Ironman Kansas 70.3 - Triathlon1/2 Ironman

Went really well, pretty much had it on cruise control, got in the front row on the swim and a few of the guys were chatting about breaking 4:30 and all i could think was how amazing 5 hours would have been, but gun went off and a group of 5 guys just absolutely blasted out of there, i tried to hang with them but every time i would sight they would be be further ahead. So settled into my own rhythm. Started passing the Yellow caps pretty early on in the swim, They were pretty bunched so unfortunatly i did quite a bit of swimming over ladies. Made the turns pretty well and before i knew it i was at the finish and running out of the water.

could have gone quite a bit faster, last time i did an open water swim was in 2004 in the ocean and it was a mile and i finished in 20 min. So i think if i would have pushed the pace i could have lost a few minutes. But overall i was definately satisfied coming out of the water

transition was on a long uphill parking lot full of gravel and rocks, My bike was towards the front and along the back so had to thread my way through a few different racks to find the right spot, bikes were really crowded together and almost knocked 2 other bikes down getting it off the rack. then i noticed one of the rubber bands on my shoes had snapped so it was hanging down and dragging as i ran, so the flying mount i had perfected...er well practiced the day before was out, instead i had to stop and hop on. Bike headed uphill from there then on the first flat i got the feet in and headed up hill 1

more practice on technique and locate my bike from the direction im coming instead of only seeing it from the bike exit

Started out amazing, just absolutley blasting, was passed by a few guys but at mile 20 i had done quite a bit of passing and my comp said i was at a 23.5 mph average, but the hills started taking its toll on me and i couldnt deal. my lower back started giving me trouble around mile 30 and i started losing my speed, people started to pass me left and right and i had some seriously slow sections, my knees started cramping on the uphills and i just blew up on the last 20 miles of the ride. Really had to pee with 30 miles to go and i tried to do it while riding but i just couldnt get it to happen. Saw people doing it all over the place but i just didnt have the power. So pulled over and took a 3 min break that i thought was never going to end. But it was just what i needed because i got back on the bike with a vengence...for a bout 10 miles then fatigue hit in again, and i just couldnt wait to be off the bike

train alot harder, try and find some hills and just practice them relentlessly to train the legs,

took my feet out of my shoes way too early but i was just so excited to be getting off my bike, got to transition and leapt off, and headed into transition but i hadnt really seen it from the entrance so i had to look at the numbers to find mine, then ended up on the wrong side of the rack, so had to duck under in an open spot with my bike and rack it, then pulled my dry shoes out of the wet bag and got my socks on grabbed my hat and went

know where my crap was better

Didnt go to well, was hoping to run 8 min miles and not have to do any walking, but after the bike was was pretty wrecked so i knew i had to change my strategy, ended up leaving the garmin on the bike so i didnt have to see what my pace was doing. Ran to the first aid station then really had to use the bathroom again, but the portojohns were full so i ran into the parking lot and went behind some cars, then back on the course and running, made it to the second aid station and tried to run through it getting water and gatorade but i havent tried drinkin on the run since cross country in high school so it didnt work well at all, so starting at aid station 3 i walked through the aid stations, other than that i kept up a pretty consistant pace, but nowhere near 8 min miles, around mile 5 i was really hurting and had to stop and stretch for a few minutes. but after the stretch i really seemed to loosen up and then when i was half way done and i could start counting down the miles i was able to pick my speed up a bit. Suddenly only 3 miles then 2 left finally saw my campsite and knew i was only a 2 min run from the finish, ran through the last aid station and made the last corner and suddenly my calf decided to cramp up, but i didnt want to slow or look like i was limping across the line, i wanted to finish strong, so i just hoped it would last and ran through it, got in the finishing shoot, saw kelci smiled and threw my hands up and walked across the yellow brick finish, then in a blur was given my medal brushed shoulders with Crissy Wellington who was passing medals out at the same time, which was amazing, and unfortunatly i missed her by 1 spot, but then saw my family and knew it was over!!!

more bricks to get my legs under me faster, and run more, need to do all 3 sports more but probabaly the run the most

bar b que and beer, couldnt make it back to camp so laid down on a picnic table in the sun while kelci told me how amazing i was....ha which i thouroughly enjoyed.


lack of training, havent done a tri in along time and going straight to a half ironman was pretty stupid, but it was what i wanted to do and knew i could push myself to finish, next year i'll be much stronger


great race, the volunteers were amazing, but the real saving grace was the crowd, the people yelling for me on the run was amazing, just being able to go through the campground and seeing all the people, and then all the people along the road and finish was just amazing. The mass of people really pushes you not to give up, it was much easier to walk down by T1 when i was alone with the trees and the other racers suffering than through the campground with the people calling my number