Vineman Ironman 70.3 - Triathlon1/2 Ironman

Actually this was a good swim for me. I had some shoulder issues the last couple of weeks before the race but remembered to watch my form and tried my best to draft - unfortunately I couldn't really find anyone that was going at the pace I wanted so mostly I just swam on my own. Water was pretty hot though - especially for those of us in the later waves but since I am not a great swimmer I decided to wear a wetsuit.

Nothing.

T1 was slow (not sure how long since the times are not yet separate from the swim) - I normally run into T1 from the swim but this was more of a jog since the path into T1 was narrow - and really I am not going to knock people out of the way just so I can save 5 seconds! After getting out of T1 I pedalled up the little hill (easy gear and quicker than running up it would be - helps that my other races this yrar at Bonelli in San Dimas also have a similar hill out of transition!)

Wipe my feet better! After I finished the run and took my socks off I noticed I had 2 huge bits of gravel in my shoes!

Started out well - had to hang back a little to make sure I wasn't drafting since there were so many people on the road at the same time I was starting but eventually it thinned out. I had a pretty good time on the bike for the first 40 miles - passing some people and being passed but mostly in my zone. Did get a little pain where the timing chip was rubbing against my ankle but it was manageable. By mile 40 though I was hot and flagging in the heat - Chalk Hill was not bad (well it wouldn't have been since I was in my easiest gear) and then at least I could tell myself I was almost done. Tried to be encouraging to other riders and also slowed down to ensure that someone was calling for help for a rider who looked like he had taken a corner too fast and was lying in a ditch and holding his arm (there was another rider stopped and also a woman in a car had called for help). I don't think I lost any time with slowing down and let's face it I would want someone to check I was OK if I had fallen).

I don't think there is much I could do differently - I felt good, paced well but it just started to get hot out there.

Uggghhh T2 was slow. Again I really wanted to run into T2 and felt I had the energy but it was a narrow chute to get in and the people in front of me were walking - so I couldn't run until we got to the grass area!

Nothing.

Oh my god - I so wanted to quit in the first mile! I was so hot (even though I had taken in some gatorade and water at T2) - it was an effort to keep going. Funny thing is I suddenly looked up and I was already at Mile 1 - somehow realizing that I had just internally been bitching about the run for 1 mile made me realize that I could keep going for another 12.1! Also helped that I made a promise to myself that I would run in between the aid stations and when I got to the aid station I would walk. This I guess worked just fine since I did finish run! I took ice, gatorade, water and lots of lovely RC Cola at each aid station (no gels or solid food though since my stomach just hated that idea). Talked to lots of people on the course - tried to be encouraging to people who looked like they were struggling and just kept plodding on. It was so hot (my husband's car had the temperature at 110 degrees which I can believe!) Turn around at La Crema was great - mile 6-7 was the easiest for me and then I was heading back around. Last 2 miles were the hardest as my legs were beginning to get cramps. As I entered the finisher area my husband passed me the Scottish flag so I ran in with that. (Yes I am Scottish - by way of Lakewood CA as the race announcer pointed out!)

Get lucky next time and have an earlier start with less sun!
I tried my best and to be honest I was glad to just finish - I really thought I was even slower but I guess that was just the heat playing games with me!

Dumping water over my head, getting finisher photo taken!


Heat.


I love the 1/2 vineman - volunteers and race staff are awesome. The course is beautiful and the racers are really nice. Next time though I want to come back and race when the weather is not so hot!