Cardinal Harbour Triathlon - Triathlon1/2 Ironman

Swim start was so cool. All five of us BTers were together on the ramp and it helped so much with nerves having friends there with me. Amy, Jenn, and I admired the physique of Max Longree as we waited. :) Race Director talked for a while and an athlete sang the national anthem. We went off in three waves. Very nice, guys were out before us, so no worries on my part about getting run over by 299 faster & stronger swimmers! When they started our wave, I went out nice and easy, made a conscious effort to relax and got used to sighting the buoys. Follow the orange on the way out. Look for the larger orange to turn around, then follow the yellow ones back.

Goggles started leaking almost immediately. I stopped half a dozen times to clear them. I had this same problem on my last swim, so I got new ones, but still had the same problem. I had a hard time getting a rhythm going and felt very unbalanced. I tried to stay calm and just keep swimming. By the time I hit the turnaround, I was feeling pretty good. I didn't feel much resistance from the current, but swimming did feel easier going back. Well. At first it did. It started getting wavy at some point and the last quarter of the swim was a little tough for me, but I just kept going until I saw the ramp. I went up the ramp and followed instructions to get into T1.

Need to get my technique problems ironed out. I'm definitely not balanced in the water and this year, I've gotten slower rather than faster. Lots of mistakes. Did the best I could with what I had to work with that day.

Accidently hit the lap button twice on the Garmin when I was heading into transition, so it already thought I was on the bike. Crap. I stopped it and reset it to calculate the bike and run separately. Did this while I was walking to my spot - was in the wrong row since I wasn't paying attention to where I was going. (That was smart!) Got to my transition spot, sat down on my cooler to dry my feet and put on the sockes and shoes. Very nice addition to transition. :) Took out my contacts, got my other stuff together and headed out on the bike in a lightening fast 5 minutes. ;)

Take a breath and consciously calm down as I'm entering transition. If I fumble around, I get more flustered and it takes me even longer.

I had a plan for the bike and executed it just the way I wanted to. I had predetermined locations to take in gels and probably the only thing I did wrong was not enough infinit. I was shooting for one bottle per hour (4 total) and only had a little over 2, but I did have an extra gel. Took in ~1100 calories and was shooting for 1400.

