Kinetic Half - Triathlon1/2 Ironman

Felt good on this swim. Just kept moving forward. I would try to draft, but I just dont know how to do that effectively. Maybe I just pick the wrong people. I ended up goosing some other lady in attempts then I just backed off. Into wind on long leg of swim felt like I was finally in my grove and could concentrate on my stroke and swimming and not just making it to the next marker. After last turn sawm straight into sun. Just kept on eye on other swimmers and moved in general direction of finish. When I got out of the water I thought "Holy cow that was fast!" Learned later that the swim may have been short, but whatever we all had the same advantage then.

Oh Also during the last leg of the swim I realized that I had left my bike in the big ring in a harder gear! Great!! Knew I was going to have to ix that in T1 before heading out. Oh well. Cant panic about it, just have to keep swimming and loose a few seconds later.

I know my speed isnt world class but I am confident in the water. No freakouts or moments of panic. I knew I could do the distance and I just kept moving forward to get it done.

Had weitsuit down to my hips by the time I got to my rack. Changed bike gear slipped on shoes and trotted through the gravel to the start of the hill. Really had no idea how long I was there. Thought it was going to be a lot slower then it was.

Have bike in proper gear before race!

I thought my time was a bit faster then this. But I was all messed up with my watch and chron time so I really had no idea.

Climbed the hill out of the park. Onto the road at mile three there was a slight decent and must have been a tailwind too because I clocked 31mph. Weeee This is going to be an interesting day if its mile 3 and im hitting this now. I knew some hills were just up ahead and that wouldnt last too long. I train in the wind and the apst few weeks have been extreme so this wind wasnt a surprise. Dont get me wrong it still wasnt fun, but I honestly didnt think about it all that much. Just had to keep moving forward. I was more focused on the hills! Something I dont train on! I was very conscious of using my gears. Something that in the past I havent made full use of. So I made sure to flip though them as needed. It was pretty crazy to go from a 28mph downhill to in a few seconds climbing at an 8-9mph pace!! So because of these extremes I really had no idea how hast I was going. I knew that my legs werent burning. I wasnt breathing hard, was able to banter to the guys I was passing, and leaving, on the second loop. I was having a good time.

Granted miles 30-45 were the toughest of the day. The wind was steadily picking up and debris was coating my eyes. I just couldnt blink enough. (yes I had sunglasses on!) Had to dodge large clumps of leaves that were falling (luckily I missed the tree that apparently fell).

Disappointing that by the time I got to the second loop, first h2o stop they were all out. The guy that I passed there stopped on the side of the road to pick up a bottle of water someone had tossed!!

I tried to stay on target for drinking and fuel and felt that I did a pretty good job of that. The first hour my stomach had a knot in it. Not sure if that was from taking in too much air on the swim or just general race nerves. So it was about 1:15 before I ate a few bites of the powerbar. Last half was good, had my elites and felt hydrated and fueled going into run.

My computer that has a little indicator to tell if you are about or below average pace went on in first half mile. Had no idea of cadence or anything. Just speed and milege.

Have a better idea of my pace. Have computer in working order. For my first HIM this was just a test to see what I could do. I guess I know I can push it a little more.... maybe... or maybe I stay easy on the bike so I can push more in the run...

Bike next to mine was a little pushed over into my space spent extra seconds trying to make room for mine. Grabbed everything, and made my way out.

Try to some how leave buffer space? Generally just move faster

Coming out of transition there was some weird little bit on gravel before coming back and snaking around the path to the shot steep hill that lead to the long slow climber. No flat prevented me from really getting up to speed. My bricks in training have been pretty fast and I was worried about going out too fast on this run. But this run was just uphill so I never felt like I could get in a rhythm. After mile 1 there was a slight decline but not enough to make up any time. Then around the bend after mile two there was another long slow climb. The only decent decent was in the woods at the end of the loops but even momentum from that was lost because of the sidewalk zigzagging at the end. Then there was more sigzagging past the finish line to repeat the loops.

Yes, past the finish line. Twice. Before actually getting to cross the finish line we were tortured with just passing by, almost tasting victory!! This was the worst part of the course!

It was fun to see people along the way and get to cheer for friends but I think I would have prefered an out and back.

So to sum up, I just shuffled along. felt well hydrated. Dumped plenty of water on me, ate ice cubes, put them under my hat, had some heed. Was refreshed by a wet towel that Don handed to me at the end of the second loop, (that he received as he finished!). Passed lots of people on my last lap that were walking. Proud of myself that I only walked through water stops. I knew that I I stopped to walk then it was over so I just kept moving along. At about mile 11 I looked at my watch and figured that I was about 22 or 25 minutes from my goal time of 6:30 so I had to not slow down if I was going to make that....


One of my funny moments of the day was coming past the second to last water stop (so mile 11.5 or so) as I ran up I shouted "Water" so the kid could have it ready. The boy turns to the table that has several cups and he rattle off a menu of options "water, heed, gus..." and I scream "WATER!!!" as I am now passing him. And a woman there says "get her the water!!"

I appreciate the volunteers and In my head I apologized for having a freak out there, but it was the heat and the race moment that overcame me!! I hope he comes to understand that!! And also when someone says they want water thats what they mean!

Train more on hilly courses. This just isnt possible where I live at the moment.
Try to pick up my knees more and just over all move faster.
Not knowing what to expect Im pleased with myself.

My realistic goal time was 2:15-2:20 and I was at 2:22. Not too bad

Ate ice cubes, chugged water. Chatted with Don and Shawn for bit before moving to food. They had been done for a while so they ate. I could only manage a few bites of pasta. But the insides of oreos and mike and ikes (which I have never had before) never tasted so good.


Uncertainty of my bodies capabilities.


This was my first HIM and just a prep race for Eagleman. Had a goal time of 6:30 and came in right at 6:30. Im pleased as punch!

It was a really fun day!
Challenging course but nothing that I couldn't handle.

I knew I could do all the parts and I knew the speed that I could do them as stand alone events but I didn't know what that would look like all together. I raced pretty conservatively today. Im glad that I did this race so I am more mentally prepared for eagleman.

Looking forward to Eagleman where the course will be flat and I will have one less thing to think about w/the absence of hills. (although hills did make the course interesting and gave me something to think about)