Duke Liver Center Half Ironman - Triathlon1/2 Ironman

Holy mother of god. I am dependent on my nose clip when I swim - very bad, I know. I have planned to work on that this winter and get over that crutch. But anyway, I always swim with it. Right near the start somebody hits me in the face and there goes the noseclip. I think holy shit this could be bad.
Try to swim freestyle without it, it's a disaster. I can't breathe right, and I'm swallowing a lot of water. I stop and tread water for a bit, and do a sorta doggy paddle to at least keep moving forward while I think about what to do.
Basically, I tried several times to swim freestyle without the clip, but could never do it. The water up my nose with the waves made it impossible for me. So there I go, doggie paddle and some sidestroke thing the rest of the way. I'm swallowing lots of water. Pretty soon everyone except one woman has long past. I get an exclusive lifeguard escort. Often two, and sometimes more. I guess they had nothing else to do at that point - I was in the last wave.
I honestly never thought I would make it all the way back on the swim. I was swallowing and choking on water the whole freaking way. I came a fraction away from throwing up 2-3 times. The waves were very large for what I'm used to (which is basically no waves or some slight ripple). Peak to trough was 6-12 inches. I had to time my inhale/exhale with the waves.
My watch was at about 40minutes by the time I got out to the turnaround. I was VERY tired, at this point. Both arms and legs. Obviously I was expending lots of energy very inefficiently.
I swim pretty much side-by-side this other woman the whole way back. It was actually really good that she was there, it would have been much more difficult psychologically if I was the only one out there.
I was VERY worried that I wouldn't make the swim cutoff. My watch said 1:16:35 and the swim cutoff was 1:15. I never thought I'd be that close. For almost the entire swim, I was absolutely sure that I'd either be coming back to shore on a boat, or they wouldn't let me start the bike.
Legs (and arms) were quite tired. Got a brief cramp in left calf near the end of the swim.
I have no desire to ever swim in conditions like that until I become a better swimmer and get past the nose clip.

1. Learn to swim without a goddamned nose clip.
2. Practice swallowing dirty lake water
3. Practice swallowing dirty lake water while simultaneously breathing.
4. Practice telling the lifeguards that I don't want a ride back in to shore.

No real problems. I was pissed during T1. Got changed pretty quickly, ran through a completely deserted transition area. I was rushing because I didn't want some bloke telling me I couldn't start the bike.

I came out with a bit of a vengeance on the bike. But I didn't let myself push it very much. I was very glad that I finally saw another guy about 8 miles in. I wanted to have some 'company'. Not that it really matters, but it's kinda comforting.
I had a VERY tough time keeping food/fluid down. My stomach was uncomfortable with the damned lake water, and I had to take only small sips. Used water the first 10-15 miles or so, then my camelbak which had 4 gels dissolved in a liter of gatorade. By the end, I also managed to get down about half a clif bar. I had hoped to have 2-3 clif bars.
I managed to do well with my bike fears, though. I was able to resist braking on almost all the downhills - I just had to brake on the BIG, long downhill. I'm definitely not used to the Cervelo yet. I think my hill prowess is diminished. Not comfortable in the aero position for such long rides yet either. Especially when trying to eat and drink.
The other thing on the bike is that my left foot and toes go a little numb in my new shoes. They felt really comfortable trying them on, but something isn't right. I was definitely numb at the end.

Don't use so much damned leg energy on the swim. My legs were pretty tired at the end.

Took my time. Walked thru the transition area. Changed out of tri shorts into run shorts and changed shirt. Clean socks, some gatorade, and off to the run.
Was GREAT to see Shannon and Christian at the run start!

Nothing.

Run started out very well. Amazingly I felt great coming off the bike. I had thought it would take me a while to get my legs, but it was good.
First 4 miles were around 11min/mile. Got a few small cramps in hamstrings on the large climb at the beginning of the loop, but they went away in a minute or so. Started slowing a little, but kept going. Stopped at every aid station except one.
On the second loop I had to walk a good bit, probably 2 miles total. Maybe less. Was getting cramps in hamstrings and calves. I could usually push through the hamstrings, at least at the beginning. But the calf cramps just crippled me. I had to stop immediately. Would walk a little and then start again. At the end I was modifying my stride so that I stretched each calf by keeping my heel on the ground, which helped a bit.
I did a good job drinking on the run. I had something at most every aid station, except 2-3 when I could feel some liquid still sloshing around in my stomach. Had lots of water and cytomax plus 2 raspberry hammergels and 4 glasses of coke near the end.

Not much really. I didn't push too hard at the beginning, I wasn't breathing hard at ALL the first 4-5miles. Things felt really good. I think near the end it was the cramps together with general tiredness.

Walked around, stretched a little.
Chatted with Jeff, Shannon and Christian for a bit.
Unfortunately everything was being taken down by the time I got done. I wanted a massage!!


Umm, I'm a shitty swimmer. And I need to get used to the new bike (and bike shoes)


I finished. That was my only goal going in. It could have been better, but hell, I made it.