Chisago Lakes Triathlon Half Iron - Triathlon1/2 Ironman

I thought the swim went well although my time does not reflect. I was about 5 min slower than last year so I'm guessing the distances between the 2 years is off.

Decent T1. +37 sec from last year. 6th in AG +59 from 1st in AG.

I had decided not to go too fast in my transitions. Take my time, make sure I had everything and go. No dinking around but oin a longer race I did not want to forget something.

Good bike, I watched my HR and tried to not let it get too high. Kept my HR in target zone. Drank both bottles of Gatorade and most of water. Energy bar about mile 14 and 44. Gel around mile 30.

Took a little time to make sure I had everything for the run. Garmin, hat, race belt, gels, endurolytes, etc. My thighs started to cramp but never knotted up. I was fine at start of run.

14th in AG +51. Maybe I went a little too slow in T cause I was quite a bit slower than leaders and I'm usually fast but I followed my plan of not rushing. Probably need to shoot for a happy medium.

Started out OK, made sure I wasn't going too fast like last year. Pretty good thru mile 8, not at the 7:45 pace I wanted but still sub 8 by about 10 sec. Started cramping in left calf and right groin. I started to slow down as I couldn't stride very far, the marathon shuffle became my mode. In the last few miles I had to stop and stretch some and walk for a bit. This is the first time I ever had to walk in a tri. My energy levels were OK, my HR was Ok, I wasn't overly hot....I just couldn't run. I woulod not call this a bonk because my nutrition was OK, this was my body not able to respond to the demands I was asking of it. I was a little over 7 minutes slower than a 8:05 pace the last 3 miles which cost me a sub 5:00 finish.

My Garmin had distance at 12.58, my pace at 8:27.

I was hydrated, I had taken plenty of fluids, not sure why I had the cramping issue. I pushed the bike hard but felt trained to do that kind of effort. My bike fitness was way better than last year, my run fitness a little less.

I went to medical, they gave me gatorade, had me stretch. Someone from the massage place came over and worked on my right calf. My left had some cramping towards the end but the right was the worst. I continued to drink and got some food. Walked some.


Cramping issues on the run.


Disappointed I could not finish the run the way I wanted to. I definitely had a shot at 3rd but 1st and 2nd in AG were both at 4:44. Very happy with my bike. I had an OK time but not what I was hoping for. I felt with work on bike I could break 5:00 again this year. Shit happens.

Barb had a tough swim but great bike and not so good run. Scott was happy with his times.

We went out for burgers and beer with Joe Ryan post race and had a good time.