EagleMan Ironman 70.3 Triathlon - Triathlon1/2 Ironman

No wetsuit definitely make a difference but I train without a wetsuit so I was not worried. Got off to a good start and got comfortable quickly. Since on Columbia I did a poor job of sighting I made sure to make it a priority on this race. I sighted well to the first bouy but each successive bouy became harder and harder to see so for the first few yards after a bouy I just made sure I was in the middle of the pack. I also was able to do a pretty good job drafting on the first leg of the swim. I got behind one or two people and stayed in their wake as much as possible. After I made the turn at the first buoy though, I lost most of the green caps I was with and had to navigate through a lot of the previous waves so was not able to draft as well. After the last turn in towards home sighting became very difficult as the bouys had drifted and even the announcer said before the wave start "yeah looks like the bouys on the back end are drifting sooo just sight the red blow up thing on the shore when youre coming in". sounds simple but was difficult since it was so far away. Put in a good kick in at the end and felt good getting out of the water. Saw 41 on my watch and knew it was long but knew it was gonna be a long day so didnt stress over it.

keep working on sighting and drafting. Maybe work on picking up the pace aka knowing my pace while swimming

Pretty good transition. My t1 at columbia was almost 3 min so this was pretty good. I ripped the cap off my one water bottle trying to drink it and it spilled all over me but that was ok. Did not eat or drink anything else as it was all on my bike. Could save some time if I got a tri top.

get a tri top so I dont have to put on a shirt.

SLOW.SLOW.SLOW.. but there is a reason why it was slow. I knew going into this race that it was all about the bike. Here is where I could shave off time and also where I need to continue to improve. I put in close to 700 miles on my bike before this race and was looking to get a good bike split. Got going on the first 10 miles and was averaging about 20.5 mph which is right were I wanted to be. Saw yoder flying back in aero while all the other pros were sitting up. that kid is a beast. Even from the beginning I felt like the wind was coming at me the entire time. Although maybe not as forceful o nthe way back but it did not feel like i had a great tailwind at all.

Took the right onto rt 16 and made it five more miles before my bike ride turned into a survival ride. At around mile 15 I was down in my aero bars when I heard a pop and all sorts of noise coming from one of my wheels ( at the time I thought it was my front wheel but it turned out to be my rear ). I knew what it sounded like, A POPPED SPOKE! There was the small clinking of the broken spoke hitting other spokes each time it came around and then the sound of the rim rubbing up against the brake pad every rotation since it was no longer riding perfectly true. It had to happen on this race, it had to happen now. After all the training and time on that damn bike, the spoke had to pop now, but there was no way I was stopping, not even to confirm my suspicions of what it was. Somehow, even though the spoke was popped off, the wheel was still true enough to roll forward and I said to myself that as long as I am moving forward I am not stopping until i get back into transition. In my mind I told myself that if I stopped the tensions would rip the wheel apart or something like that and I wouldnt be able to ride the bike anymore. I was even thinking about how long it owuld take me to walk the remaining 40+ miles of the bike course and if that was even possible.

I decided that the bike became more about making it back then whatever time I would get. So I sat up a little more, especially on some of the rougher roads, and did not push as hard, fearing that if I did I might cause the wheel to fail. On the rougher roads the noise became greater, the wheel rubbed up against the brake more and I just could not risk it and had to pull back. A few people commented on the noise and suggested I stop to check it out but I didnt and Iam glad I kept going.

With the potentially catostrophic wheel and the resulting slower pace, my nutrition plan was done. I had planned on around 235 -240 on the bike and had brought the calories needed for that time. 2 bottles of gatorade and 5 gels ~ 800 calroeis. I finished my first bottle around the right time at 1 hour 15 and finsihed my second bottle right aorund 225. However that is also the same time I passed the last aid station. So for the last 30 minutes I had to ride without any fluid just as the wind was picking up and the heat was heating up. I need to mix all my stuff in disposable water bottles on longer rides so that I can throw them off to the side and take on new bottles at the aid stations. So for the last leg of the bike I was just trying ot make it home. Keep the wheel rolling forward and stay in control.

When I made that last left in towards the finish I felt a huge feeling of relief because I knew I was lucky. The last time I popped a spoke on my old bike the wheel was so untrue that I could not ride the bike. I got lucky and stil averagin 19.1 mph I was satisfied.

Change my nutrition plan. Use like a hammer product with my condensed calories so I dont have to eat 5 gels and dont have to worry about getting in more cals.
Use disposable water bottles on longer tris to dump the bottles.
Dont pop a spoke!

This was a little slow because I tried to diagnose my bike problem. Looked at the spokes on the front wheel and didnt see one popped so I was left to ponder that during the run. it was in fact on my rear wheel. Put my shoes on and way out. Should have went to the bathroom in transition instead of on the run.

use the bathroom in transition.
forget about my bike.
get a new hat.

This was hard but I liked the challenge. I did not sign up to do a HIM because it was easy. Have never done a half marathon let alone one during a HIM. When I got off the bike and felt how hot it was and then when I started on the hot un shaded course I knew the top priority was to stay hydrated, stay cool and make it home. I walked the aid stations because I had to make sure I was drinking. Would take like 2 glasses of water to drink, one to pour down my back and some ice for my hat. Also started to take pepsi at the second aid station and never has a class of pepsi tasted so good. It also calmed down my stomach. I basically walked 20-30 seconds each station and then ran at all other times. I also had to use the bathroom near mile 2. The pace was slower than I wanted but considering the heat I think I did pretty well. Loved all the hoses spraying water. very upset when I did not get a sno cone..I guess only the pros get those.

Could have picked up the pace a little more but was more concerned with finishing.
Get a tri top to stay cooler.
get a new hat.
learn to manage my time at aid stations a little better.

Got finished and felt pretty good. Was not cramping up but my stomach was grumbling. Got plenty of water and whatever food I could handle ( corn, rice ebans ) Got some pics and got hosed down which felt really good. Hung out a little to see some awards and got a massage which was awesome. Did not get a kona or clearwater spot but maybe that will be for another year. Checke out my bike and could not even spin the wheel around once without it hitting the brake pad and stopping...really lucky I could finish. Really enjoyed my first HIM and might do another one in a couple years.


No wetsuit.
pushing current.
Popped bike spoke.
slightly poor nutrition on the bike.
HEAT.

fix some minor things and keep putting time on the bike.


lotta people, really hot but the volunteers did a great job. I liked the course though too.