Beach 2 Battleship - TriathlonFull Ironman

Gotta say that I love this swim. Having paddled across Masonboro Inlet all during high school to go surfing made the first 50 yds perpendicular, cross current, to shore a piece a cake. Once you make the right around the buoy, you have to fight the current a little to make banks channel, but then you are literally off to the races. I tried telling people about the current for the swim but I don't think people really realized how fast it would be. For me it is definitely a 8 ~ 10 min current. I hit the ladder at just under 58 min, which I was happy with since, I have only swam 1800 yds in the last month due to a shoulder injury. The 300+ yd run stung the feet a little since hey were somewhat numb.

Hopefully not hurt my shoulder 4 weeks out from an IM distance event that limits swimming to 1800 yds during that time period. Other than that it was a great start to the day.

Evidently around an hour was a very popular time to get out of the water. Plenty of wetsuit strippers and the fresh water shower rocked. The changing tent was very crowded, but everyone made it work. Got jammers off and bibs, HR strap, jersey, socks and shoes on ok. I have to say, that I am more cyclist than tri so I had to break out the Assos for comfort, 60 miles is the most I could due in the tri shorts with, um, issues. It is always fun to try to get a dry jersey on wet skin. Jogged to the bike and put arm warmers on at the same time. I had a quick chat Carla, since my rack was right at the fence. Waved to my folks on after I mounted up and away I went.

Not much, I would rather be comfortable than fast in transition for an IM distance.

Felt good the whole ride. I had to keep the bike racer in me from trying to run down the people in front of me since I felt so good. Evidently my base layer that I normally wear during my training rides had been keeping my HR strap tight, but without a base layer, I got in accurate readings and it would not stay against my chest. Guess I needed to adjust the strap for the 15+ lbs I lost from Jan 1 to race day. Just rode by RPE and never had an issue with the engine or the legs. The only issue, was that I had to pee every 50 min since I can only deal with liquid nutrition on the coarse, HEED. The goal was 6 hour total ride time, turned out close to it at 6:13 total time with a ride time of 5:57. That means 16 min of bathroom and SN or just about 2 and 1/2 min per rest stop.

Not much, I'll take having to stop for a tree break over cramping any day. PS. Assos rock!

Kind of cool just to hand off the bike and the hlemt to the voluenteers. And one had my changing bag for me. Again, took my time, and made sure I had everything. Saw a tranning partner who said he was 5 or 6 ouf of the water, but he overcooked a corner and had a little road rash on the arm.

Not much. everything is was as planned.

Run started out great. Ran the first half in just over 2:00 hours. Hit the first bridge after leaving the USS NC and the anchor dropped. Walked the uphill, ran down till the next bridge, walked up the Holmes bridge, and then ran down water st. Spotted a couple of friends on water st and their high fives helped out. Walked up the 10% grade from water to front st and ran to the 18 mile aid station at around a 10:30 pace from 13.1 to 18. Started to feel kind of light headed, for me that means I got 10 min of energy left, and decided to walk mile 18 to 19 after eating some animal crackers. Started talking to another racer and saw a couple of people in bad shape. I decided at that time I would full fill my promise to Carla and not end up in the med tent. I was going to finish, 8 miles to go and we were at 12:00 hours race time. We walked the next 6 miles encouraging all of the other racers, especially the ones we passed while walking and all of the volunteers. Ran the last mile or so and felt good doing it. It made me realize I could have knocked some time off of the mary, but for me it was not important at the time.

Maybe run more, but I just sat back, and enjoyed the experience completly. I never was in difficulty thanks to some restriant, and the 30 min I could have saved might have put me in the med tent.

Hanging out with friends, family and the like. Felt like my blood sugar was low and a little light headed at about 5 min after the finish, but a little food and some sweet tarts :) helped out. Gathered up the bike, T1, T2, and SN bags and had to wait about 15 minutes to get on the ferry.



Maybe my own self preservation, promise to my wife that I was their to finish and not to race, and in experience with the IM distance. The shoulder injury did not help, but that did not limit me significantly.


I would have to say that Setup did a great job with this race, espically for it being it's first year. Everyone I talked to loved the swim and most said the will be back next year. Me on the other hand, I got the IM bug out of my system. It was all base training for me and after 3 weeks off its time to get back to build and speed work for Xterra's for 09'. I may RACE the half next year, but not the full.