Headed down the first 5 mile stretch. This is where I caught my breath, took in some water and just got used to being on the bike. Got passed by 4 or 5 people on this stretch. Can't be too many more back there to pass me! Took in my first gel before I made the turn to the first hill and Route 42. First thought was, "I'm on the Ironman course now. Cool!" Made it slowly up the first hill. I'm not a strong climber, so I tried not too waste too much energy getting up the hill. Next portion of the course is small rollers leading to the out and back. Made the turn onto the out and back and had my second gel just before the first downhill. Passed Jenn when she was finishing up this portion and I was heading out. She was looking good! Saw lots of people heading out of the out and back portion. Made it to the first major downhill. YEEHAW! Downhills ROCK!!!! Then the climb up to the turnaround. This portion of the course is in a heavily wooded gorge and is absolutely beautiful. Definitley my favorite portion. I was able to check out how many people were behind me at this point. About half a dozen. I was a little surprised there were so many. Headed back onto Rte 42. Wow, already 20 miles down! Passed Davidtris as he was finishing up and heading back and we yelled at each other. Passed the bottle handoff without incident and made the turn onto Rte 53 and the largest (longest) hill on the course. I had some problems on this hill on my practice ride, and it popped into my head when I started up it. I started thinking about Ironman and how difficult it would be for me to make the distance with these challenging hills. EXACTLY the same thoughts that I had in my practice ride. I refused to give into them this time and pushed them out of my head. "I'm doing a freaking half ironman, how cool is that?" I started tearing up again because once again, I was just so amazed and happy to be out doing something I really love! That moment cemented my mood for the rest of the race. I actually passed someone going up this hill. A porche zoomed by me and I started singing: "Oh Lord, won't you buy me a mercedes benz. My friends all have porches, I must make amends." I laughed and decided that singing probably wasn't the best way to expend energy. I was so happy and having so much fun. The temperature was cool, it was cloudy, so no hot sun. Somebody up there sure must like me a lot to give me such great weather to achieve my goal. :) I made the turn onto Old Sligo Road, where I remembered some difficult climbs from the practice. I'd start up a hill, thinking to myself that, yeah, its a little tough, but it just doesn't matter. I'm doing a freaking half ironman and I'll get through whatever I need to get through to make it to the finish. Actually the hills weren't as bad as I remembered them - I think because I had a 110% better attitude this time. There is one smaller climb on this road that has a really steep part just before the crest. I was thinking it was just before the Le Spirit turn and I pushed hard up the hill because I thought my friend Kim would be at the turn just past the crest and I wanted to look strong coming over the top. The turn was farther out than I remembered, and I laughed as I crested because I was trying to look good for her and she wasn't even there! When I did get to the turn, she whooped and hollared and took my picture as I went by. I'd never been on this portion of the course before. I missed the turn in my practice ride. It was uneventful. More rolling hills through pretty horse farms with gorgeous houses. Yawn. LOL! I don't think there were any truly flats stretches on this course. Made it back to Rte 42. Had several people passing me on this part, only one was part of the race though. About a 20 mile stretch down Rte 42 heading back to Goshen turnoff. Lots of rollers, but the general trend was downhill, so it was a good stretch. Wind had picked up a bit, but not a strong head/crosswind. Considering the fact that the previous day had some very noticeable wind gusts, once again, I thought how much Somebody up there really must like me to help me through the race. :) Made it to the second bottle hand off area and I didn't even slow, I tossed my bottle and grabbed a fresh one like a pro! :) Not much further to go now! Passed three girls on this section that had initially passed me back on the first stretch of bike. Made the Goshen turnoff and was a little apprehensive about this section. We had driven it the day before and it was some narrow, wooded, hilly roads. The hills didn't seem nearly as bad as they looked in the car and there was a volunteer at every curve telling me what to expect coming up. I had lots of fun on the portion until I got the bug in my mouth from smiling so much! I think I was so happy at this point because there are so many varibles that could have happened on the bike, but I sailed through! Somebody up there sure does like me! Heck only a half marathon to run and I can do that easy! :) Saw lots of people running in as I made the turn onto Cardinal Harbour Drive, where the entrance to transition is as well as the final stretch of the run course. Saw Amy's husband Andy and Fred taking pictures as I went by. Fred asked my if I was having fun and I smiled and said, "I'm having a GREAT time!"

I did the best I could with what I had to work with on this given day. Heart rate did start getting a little low in the last 20 miles so I tried to drink as much Infinit as I could and took in an extra gel.

Not much to T2 for me. I had removed my gloves a couple miles back, so I switched the Garmin to run mode, put it on my wrist, took off my helmet, took 4 ibuprofen, and stuffed some gels into my back pocket. I did grab a bottle of water to take with me on the run.

Nothing.

Started my run time with a stop at the porta pottie. I didn't remember seeing any on the run course, so I thought it would be a good use of time to take the break. Ran back past Fred and Andy. I smiled and told Fred I'd see him in a few hours. I stayed with my strategy of running the downhills and flats and walking the uphills. Passed lots of people coming in off the run. Davidtris yelled at me, then ran over and gave me a hug and continued to his finish. :) When I hit the out and back portion, I was a little surpriesed to see so many people still out there. I never saw Amy at all on the run course. There was a man at the first turnaround point taking down race number and keeping track of laps. The second time I saw him, I asked if I needed to pass him 3 or four times, and he told me 3. I remembered the RD saying at the start that you needed to do this turnaround four times. (That explains why the course was a little short)

I saw Jenn on my first loop. She was just finishing up her first one and was looking damn strong! I told her I was having the best time and continued to the far end of the turn around. I was running strong and steady and conserved energy by walking on the two uphill sections of the loop. My heart rate was a little low at this point. (high 120s/low 130s) and I remembered that c_cic told me that it could mean I was low on nutrition. At this point, I'm getting a little tired of gels, but I suck another one down anyway. Made it to the turn around point and they had cookies and peanut butter crackers, so I grabbed one each. It was a nice change of pace for the diet, but I did have a bit of trouble getting the cracker down. I was sorry I didn't grab more. I carried a water bottle with me the entire run. When I would get to a water stop, I'd take a cup and pour it into my bottle. This was the first time I carried water with me in a race, but I really like being able to drink whenever I wanted, so I'll take one with me in the future as well. Kept the same strategy for all three loops. On one end I'd have a couple crackers or a cookie, and the other end, I'd have a gel. Think I ended up with 5 gels, 2 cookies, and 3 crackers. On the last water stop, I accidently put heed into my water bottle, so it tasted kind of funny the rest of the run.

