Patriot Half Iron - Triathlon1/2 Ironman

So once again I forgot to use my inhaler, which was really stupid. That and the first part of the course the neck of my wetsuit felt too tight - will need to work on that. I ended up breathing to one side most of the time which I know slows me down. My navigation skills seem to totally lose it in open water - it was laughable - finally started sighting more often which helped - I seem to swim to the left....now the funny part of this is that in a pool, even with my eyes closed, I swim straight....clearly the ability to swim straight is hindered by the presence of clouds and sky. My story (and I am sticking to it) is that the kayakers needed someone to correct and I wanted to make sure I swam the full 1.2. snort. So even though I was a BOP swimmer today I felt ok - it was a bit demoralizing to get out and be like the only bike on the rack.....oh well.

I so need to practice OWS - to learn to swim straight and site....and USE MY INHALER!!!!!!!!

long run from swim to transition - we were sent all the way around. Now you would think I would use my inhaler at this point, but NO I forgot. I did the trick of cap and goggle into arm of wetsuit which has always worked in past but this time they dropped out and I had to turn around and get them - like a salmon swimming upstream.

not drop my stuff, USE MY INHALER

So the bike is fun. Played leap frog with various people on each loop which really helps! Saw some major drafting as pace lines of men passed - sheesh. Majority of others had aero helmets and the guys all had discs. I still passed some - or played leap frog with. I love the bike

Would like to have held over 20mph and really should have - the lack of inhaler might have had to do with it. While wattage was ok would like to have held over 170 - things to work on

I do want to learn the feet out on top of shoes and jump off moving bike but one thing at a time.
once again I forgot to use my inhaler

USE MY INHALER

ok, I was undertrained on the run and knew it going in. The first 5 miles ran with a guy I had been playing leap frog with and then there were others that the whole way we would pass each other - felt good until about mile 8. Though at mile 7ish was wondering if my zoot racing flats were the proper shoes for this distance as both knees and arches started to really hurt. That faded - as did I. From mile 9 started to hurt and from mile 10 on it was BRUTAL. The last mile was a death march with me practically in tears but I still managed to sprint the finish - mostly because my son Noah and the BTers were great at cheering!!!
I will say that Spokes and his father's death helped get me through the run - he had asked me to run 1 sub 9 if I could (and I might have in the first few but was not checking splits and by the time I did could not do a sub 10!) I had written on my left forearm: 1<9 4 spokes' Dad and whilst I could not achieve that I could aim for a sub 6 race and did it for him and the others who could not race - the woman in the wheelchair cheering us on the bike, the MR guy cheering us on the run, the patrons of the old age home we passed; I thought about when I am that old do it for the memories of what I accomplished and that got me through the pain. So Scott, I know this is a hard time for you and your Mom, but you really were in my thoughts!

uh train the run, which for Timberman I will!!!

collapsed in a chair, cool towel, water. Noah and I quickly grabbed food and then had to hightail it back to Brookline as Ben's double header World Championships (baseball) were starting - so threw on my zoot recovery tights and drove (ugh) and then sat at 2 baseball games getting stiff, walking oh that hurt.


genetics, sighting, training


I really like the small hometown feel of this race - well organized but you really feel like family. My son had a great time volunteering and the older son has already asked me to do it next year - I think the presence of girls is drawing him! HA!