Ironman Racine 70.3 - Triathlon1/2 Ironman

Time approximate; no chip split for swim but watch said 38 as I was hitting beach so thats what I am going with. Was real surprised and pleased with result. Lake was freezing at first and actually got colder as we got out to first turn. Fell into a decent groove and but for one time didnt veer too far off course. Waves were not bad at all. Real pleased, nice and steady, easy pace.

Nothing

Approx. no splt. Includes rather long walk from water to T1 and stopping to take off wetsuit.

I feel kinda lame walking from water to bike when everyone else is running like hell. But its MY race and why waste anything?

Not a lot of hills and most were within first 10-15 miles. Plan was to go easy, try to hang around 19mph. Soon as got on bike, cateye crapped out. Had no speed cadence miles etc. so went by feel. Tried to stay just north of this hurts a little. Got passed by a lot of ppl, passed some others. Was HOT, kept trying to hydrate, but at around mile 45 could already feel it starting in quads and hamstrings. Started with 2 bottles gatorade, then at each of three water stops would take one gatorade and 2 waters. Ate I think 3 or 4 gels on ride. There were two sections, south? into pretty decent headwind. GIANT storm rolled in during last couple miles. Huge raindrops, 20, 30 mph headwind into transition area. Rain really started when I was just getting to transition and was worried about wiping out on the down hill into bike in. Made it, stopped without incident, then uncliped and got off, and OUCH.

SALT. Gotta figure this dehydration thing out. Drank a ton, in total 2 bottles gatorade, 3 small bottles of the powergel stuff; six small water. Was soooo hot and totally in sun most of way. Try salt next time

Got off bike and WHAM, hamstrings totaly tight. Both of them, to where it was painful to walk even. Plus torrential rain--like HUGE and with very high winds. Whole area was soaked. I left my shoes inside backpack to stay dry, but even trying to put them on, they got totally soaked. Couldnt reach feet, had to sit down in puddle to change shoes. So hard to stand back up. Was VERY worried about run. Eventually got up and started walking out. Each step sucked, hamstrings SO tight. NEVER this tight before, not in any bricks or even at Bigfoot. Between pain in legs and torrential rains, was THIS close to bailing out. Stashed a water bottle in backpack to carry first mile or so to rehydrate. Took it and limped away.

Had to walk better part of first mile, mile and half. Hamstrings so tight each step hurt. Kept telling self drink water and walk till they loosen. If I couldnt at least run some by mile 2 I was going to bail out, it hurt that bad. Finally could start some running after 1st water stop. then it was run/walk. Kept drinking, going thru hoses people put out and trying to stay cool. Got sunny and REAL HOT after storm passed. By mile 3 legs felt ok--fatigued but tightness gone. Could run more than walk. Kept drinking as much water as possible, putting ice in hat, anything to stay cool. Started also eating oranges and bananas at aid stations. Hot bananas are just gross but potassium much needed. As miles went by, started getting stronger. Also started to have to go pee. Stopped 3 times in last 9 miles! All clear, so was doing something right. Ran into a friend aruond mile 9 who was walking having a hard time. Walked with him about 3/4 mile just BSing. Last three miles or so I ran hard. Was looking at watch, could stay short of 7hrs if I kept a good pace last three miles. Ended up doing it. Did mile 12 in 9 minutes. Last 1.1 had to be about 8:30. Was pretty lightheaded when crossed the line but very happy to finish and stick out that run. Could think but not too coherently. Before race I knew AngieF02 was passing out medals, wanted to say hello, but could not remember who I was looking for and couldnt bring myself to say "hey, arent you whatshername?" Sorry Angie, but thanks for the medal!

Nothing on this particular run. I didnt quit, which was a serious thought for couple miles. Think I nursed myself back OK along the way too. Need to work harder at not getting myself in trouble in first place. Hydrate better on bike? Stretch more? Salt? Need to figure out what happened at beginning of run and why hamsting pain was so debilitating.

Grabbed some water. Got bike and stuff and hit road. Suffered through close to 2 hours traffic to state line, almost exploded from having to pee, hit Brat Stop for some cheese curds then got home and back to baseball field by bottom of first to coach.


Genetics, inexeperience and stupidity. Heat, maybe, and definitely gravity on the few little hills there were.


Very well run I thought. Will do again.