SOMA HALF IRON DISTANCE TRIATHLON - Triathlon1/2 Ironman

Felt great on swim! No panic, sang songs in my head, didn't stop EVER except momentarily to sight when goggles fogged. Kept going past last buoy, which cost a little time until I figured that no one was around me. BUT triumph of triumphs - I actually passed swimcaps of OTHER waves! First time ever. I was NOT the last one out of the water, even though I started in the last wave. WOO HOO!!!

Make sure I know what the last buoy looks like. They said a large yellow buoy, but there were smaller yellow buoys along the way, and I didn't know which was which. Sighting continues to be a problem, but I did much better this race than previous races in Tempe Town lake. I also really need to learn how to swim more efficiently, because even though it was good for me, my time really still sucks.

Felt really good coming out of the swim. Was stoked! Hadn't done the wetsuit stripping before - thank you SOMA for providing wetsuit strippers! That worked really well, and I ran to transition. Lost several seconds looking for my sunglasses, which were not only still in my transition bag but were also zipped up in the case! Big boo boo!

Make sure glasses are out in helmet when setting up transition.

Bike time includes changing rear flat during first loop. Tire change took approx. 9 minutes (Garmin said I completed course in 3:11, and official time is 3:20). Rode past cyclist injured after being hit by car on second loop and had some mental heebee geebees from recently seeing my hubby injured in a bike crash, and it took a mile or so to calm down and get my head back on the race. For another couple of miles I was questioning the importance of the race, etc., but shook it off. My nutrition was spot-on -- I ate a salt tablet and a piece of Larabar Cherry Pie (MY NEW FAVORITE BIKE FOOD!!!) every half hour. Perfect amount of nutrition, although I did run out of water in the Speedfill on the third loop; picked up bottle at last bike aid station, drank some and put some in the Speedfill (while STILL CYCLING - WHAT A FEAT FOR ME!!!). Had to avoid two cars that went through the course in front of me on the third loop down Rio Salado along Tempe Marketplace when bike traffic was sporadic. Neither car was close enough to do an emergency stop, but I did have to brake for both cars (two separate incidents - one when I was heading east and the other about 15 minutes later heading west).

Need to work on overall speed on the bike.

Probably could have done a little better on this, but I don't practice getting out of shoes, etc., yet. Otherwise, transition was good for me.

Goal here was to beat the Vineman run, which was around 2:50. Actually thought I did better than 2;30, but I'll take it because it was still hot with no shade. Ran out of transition to first aid station. Carried my own water bottle and filled it with water/ice at every aid station. Put ice in hat at nearly every aid station. With these measures, was able to stay cool and run from aid station to aid station. Probably stopped a little too long at some aid stations. Walked with Milton for a little bit on loop 1, but that was pretty close to an aid station so I didn't mind. Ate 1-2 orange slices at every aid station. Drank Coke at one, decided no more Coke. Attempted to eat one salt tablet on the run, but by then they had disintegrated in my racebelt pocket. Overall was really happy with the run, especially since I had damaged the big toe on my left foot on Saturday and it hurt with every step.

Figure out how to keep the salt tablets from getting wet and disintegrating so I can keep salt in my system on the run without using Gatorade. Get to the point where I don't need water/ice at every aid station so I can skip a few during the run.

Walked around, waited for other athletes to come in, stretched calves. Drank more water and a little Gatorade. Ate a little pasta and animal crackers.


Training, heat. Need more training, less heat. :)


Thank you Red Rock for the oranges and ice! Besides trying to get rid of some of the u-turns, the only other thing I'd recommend for this race is to have sunscreen available at one or two aid stations. I sure could have used a little more toward the end of the day. Otherwise, great race, spectator friendly.