White Lake Half II - Triathlon1/2 Ironman

had a good swim. I was slow but steady. I used a wetsuit even though they said it was not going to be wetsuit legal. They said it was ok to use as long as the water wasn't 83 degrees. Made sure to site every minute or two. Once or twice I was bumped by another swimmer, nothing major. I did feel someone slapping me in the foot several times, so I figure someone was drafting with me. Poor guy, he could have found someone a whole lot faster to draft off.

just swim faster. Maybe not use the wetsuit.

What the helk? How was it a 4 minute T1? I ran to my bike and got out of my wetsuit easily (did the standing up thing). I put on the oakleys and helmet. I then brushed off my feet (I had little tiny branches from the tree next to me all over). Put on my socks and bike shoes and grabbed my bike. Then my water bottle fell out, twice. Ran the 25 feet to the bike exit.

I better stick to traditional water bottles and forget the throw-a-way versions.

exited left, then another left, all the way there were these divots in the road that jolted the entire bike. I passed several water bottles and GU flasks that must have fell off bikes. Right on 41, was a smoother ride, wind to the back. Made right on 210. The wind was a crosswind thst didnt seem to slow me down. I felt strong and hammered my entry level Trek road bike. I passed alot of folks and felt good. I drank all my aerobottle infinit and poured my throw-a-way bottle of infinit in it. Passed a water station and dumped my empty and grabbed a full. Passed the little store and knew I was about half way home. Rode all the way to 53 with crosswinds. Right turn on 53 and watched as I slowed down. Headwind. I was being passed by the disk wheel boys and girls. Made a right on Overlyon rd and had good tail wind. At the dead end I turned around and my tailwind was now a headwind. Right turn on 53 to the finish. About a half mile from the finish I pulled my feet out of my shoes and rode with feet on shoes. Did a safe dismount and ran to the transition area, about 25 feet to my spot. That was the fourth time I rode this route, the other three in training. This was by far a better ride than those other three training rides.

quit screwing around with the water bottles!!

Racked bike and took off helmet. Put on running shoes and took off. Had to stop to pee in Transition area, well, I did use the port a jon.

pee on the bike. ok Im kidding about that one.

First of all it was over 90 degrees. I started off strong. After a mile or so I realized my garmin was not running. Somehow I stopped it. Now all I used it for was to monitor my heart rate and watch my pace. I ran the first half with ease. I said with ease but should say the first half was "uneventful". Every water station had people holding out cups of water that I grabbed on the fly. They also held out wet towels. Those went on my head and neck. I tried to cool down as much as possible. At mile 7 I had to start grabbing my own water. I started to feel fatigue at about mile 9. I thought at that point I would run to each aid station and grab a couple waters and walk away. I would walk until the waters were consumed then run again. The heat beat down on me and I noticed my pace soar to almost 13 minutes per mile. Miles 11 and 12 had a mixture of run and S-L-O-W-E-R run, and I mean slow. I was able to continue running to the end. Just like that the event that I trained for 5 months for was over.

make sure I am one with my Garmin. I would not stop running for anything.

Lets see. I drank a couple cold bottles of water and had a couple orange wedges. I started to feel horrible. I was about to head back out to look for my girlfriend when she came running in, SMILING. We watched the others in our group finish. I was feeling very bad but ate a hot dog and had a sandwich. Somehow I felt better. We jumped in the lake and that felt great. I was feeling good again.


93 degree weather was a new record. Of course it was on my race day.


And just like that the race we trained for for 5 months was over.