LongHorn Ironman 70.3 Triathlon Festival - Triathlon1/2 Ironman

The swim was AWESOME and I was PUMPED!! I usually hang back and to the outside and that was the plan but people were moving too slow off the gun so I just dove in and started swimming. I stayed close to the markers and contact was moderate. Swam over some people and some swam over me. At the first turn some one was grabbing my ankle and pulling me back so I just kicked a little harder and made contact with something hard, I am thinking a head. After the first turn I got in some clear water and got into a rhythm that lasted for the remainder of the swim.
I was doing good until I got elbow deep in sea grass and started using extra effort to get through the grass. Other than that it was a my best swim yet. I came out the water and ran to the strippers, what a treat. Some very hot girl tells me to lay down so she can strip me...wow! There is a first for everything.

Lesson learned: Swim Faster. My goal was 35 min and I did 40 min and some secs.

This was my first experience with a split transition and it took a little time for me to pack my wetsuit in my bag and get out of there. I wanted a 2-3 min T1 and got a 8 min.

What would I change: Shove things in the bag and not pack it. I am a little anal...

This is where I started to fall apart. My plan was to go out steady for the first half and slowly poor it on starting at mile 30. I was shooting for a 2:45 to 3:00 ride. I was doing good on nutrition and hydration the first 25 miles or so until I hit the sharp right turn off of Monkey into the climb. I miss calculated my position and speed in the turn and ended up in the ditch on the other side of the street. I got back on the road and started up the hill. This is where I started to try and make up time on the bike. At mile 36 I got a flat and knew at this time that my goal was shot. I continued to try and make up time and in the process I became dehydrated and lacked some nutrition. When I got to T2 I was hurting really bad.



Lesson learned: Take my lost time and not try to make it up. Keep on my plan for bike, nutrition and hydration.

Not much I would do differently here. I was hurting bad and had a 12:00 min T2. I was dizzy, my head was hurting and I was doing all I could to stay standing. I thought I was going to have to call medical and DNF. I slammed down about 20 ounces of infinit Run formula ate a banana and did what I could to get off the ground and on my feet again. I used some Triathlon Mind Training techniques to calm myself down and get my head back in the game then I continued on to the run.

Not go so hard to make up lost time on the bike.

This was a disaster. I started to run out of T2 and ran pass the photographer then started walking. I slammed down another 16 oz of infinit and continued to walk through mile 1. I started running a 10:20 pace and that lasted for about .25 mile until I could not go any further. I started walking again and did so through mile 3. I worked on my mind training techniques and at about mile three I started to feel better. I started taking water and coke from the aid stations. Regular Coke has never tasted better. At about the finish of the first loop I started feeling really good and started to pick up my pace. On loop two and three I did a lot better but it was still a really sad run and walk over all. When I was on my last two miles all the way into the arena something clicked and I started hauling ass to the finish. I crossed the line and meet up with some friends and my family. I wanted a 2:15 run and ended up with a 3:00:13.

Lesson learned: Ride for the run...

Drank water then went to the hotel, showered and had dinner with family and friends.


Not following my race plan for exertion, nutrition and hydration.


This has been the best 70.3 I have been to. They did it right! Over all I had some rookie lessons learned but I was happy with my finish time considering.