Spirit of Racine Half Ironman Triathlon - Triathlon1/2 Ironman

Had fun. The swim is tough for me, and will always need to figure that aspect out.

Swim more? Make the course the correct length?

Took a lot of time in T1 due to the STUPID, cheap, worn-out timer-chip strap. The strap ripped and tore when I took off the wetsuit. There was no way I could strap it back on. What a waste of time.

B1tch and complain to get a better strap next time before the race if it's worn that badly.

Guesstimate on the bike time since I don't have an official time because of the timing chip, I had placed it in my jersey pocket and the signal didn't register. STUPID timer chip strap!
Luckily, I had the ForeRunner on, but I didn't start it until about a mile or so down the road. The Garmin registered around 55 miles or a little more with an avg of 19.9 mph.

A huge carnage of waterbottles, gel packets, a lot of back bottle cages (I should have came back and snarfed a couple), aerobottle "poofies", and some other miscellaneous food items, and one spare innertube with CO2 cartridge setup rubber-banded together.

The volunteers were great, and there were quite a few kids that were helping out. THANK YOU!

I pushed this one a lot harder than normal, and hit the first hour with doing just over 21 mph (I checked and that stuck in my head)! That's fast for me.

Now the fun - Sandi caught me, and super-speedy Donnawiz! She was coming from behind and was saying - "I see a carrot. I'm going to catch the carrot". FUNNY! I tried to outsprint her, for say, uhh, 100 yards - 200 yards. That didn't last long.

Thanked all the cops and volunteers that I could.

There were at least 4 instances of a flat getting fixed, one or two incidences of someone dealing with a cramp on the side of the road, and one major accident that happened with about less than 10 miles to go - the racer was on his back lying in the road on a left turn with the cop by his side. Didn't see any blood, but he was hurt - don't know what happened.

I will say this - HOW MANY EFFIN' DRAFTERS ARE OUT THERE, FOR CHRISSAKE? Buncha cheaters!

As I was coming in, I saw DJ and Schmize on the run and EEEAAAWWWed them.

A little more training.
I started to tire out with the effort I did (since I never pushed it that hard before. It felt great, though.
Break up the cheaters. ;)

When I tried to rack the bike, one of the metal legs on the rack came off. However, there was another guy who just came in and racked his bike in the rack behind me, and offered to help. VERY cool! I thanked him.

I do know that my T2 time was faster than T1.

STUPID worn-out time chip strap, causing me to not get a time for the bike - need to figure out how to register the chip without getting held up if that happens again.

Just before the first mile, my left hammy cramped up and I had to stop and stretch it out for about a minute.

My left knee had a weird "twinge" once in awhile, but only when I picked it up some, so I kept my pace in check.

The run course is the best part because I enjoy seeing the familiar faces and interacting with persons, which get my spirits up!

I caught up with Aron, and then Chris and Jean (ajotto, TriDDS, tri-n-spin, respectively), and Clint's brother Joel. I saw DJDavey, Schmize, Deanna, Amyjo, Anna (runswithjasper), Scott (sgoehner), Michelle (trainergirlmick), 'bert (bertgwen) ;) , Travis and Sandi, Laura (Whizzzzz), MissKelly, Clint, Teri, Peter and Lori.

Nice, overcast day!

BEST DANG SUPPORT CREW YOU COULD EVER HOPE FOR - Craig (firstnet911) and pack.

Figure out how to avoid cramps and get faster?

Iced up the quads, got some fuel from the food tent, and walked over to the Donkey tent site.
Met up with Fred (Clint's dad), all the other Donks mentioned, and finally asked Coredump his name since I didn't remember it from IM Moo last year (Chris). Chris ran super-speedy, too!

PJ (PeggyJo, maggyruth) showed me her engagement ring - VERY NICE!
Gave "I Wanna" (aidana ;) ) a big hug.


Cramps, mostly. STUPID worn-out time chip strap!


REPLACE THE STUPID TIMER CHIP STRAP!!

I PR'ed by 16 min. from last year!!

Fun things heard during the race:
1). What's with the carrot?
2). What's that? A donkey?
3). Donnawiz, coming from behind on the bike to pass me - "I see a carrot. I'm going to catch the carrot". That was funny.
4). The photographer, while going up the hill on the 2nd lap - "So, what is it about the donkey? I saw a number of them."
5). "EEEAAAWWW!!!" - the Donks on the course.
6). Some lady in a group of people on a corner by mile 2 and change, while coming around on the 2nd lap, "What is that supposed to be?", to which they didn't think I heard and to which I yelled out without turning back "IT'S A DONKEY!!". Then the group started laughing.
7). From Craig, as I was coming towards the "Donkey corral" near the finish, in his bullhorn, "... Phil Gillett ". (Sorry, Craig, I was listening, but didn't catch it very well.)
8). Chris (TriDDS) and Jean, on the first lap after the turnaround, "You're looking strong". Then just after the 1/2-way mark they caught up and said "We're going to run with you for awhile". Then they left me with their good pacing.
9). More "EEEAAAWWW"s by Donks.
10). Bertgwen, on the run course, "Did you take a nap?". ;)
11). And the best line was by Schmize, as he passed me around mile 2-1/2 on my first lap, said in an "urban-ish" voice "Let's make this course our BEEEE YOTCHHHHHHH!" and gave a "hang-loose" sign. Thanks, Schmize, and of course, YOU ARE SPEEDY AND YOU RAWK!

Some reflection -
I can be quite proud of my accomplishment for PR'ing this race, but what stands out to me is seeing the Donkai with all those bright, happy smiles, talking with each other, and having fun, even after pushing their bodies to their limits. Your are a terrific bunch and I thank you for all the support and energy you give. To Craig, for being the ULTIMATE JOCKSTRAPPER with picture-taking, bullhorn-inspiring, and beer distributing.
What stands out most of all this is Michele, whom (so I heard) just finished up with chemo recently, completing her first HIM, sporting a pink cape during the whole run, coming down the stretch to the finish line, and fighting back tears that probably would have filled up Lake Michigan.
CONGRATULATIONS, trainergirlmick! I applaud you! (I hope you don't mind that I inserted the photo in here).

If I missed anybody (I know I met a tall guy with dark hair cheering at the end), I'm sorry. Go ahead and reply and remind me.

And last but not least, thank you to Craig for the photos.