Silverman - Half Iron - Triathlon1/2 Ironman

Good swim. Set a personal best at this distance for a swim split and I felt more refreshed out of the water than in the past. It was a little brutal at first. There was a real melee for the first 400-500 yards. I got kicked and elbowed a lot. I'm used to that, but this time it seemed to go on longer than normal and I started to get a little tired of it.

I forgot my normal swim goggles at home somehow so had to use my spare. The right eye started leaking so I had to swim with one eye closed for just about the entire race. I didn't want to take the time to clear it. Not a bid deal though...

Nothing

Good transition. I probably spent a little too much time trying to stuff my wetsuit into my transition bag before a volunteer said not to worry and they would do it.

I was fastest in my division in T1 - which will make a difference in the end. Transitions CAN make a difference, even in a long race.

I noticed right out of T1 that my HRM was not working so I was going to have to go by feel for this ride, which was fine. I knew what I should do.

I knew that I needed to hammer the bike if I was going to hit my 6 hour mark, so I pushed. I pushed hard. I knew full well, that I was risking trashing my legs, but I was willing to take that chance. I was hoping that the under race conditions, my body would 'step up' and I would be able to survive the run with a respectable time. If I eased up on the bike, I had no chance to hit 6 hours.

I can tell that hills are tough (but getting easier!). I would fly past people on the downhills and flats just to get reabsorbed on the longer climbs. Did I mention that I dislike hills?

As a side note, I was able to stay in the big chain ring for 95% of the ride! I never thought I could do that at Lake Mead with all the rollers.

Nutrition was decent enough I guess. 2.5 bottles of GE and a bottle of water over the 3+ hours.

Oh, yeah, it needs repeating. I dislike hills.

Pace myself better.

Again, far the fastest in my division which paid off.

Plain and simple, I lost it... Same old story. My risk taking on the bike cost me.

I started the run at just over 4 hours. EXACTLY where I wanted to be to give myself a chance for a 6 hour HIM. I know I could turn in a sub 2 hour half mary under normal conditions.

After 2 miles, I was looking ok with 9:00/mile splits, but then the road tilted up and I started to crack. I knew my dreams of a 6 hour HIM were at risk when I actually needed to walk a bit during miles 3 and 4. I was just exhausted and things didn't get any better.

I was still at a 10:00/mile average pace for the first 6 miles, and that was my new goal - to keep that 10:00/mi pace. But the walks came more frequently. Soon, I was probably walking once every 3 minutes for about 15-20 seconds each time. Now, I knew my 10:00/mile pace was in jeopardy and I thought my chances to podium were gone.

At mile 10, my only goal was to finish the race. I could barely keep a jog going. I would stop to walk, and get light headed and tad dizzy. BUT, I took some satisfaction in knowing that even if I walked the rest of it out, I would still set a HIM PR. But I was disappointed with knowing my hopes of a 6 hour HIM and podium were dashed.

The entire time I was getting passed left and right. I calculated that I lost 30 spots overall during the run. It was frustrating and embarrassing.

I remember seeing a big guy with a "43" on his calf in front of me with about 0.15 miles to go out of the 70.3. I told myself, that I was going to get ahead of at least ONE clydesdale in my division (I assumed he was in my division). So I picked it up enough to pass him and get a 50-100 yard lead (I kept checking).

I took one last 10 second walk break then tried to look good running down the finishing chute and across the finish line (got to take a good picture!)

In the end, I had a PR for a HIM run split, but still felt like I fell apart.

Pacing.

Photos, sit down, and eat.


Pacing or nutrition.


I have to admit, I was pretty disapointed with my results. I was sort of sulking about it the entire next day and skipped the awards ceremony. Why go? I also even had thoughts of giving up 'racing'. I thought that maybe I would do the events, but just take it easy and enjoy the race more. Why push SO hard, go through SO much pain, for crappy results? I was so disapointed with not hitting my 6 hour goal. I know it was lofty, but achievable.

I took a little consolation knowing that I improved my Silverman half time by about an hour from two years ago and also set a HIM PR by 34 minutes, but not much.

Now the interesting part. Several people congratulated my on my "1st" place. I was like "huh? Impossible". Well I checked my results and sure enough, squeeked out a first place! I was, and still am, shocked. That guy that I passed with less than 0.2 miles to go? Was leading my division. I got him by 44 seconds. My run ended up being tops in my division, and I made up more than 44 seconds in my transitions alone...

I will admit, taking first took some of the sting out of my less than stellar performance, but there still is a nagging feeling of not meeting my goals. But it's a tough course, and others had a tough time too.

I used to be a triathlete who could not bike, but now it seems that I am a triathlete who can't run. I guess I should thank all my attention to the bike this year at the cost of neglecting running a bit.

I STILL don't feel like I have pulled off a good HIM. In fact, I'm going to say that doing an HIM is HARDER than an IM.

I need to find a flat fast course, and show my metal there... I know I could compete.