Great Illini Challenge - Triathlon1/2 Ironman

Felt fine on the swim - didn't go really hard as usual but navigation sucked. Don't know if it was the bum foot or not being used to swimming in the wetsuit but I kept veering to the left and straying very wide on the course. I kept trying to get back into the thick of it and do some drafting but couldn't seem to hold a good line. I would guess I swam an extra 100 yds or more.

Little more practice with wetsuit possibly. First race in my wetsuit and I felt fine in it. Just didn't swim straight.

Had to really baby the run up to T1 due to foot. Took my good ole time and actually exited transition, passed the mount line and set my bike on the side of the road to put my socks on with dry pavement under me. I didn't want 3 hours in wet socks. Only reason I even put them on for the bike was a bad foot. Otherwise I would have been in and out under 1 minute.

Nothing

Albeit very windy, I was fine on the bike. 15 - 20mph sustained winds made the ride more challenging than expected. Foot pain was very minimal and although I knew I wasn't going to set any land speed records today I rode well within my means but still came in at an 18.2 avg. Considering the wind I was happy. I blew thru my 3 hour supply of Perpetuem the first half of the ride and was really hungry. At the turn-around on the second lap I stopped for a banana, gels and water. Mmmmm! My friend Dan caught up to me there also. Pretty cool seeing him out there. Anyway, took advantage of the last 6 miles of tailwind and grabbed a higher gear on the final return leg. I felt fairly good coming off the bike and was fairly certain I left enough on the table to manage the run.

Nothing

Another very slow transition but I spent some time taking in some more nutrition and making sure my foot was snugged into my shoe properly for the run. Took a gel, and some endurolytes and capped it off with 4 ibuprofen.

Nothing

Begin the suffer fest. At 1/2 mile in - my back got so tight had to stop and stretch. (Am I going to make 13 miles?) At the 1 mile marker I stopped again with my back so tight it was hard to breathe. 1 1/2 miles in - stopped to stretch again. By now just about ready to turn around and DNF the race. The foot wasn't the cause. The absence of my minimal shoes was. I hadn't really ran in regular running shoes in 11 months and everything was different. I decided to keep going and made it to 2 miles. Stopped once again to stretch and decided at that point I would at least complete half of the run so I continued. I really didn't want to drive home knowing I DNF'd my last race of the season. This time I made it a full mile before having to stretch again. The foot hurt but the lower back was as tight as a board and the main cause of my discomfort. Made it to the turn-around and got me another half banana and some water and a gel (I was just starving - saw Dan out there also - looking strong - he was well ahead of me by now) and headed out again. Made it to about mile 5 and was starting to realize I could make the whole run if I was careful with the foot and just tried to stay relaxed in those horrible $100 running shoes that felt like bricks on my feet. Coming up on mile 6 a gent came by me wearing vibram five fingers minimal shoes. We had both come up on the aid station together and walked thru it taking some water. As we headed back out I ran up next to him (thinking to myself - I'd pay him at least $500 for those shoes about now) and started up a conversation about minimal shoes. Mike would ultimately help me survive that run. Interestingly enough, we both ran stride for stride and breath for breath the duration of that run. We walked the aid stations together and talked when we had the energy to. And finally we finished together. It was his first half and he had trained just a couple months for it. Impressive. Anyway - we crossed the line at the 6:19ish range which actually surprised me as I thought I'd be closer to the 7 hour mark. The only time reference I had was at the water exit at 37 minutes. The run was ridiculously difficult for me because of the sudden change to running shoes. I had eaten at least 3 bananas, 3 gels and some Heed. I was still starving. BTW - Don't ever get Hammer Espresso gels. They are horrible! Nonetheless, as soon as the foot heals I'll be right back to my minimals. Call me hard headed!

Nothing - My running partner was a blessing and seeing Dan out there cruising was very inspiring

Walked it out and just a couple minutes of stretching. Enjoyed some pizza and more bananas.


After Muncie I was really hurting but I couldn't push this race due to the foot so I felt fairly good after-wards. The back was still pretty tight but I still had some energy.


I really liked the race and the courses. If it was really hot this course could be a bear as there is simply no shade to be had on the bike or run. But it's flat and fast. I'd go back and do it again next year but Ironman Louisville will be on my agenda. Perhaps the following year.