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 Swim
Comments: So, I, like many of you, was pushed off the pier and almost landed on some guy - and the guy behind me almost hit me... luckily we had both spoke w each other prior to get out of each others way. Water temp was perfect for me, and mild current was of no big effect. I felt very relaxed in the water. Took it easy because I knew Id likely have some difficulty with the bike and anticipated headwind as well as the run over the bridge 8 times. What would you do differently?: Nothing really. Continue to train to improve my swim, but overall felt really good, not rushed, and was very comfortable  Transition 1
Comments: Coming off the swim I was actually able to make it up the stairs without falling and was able to jog to transition. Really felt comfortable. Took my time getting ready for the bike. Double checked my gear and off I went. What would you do differently?: nothing  Bike
Comments: I tried to keep things in zone 2 for the first 30-40 miles. The first half was comfortable with respect to the wind, but I found I had to keep vigil with the roads, turns, potholes, sewers, cars, other bikes, spectators, cones, people walking in the bike lane, tree branches, gravel... so I was uncomfortable staying in aero position until well out of miami and past the first aid station. I was bummed when I wanted to refill water at mile 30 and there was just an over-ended table and a guy sitting out by it with NOTHING. Of course, with all the backed up traffic there was no way they were gonna get supplies down there. So then I started to ration my water as I had no idea what to expect at the aid station at mi 45. I wasnt a big fan of the headwind on 248th, but, I reminded myself it was better than the Miami Man winds last year. And... the re-paved asphalt around there was really hot (radiating). Anyway, had to fight with some winds on the way back and by the time we came through coconut grove - a highight for me - i was too ready to get off the bike to really enjoy it. I was thankful they had water at mi 45, even if i had to get off the bike to fill up my bottle in the big gatorade cooler. I took gels (accelerade) every half hr and electrolytes every hour. sipped on a 4 hr bottle of perpetuum What would you do differently?: Continue to train on windy days and hot days! Transition 2
Comments: Good transition for me. Walked the bike in. Took my time getting ready for the run. Saw Dennis, Kim and Mary. Grabbed some more gels. Ok, so, I had to pee at this point (well, actually about half way through the bike), but the portapotties were so far out of the way from me I figured i'd go on one of the many portapotties on the run course. No prob. I am not blessed with the ability to pee and bike or pee and run. What would you do differently?: Pee!  Run
Comments: The run started out ok. I already knew I would have a hard time going over the bridge 8 times with the heat. Having trained in FL, I know my body's heat limits, and I was there already. I ran the first mile out of transition, but had to do a fast walk up the bridge. Hit the aid station to pee.....no porta potty. No prob, ill hit the next one. By the way - aid stations - mad houses. People from both sides cramming for water as it was sooooo hot. They couldnt fill the cups fast enough. And, unless I missed the gels and bananas and oranges, all I saw was gatorade stuff and water...and some coke and juice somewhere...and powerbars (like Im gonna be able to chew on a hunk of that while running in the heat). Luckily I had 6 gels crammed in various pockets to eat. So I finally realized I was going to have to run 6.5 mi without a pee stop. I was contemplating just peeing on myself (gross I know), but again, my parts just don't want to do that. So I made it back to transition and to a loooooooong awaited pee stop. I felt SOOOO much better. I did the second half of the run feeling better in the tummy, and all around had a more positive attitude - and still had to shuffle/walk up the bridge. The run for me was a good test for heat endurance. Many athletes walking, stopping, sitting down. One ambulance on the run with a cramped athelete...poor guy. So, came around the final turn through bayside...some guy was cheering - "if this is your last lap, you have 800 meters to go...pain is temporary" I thought - exactly how temporary is temporary - Ive been kind of crampy, had to pee at times, etc. Anyway, saw the finish chute... saw the red carpet... was like YEAH! What would you do differently?: Just get better. Post race
Warm down: Got my medal, fought for my shirt, then found my wife and friends and warmed down with a famosa beer and some cuban food and cafe.... ahh....probably the best part of miami for me. Then, to the hotel, shower, rest, then to bayside for dinner with kim before staying another night at the IC hotel What limited your ability to perform faster: Overall endurance. I did the best I could do for the training I did. My body performed with all it could. I left it all on the course. Event comments: As dissapointing as some of the race issues were, overall, I came there determined to finish. For me, all I can control is what is within me. The rest is all part of the race and what makes each race unique. Whether I complain about aid stations, bathrooms, bike racks, water supplies, weather, waves, wind, rain, whatever..... the race is still on. I came to do the best I could and I left feeling satisfied that I had done just that. IFFFFFF some of these things can be corrected including run course layout, I think this race would be awesome. Id like to try and change the bike course to a little less-residential too. But, what am I, a race director? No thanks, Ill just compete. Last updated: 2009-11-16 12:00 AM
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United States
WTC/Paramount
80F / 27C
Sunny
Overall Rank = 1550/
Age Group = 30-34
Age Group Rank = 176/315
For all of you not from Miami (me included), let me first say that there is a phrase I learned while living there for 4 years that plays true to the events of the race..."Miami Time" - it seems as Miami has its own time that may or may not coincide with the true time of day or schedule of day and may be up to 1-2 or more hours off from the actual time. HAving said that, I continue...
I arrived with my race bud Dennis the day before to make the scramble to the Hyatt to pick up the race packet which I managed to skip the majority of the line AFTER waiting in it for 20 min to get my chip as I already has a USAT card. Then headed to the intercontinental to check in at the hotel. Then to the bike check in to find I had no rack yet, and was just told to lean it against the fence ad it would be racked when they were available - sometime after 9pm that night (Yikes - unsettling to the nerves to not see where my bike is gong to be). Then BACK to the Hyatt for the "Mandatory (but not really)" race meeting. Here I learned that there was going to be aid stations approx every mile on the run with portapotties, gels, water, gatorade and more! And three on the bike leg with the same. Perfect, because I'm not able to relieve myself when biking or running (only swimming - sorry for anyone that was near me - yuck, i know). So, then back to the transition to see if the bike was setup (set myself up for disappointment). Then to bayside for dinner and to the hotel to chill and get ready for the morning. Funny thing I remember seeing guys (on miami time of course) putting together theswim out on friday afternoon - nothing like planning hey guys?!) Oh what foreshadowing I should have seen between the bike rack and the stairs being built.
Woke up at 4 after a great night sleep. Bagel, PB, banana, and sipped on the heed. Went to transition, marked, then found my bike - which worked out well as it was right in the middle - perfect for transition area of that size. Got everything organized. Walked over to Matty Reeds area - No show.
Met up with my wife (Kim) and Mary, walked down to swim start - mob of people. Of course, Im the lucky age group that went last in front of the wetsuiters, so I had 45 min to chill.
No real warm up, not really able to. Couldnt leave transition without having to re-check in with a gigantic line. Couldnt really swim. Oh well.