Timberman - Half Iron - Triathlon1/2 Ironman

Swim went perfect for me. I avoided getting excited and going anaerobic in the beginning. I went super easy to start (maybe a little too easy) and then sped up as I approached the first buoy. Took the corner tight and didn't get caught up at all, coasted to the next buoy and had another perfect corner after "moving" someone out of my way from a wave ahead of me who was blocking me. On the approach to the beach, I bursted for the first half and then slowed way down to ease into T1.

My sighting was better than it has ever been. Minimal course correcting. No tangles with others. I didn't find anyone to draft off but didn't care really. I passed people from the waves ahead of me and the people in my wave who were fading pretty easily and stayed where the water was clear to avoid getting tangled up.

If anything, I probably could have swam harder, but that would have only been another minute or so off the time and probably not worth the effort. This is really the way I envisioned myself swimming and executed it well.

Nothing. This was good for me. Actually most happy about this then any other leg of the race. Swimming a 36:30 while not pushing for a guy who couldn't swim 50 meters in January is a victory for me. Especially considering I don't really swim that much for training.

T1 for a half. Didn't feel that much urgency. It was a long jog back to my bike from the water exit so I took it fairly slow and then too my time drying my feet off and putting my shoes on, knowing I was going to be in the saddle for a solid chunk of time. I slapped on my garmin and was wearing the strap on the swim. It was fine and I took it slow by design.

Probably hurry a little more, but I didn't want to over do it.

This was good. Executed as planned. My ending time was on the high end of what I was expecting for the level of effort I put in, but the course was not a super fast one and I would have had to push too hard to get into that 21.5-22.0 range. I taped 5 Gu's to the crossbar and had a bottle of accelerade to start off with a cliff bar about 5 miles in. The I plucked off the Gu's as I went while living off the course on a couple bottles of gatorade endurance formula and 3 or 4 bottles of water. It started getting hot at the end so I took it really easy the last ten miles.

The passing was a little annoying at times being in Wave 11. I probably passed about a 1000 people or so and it was just annoying to constantly be yelling at people to move over when they were pretending to pass people who they were going 0.002 mph faster then. Most of the course had a good amount of room though so it was good.

I saw the Swede and Andy Potts catching him on a downhill which was cool on their way back. They were smoking down a hill. I saw all of the others trailing too further back.

I rented 808s and they were cool on the fast parts.

One big note is on mile 49-50 I see someone down laying there with a cop there at an intersection that I thought might have been Aaron. I was going about 25 around a turn so couldn't see too clearly but I yelled to see if it was him and the guy I passed around the turn said he got a good look and said he saw him smiling, so with that I just coasted back the last 5 miles or so being thankful I didn't flat or crash and have my race ruined...

Volunteers were awsome.

Nothing. Drive the course beforehand maybe. It wasn't really rocket science. Just a decent paced ride and nutrition by feel which seemed to be about right.

My lower back was a little sore getting off the bike from staying in a tight aero position the whole way. I was sort of amazed at how many people have these nice tri bikes and ride on the horns...give me your bike man! Kills the purpose of the bike doesn't it? You are just riding a bike that weighs more than a road bike for no reason...anyway

I had to piss so bad, I waited at the port-o body near the exit for about a minute. The women in front of me just let me go ahead of her which was cool. She said something nice and that it didn't really matter for her...The extra minute was probably a good thing anyway.

Hurry more? I don't think it's worth it though with my level of fitness to scream through T2 to start a tough run.

I started my run maybe a little too hard. My legs were a little wishy washy, but I still had some power. I did an 8:40 or something the first couple and then started getting really hot and was taking water misting and ice and sponges whenever I could. I plugged along an finished my first loop in about 1:02 which I was happy with. At this point I was still pumping myself up and saying I could negative split this thing and maybe get under 2...haha, ya right. About a mile after that I started feeling nausious. I had taken a couple of course Gus down with some gatorade and water at the beginning couple of stations but think that was the right move. I think I was at the point where I was just hot and tired and getting dydrated, but my body was sick of processing more fluids. I'm a heavy sweater as it is, so I know I need to keep the fluids coming. I ran through it and it was fine but just uncomfortable and I did a slow jog and then walked the stations for a couple miles. At mile 9ish my quads told me they were done and I walked for about a quarter mile until I literally slapped myself in the face and made myself do a pathetic sort of interval run on the home stretch that was a mix of running and walking. I knew if I just walked I'd be pissed at myself so I tried to get it done.

Not weigh close to 190lbs. I was 220 in January though. Maybe have a real running base would help :) This was about what I expected and based on some decent runners times, who suffered a little too, I'll take it. I wasn't alone.

Low end of my range. I really don't strive for low end of my range. I vow to destroy this run time on the next half I do. Mark my words.

Freaking awsome when I get to finish and eveone is cheering and then Chrissy Wellington puts the finisher medal on me. I thought that was pretty cool. I just walked around. Caught up with Aaron and checked out his bike and road rash that was pieces. We went for a quick swim to cool down and then pigged out. Good food and no big line which was nice.


Basically, my level of training.

Overall, coming from 220lbs in January and not even owning a bike (only bike I've owned was a mountain bike when I was 13 years old prior to the bike I bought in February) or being able to swim more than a lap or even run more than 3 miles straight, I've come along way. I generally have high expectations so am not thrilled, but taking a step back, it is a good performance for me personally considering where I was about 6 months ago.

I think if I stay with it, I can get faster.


Awsome race. I couldn't have picked a better one for my first half (except maybe an easier and cooler climate course). But the race is awsome and I'll do it again.