Second loop, there were defintely fewer people out there. I saw Jenn twice each loop and each time I saw her, sho looked stronger. She lapped me going out for her final loop. That last loop was pretty quiet. There were maybe half a dozen of us out there and we would encourage each other each time we passed. The two girls that passed me on the bike and I passed back passed me one final time on the last loop. David and Jeremy drove by the course and stopped for one final hug as they were long finished and heading back home to Columbus. I was getting pretty tired on that final loop and it was a huge boost to see them! I remember seeing a couple of spectators cheering me on saying, "You're gonna make it. You're almost there." I answered with "OF COURSE I was going to make it. There was never any doubt!" :) At this point, I was running a bit and walking a bit, but the walking stretches were outnumbering the running portions by a good bit. I was tired and those last 5 miles were taking forever! When I got to the check point on my third trip, the man told me that was my third and final loop, so I could head in. Amy and Andy pulled up on the course. Amy was hanging out of the window and yelling that I was almost done and I was going to be a half-ironman. They drove beside me a bit, amde sure I was okay and told me I had three miles back to the finish and they would meet me there. Another fantastic boost for me. :) I head back down the road. I know at this point there is only one person behind me and she still has another loop to go, so I'm by myself for the return. I'm mostly walking at this point. My right groin and SI joint area/lower back were hurting pretty good and I was tired and ready to be finished. I'm in really good spirits though. I mean, holy crap, I really did it. I'm in the final stages of my first half ironman and I had a great time doing it! How many people get to do that!?! :) When I make the turn onto Cardinal Harbour Drive, Andy is there with the camera snapping my picture. I saw the RD at the final water stop and he told me to keep running to the end of the road, then make the turn onto the grass for the final mile to the finish line. I ask him if it will be obvious where to turn and he tells me there are volunteers at the turn point. I was happy and impressed that they stayed out there for eight plus hours. This was the only point of the race where I wasn't having fun anymore. I was tired, hurting, and just wanted to be finished. When I turned onto the grass, I was surprised to hear someone running up behind me. It was the man I passed on the bike on the hill on Rte 53. I tried to run with him a bit, but the groin was hurting too much and I just couldn't hang with him, so he went on. About halfway down the grass I can see (and hear!) Amy and Jenn yelling like crazy. They come down to cheer me to the finish and I'm not sure at this point that I can even run the final stretch to the finish, but I kick it in and do it anyway. Both calves were crampping and the groin hurt, and I was just plain hurting. When I cross the line, I remember that there is a man taking pictures, and I'm mad at myself for not smiling. LOL! Andy took my chip, Fred gave me a huge hug and kiss and Amy and Jenn hugged me and kept telling me that I was a half ironman. It was the best feeling! No bad feelings at this finish line. I felt nothing but a huge sense of accomplishment and pride at the fact that I have what it takes to cross that line. What a fantastic race!

At this point, the final finisher comes to the line and we all cheer for her. It was her first half ironman as well. It was an awesome great day for us all!

Nothing.

Said goodbye to Jenn & Amy and packed up my stuff in transition. Fred told me I'd better hurry up before they load it into the truck. (smartass!) Walked about half a mile back to the motorhome which helped loosen my legs up a little. Had a banana, stripped down and stretched in the motorhome before I took a shower. Had some leftover pizza in the fridge that I tried to eat, but it wouldn't go down, so I had an asiago cheese bagel instead. We packed up and headed north to meet friends for dinner.


I'm thrilled with my performance. I can definitely work on my swim technique and climbing skills on the bike to improve my performance for next time. I'm glad I have an entire year to prepare for Ironman, because at this point I don't think I can make cutoffs. BUT I had a great race and practice run, and am ready to do it again. I know where to focus for improvement and I'll get it done.


Fun race and course and a great practice run for IMKY. The only complaint I have is that they really needed to have a couple of portapotties on the run course. There were zero and that's just not cool.