'comfortable' stroke pattern, but realized it and picked it up. My goal was to flirt with the aerobic/anaerobic line and I did that for most of the swim. The last 150 meters was really neat. We swam along the sea wall and you could see people right there. They were pointing and cheering you on. Really neat.

They were probably pointing at me saying, "How come he's not drowning?"

Get a skinsuit. I think it would have helped me to be a bit smoother in the water. Focus only on smooth and strong strokes. Everything else comes secondary.

Transition went by quickly. I took an extra 10 seconds to make sure things were good. Problem is...I forgot to put on my socks! I didn't realize it until I was approaching the mount line.

Nothing. Work on begin smoother.

I knew this ride was going to be hard and I needed to attack it properly. The plan was to start off conservatively until I get to the Beast (20 miles) and then creep up into mid Z3 and hold on for dear life.

Got up to speed fairly quickly and immediatly started my nutrition/hydration plan. Most of the people in my little area didn't understand the concept of staying to the left. Since they drive on the left side of the road in St. Croix, you passed on the right. I experienced this in Australia too, so it wasn't that bad. But when I went to pass people, they were either in the middle of the road or I would have to ask them to move left to pass. Me and this guy on a cheeta painted Cervelo played leap frog and he refused to get over, so I just shot by him on the left. I don't think he appreciated me passing him because he'd ramp it up and then I'd repass. I never saw him after mile 15.

The hills came frequently and fiercly. The first climb was between 7 - 10% grade. As a courtesy or to kick you in the nads, they painted the % grade on the road. As I headed out, the pro men were flying back into town. 8 miles ahead of me or so. They were hauling some serious Butt. A little packish, but no pace line. As people had said and I read, the race starts after the Beast.

8 miles into the race, it started to sprinkle. I figured...awesome...overcast and it will keep it cool. Then it started to Monsoon! I'm talking chickens running for their lives type rain. And here we are looking like drowned rats flying downhill full on the brakes not slowing down one bit. It's one of the few times where I've actually been scared on my bike. But did I slow down?? Not really. I did make some seriously wide turns though. Coming back into town (after the small loop), you have what's called the hot corner. I didn't really know why...but found out. Essentially you blast into town and then make a series of lefts and rights as you zig zag through the 'main' streets. Great...unless the roads are soaked! I almost went down before I realized where I was and to stay away from the painted lines. A guy in front of me went down but it was only a slide, not a real crash.

Uneventful until the Beast. You know when you've arrived because it's painted at the bottom. This was a test of if my 25 was going to stay or not. I had been fighting it to stay so I was afraid I was going to have to climb this thing in a 23. It's marked off in .1 mile increments and I was out of the saddle for most of it. According to my cyclometer I got down to 4.3 mph on this thing. For reference, I was able to keep 5+ mph all the way up HogPen. You can't help but read the % grade on the road. 19%, 21%..and then...the last left turn, I see 27.5% to the left and 16.6% to the right. I had just pulled even with a guy and I had to make a decision... So I forced the guy to my left onto the 27% grade while I took the 16% grade. Sorry dude...it's a race. I don't think he was pleased. One thing I remember distinctly about the Beast is that sweat was pouring down my arms and off of my bull horns. I don't think I've ever had that much sweat just drip off while climbing.

I had noticed a pink bike and rider up ahead of me on the Beast, but I didn't really pay much attention. She was climbing well, because I never made up any ground on her. Finally, on the back side and on the next climb, I passed her. Wouldn't you know it was Amanda Lovato. Yeah..she's HOT. I would see her again really soon!

After some more climbing and beautiful scenery (see my avatar) we go through another town. As we enter a military base, there are some huge speed bumps for about 1/4 mile. Right before getting there, a road marshall decides it's a good idea to let a car almost cut in front of me. He gives him the come on signal and I scream out, "NOOO"...then he stops the car and I fly in front of it by about 2 ft. I was handling the speed bumps pretty well until I got overconfident and then...PING! There goes one of my flasks and my water bottle. Crap...slam on the brakes and run back to get them. I had 2 gel flasks...one was almost empty and one was full. So of course the full one gets ejected! So 5 people fly by me as I'm getting pissed off at myself. (Oh...did you see that...I believe I saw pink ride by...)

Got back on and into the wind tunnel that was some damn boring Hwy with hills that forced you to switch from big ring to small ring to get up them. My new buddy Amanda (Cause that's what she likes me to call her) and I were trading spots. Then out of no where as she passes by me, she says, "These roads suck". I was like...uh huh...she talked to me...ahh....

Then, when I passed her back I was like, "So...ride here often?" Ok..I should have said that, but what I said was, "I wish they'd stop putting these damn hills in our way". She laughed and agreed. We were both in no man's land, so it was good to have someone to pace/watch. I must admit that I sat behind her for longer than I should have until I looked down at my HR and was like, CRAP...gotta go. We're at mile 45 and I'm suppose to be on it! I told her see you later and she gave me the head nod.

Around mile 50, a guy flew by me like I was standing still. I noticed that he was in my A/G, so I was not pleased. But then...he slowed down and I noticed that his front wheel had gone flat. I thought to myself...Awesome! But then I wondered if I just cost myself Kharma points because I was happy that he flatted. I wasn't happy that he flatted per say, but glad that one more 30 - 34 was behind me. Know what I mean?

Got into Transition 2 minutes behind schedule, but pleased with my effort.

Nan was there screaming her head off...Gotta love the IronSherpa!

Nothing really. Secure my gel flasks better. This was the first time I had them both in there and it was a bumpy ride.

As I got into T2, I noticed that I was the 5th one back. This was the beginning of the end mentally for me. I remembered to put on my socks this time and I was out.

Not worry about placing and just race.

Remember when I said that it was raining on the bike? Well, it stopped raining but there was no water on the road. I wonder where it went to...OH...the air because I can breath the water that came down now. The clouds parted about half way through the bike and the temperature and humidity screamed up.

So as I head out, Nan is all excited and asks me how I was feeling. I gave her a thumbs down because I had already decided that Kona was gone. I don't know what got into me, but I couldn't shake the image of those 4 bikes in transition out of my head. My first mile was 7 min, so to my surprise I was on pace. Then the hills came...

I took sponges from every aid station and I had decided to carry my Nathan water bottle on the run. For some reason, it seemed heavier than usual. I also, skipped my nutrition plan on the run. Again, I don't know what got into me, but I didn't even as much as take a gel the entire run.

Just after the mile marker, here comes Amanda flying by me. I had half a though of going with her, but shut it down quickly. Then as I turned into the Buccaneer, Faris Al-Sutan came flying by me and some other pro's came by a bit later too. It was really neat, although I don't know how he keeps his race belt up when it's down below his butt cheeks.

My desire and body was waining and I could feel the heat building up on my shoulders from the sun beating down on me. I think the straw that broke my back was the huge hill on the golf course. I think it was like 14% grade and I passed more people walking up it than running. That was a 9 min mile and my motivation was coming and going. I didn't even attack the downhill like I normally do.

This was what Jorge warned me about as the Dark Times. This is where if you want to play with the big boys, you have to HTFU put your big boy pants on and go. Unfortunately, I failed to do that. Perhaps Amanda would let me borrow her pink panties for miles 3 - 7. I got to the turn around and Nan knew it was bad. She could read my body language and my attitude.

I tossed my Nathan bottle and thought about pulling the plug on the race. I felt sorry for my slow A$$ and wanted so badly to quit. But I knew that not only would I never be able to live with myself, but everyone I've ever told that it's about crossing the finish line would see me as a hypocrite.

Then as I left Nan in my rearview mirror, her words kinda hit me like a ton of bricks. "STFU and Race!" Granted, Jorge told her to say that, but for some reason it sunk in at mile 7. I decided that I was going to start picking people off. I started drinking the coke on course and felt a bit better.

I got back down to below 7:10 for miles 8 & 9 and started picking people off one by one. A guy in a Puerto Rico jersey ran by me on the first loop and I saw him up ahead walking. I had 2 miles to catch him. Then a guy from Panama comes by me (32 on his calf) and I get pissed off. Now I'm motivated even though my body is breaking down from the heat and lack of nutrition.

When you pass the turn around, you have 1/2 mile to go. Up a block and back down to the finish line. I pass Nan and gave her a thumbs up. I am now at least 40 meters behind these two guys. They are running side by side. All of a sudden, as we make the turn for home, they look at each other, then back at me...and take off!

I had nothing left to give, so I checked my 6 to make sure that I wasn't going to be passed by anyone. I enjoyed the last 100 meters or so as I got the crowd stirred up. I have never been so happy to see a finish line in my life. This was by FAR the hardest HIM I have ever done.

Stick to my nutrition plan and stay POSITIVE. A race is about going as hard as you can and seeing where it lies at the end.

Crossed the line and Nancy was waiting for me. She gave me a big hug and I was happy to be done. I looked at my time and was very upset at not only myself, but at my effort. The more I thought about the race and what happenned, the more I realized that it was a very hard race. The fact that I was only 30 min off of my best race on this course with these conditions, I should be pleased.

It took several days, but now I am pleased with the time, but not my mental race state. I can reverse engineer the race all day. 5 min would have gotten me 4th in my A/G, 44 sec would have gotten me 2 places higher, etc. The reality of it is that I swam in choppy seas, averaged almost 21 mph on a bike course that had 4860' of climbing in the rain and sufferred through a run that probably had at least 600' of climbing in 90+ degree heat and high humidity.

There was no where to hide on this course. It kicked you in the balls from the first step to the last. I survived it mostly intact and THAT is what matters in the end. I learned a lot and I have a lot to work on...that's a fact.

But to be unhappy because the clock didn't read what I wanted to is just asanine. Each course has it's difference and challenges. The job of the athlete is to take them on and fire back with all they have. What that results in is what matters. Not how long it took, but that you fought and won. So this was a victory for me...


Other than the chop in the water, the rain, the 15% avg grade and heat on the run...nothing.


St. Croix HIM is one that you will never forget! I don't care if you win the race or are the last finisher. It's very well run, hard and falls into the category of an Epic Race.

The only downside to doing this race is that people stop listening to you after 30 min and you haven't even gotten to the Beast portion of the bike yet.

Oh, at the Awards ceremony, we happenned to be where the pro's were hanging out. So I got a picture with Faris, Craig, the Lovato's, Richie Cunningham and some others. Amanda remembered me from the bike course. But then again...who wouldn't? :P I found it funny that Mike L. was carrying her purse!