Chesapeakeman Ultra Distance Triathlon - Aquabike

Felt smooth, good stroking. New wetsuit was awesome, definitely a better fit than my last rental, which was one-half size too big. I checked my time after finishing the first lap and it was 34 minutes according to swim watch, faster than my HIM FLA, which pumped me up, especially since I felt like I was taking it at RPE 3. The second lap was about 4 mins slower, on track with my HIM pace. I think second lap was slower mainly due to poor sighting, but someone mentioned coming in was tougher than going out, so not sure if tide changes had an impact too.

I started to hear a strange noise on second lap, thought I might be turning into aquaman and communicating with the sea creatures, but then I noticed the waverunner, thought wow, he kind of gets close, kept swimming, then I looked up and he was waving me back towards the bouy, I was zigzagging more on the second lap. No jellyfish per se, they had apparently been a problem in past races, everyone asked and talked about it but I didn't hear of any issues or experienced any. I think I might have felt one on a stroke, but who knows what it was.

Better sighting. Not get a wetsuit hickey.

No rush obviously, but that was enough time to have a picnic with Warren, geez. Great help from volunteers, he helped take off my wetsuit and stuffed my bike jersey pockets with all my GU's and a probar, said I was really prepared.

Nothing really, plan was for a training day, so I took my good ole time in transition.

Before leaving for the event, I took my bike for a quick spin around the cul-de-sac, my gears wouldn't change from large to small chainring (hmmm). I didn't have anytime, nor knowledge to do anything at that point, so I packed up and thought I would see if the bike specialist at the race would take a look at it. I got to bike check in and asked the bike guy to look at it, he did, and said the gear shifter was broken and needed a new part, but said I would probably be ok with the big chainring on this race. Looking back, I'm not sure why I didn't ask him if he had the parts to fix it, he said it was an $80 part.

Took a piss break coming out of T1, good sign I was hydrated to start my day. First 56 miles was going pretty good other than the winds slowing me down, but averaged 15.2 mph, right in middle of 14-16 mph target pace. I really wanted to negative split though. I finally came to the bike special needs, but didn't stop, I was loaded still with my gels and everything that I had in the bag, so I kept going. I did get a nice cold, but small, water from volunteer as I passed special needs, that was sooooo goood. I still felt really good at this point, probably was around mile 66 at that point. I started to try and keep my pace above 15.2 for a negative split, which still seemed possible, at least for another 10-20 miles. After passing the special needs and getting on loop 2, I told myself, the "race" starts here, little did I know what that meant.

My biggest complaint was water and gatorade was really warm at the aid stations, but this may be normal and I just need to get used to this. If so, I need to start training with warm fluids I guess. I hope the IM CDA has cold drinks, if nothing else it mentally got to me. My nutrition plan was untested, but again, that is why this race was considered a catered training day for me. I was planning a gel every 45 minutes, 16-20 oz gatorade, water as needed, nibble on probar, take in any food they give me on course. Endurolytes (1-2) every hour, I took two per hour until I couldn't take anything more. This became alot to keep track of, but I think I stayed fairly on track through mile 70. Then I dropped my water bottle, but kept going as I had a full gatorade and the aid stations were only 10 miles apart which was nice. Probably should have stopped and picked it up.

The day was getting very hot at this point and I was starting to feel like I didn't/couldn't take anymore piss warm gatorade, nor gels, nor probar, which I only had a couple bites out of. I did eat a banana they gave me on the course midway or so. I just sipped water a little and slowed my pace.

I told myself, just make it to 2pm and go from there, and 2pm eventually rolled by. Then I said just make it to 3 pm, I was tracking pretty good, but starting to struggle with energy big time at this point. As I passed the last aid station, I overheard the radio and he said, if that is the last rider then you can pack it in. I thought, what I am dead f#@king last, I didn't know that!!! Then I started coming up with all kinds of excuses why I was last, just a training day, who cares, you know Matt, there are others that DNF'd, blah, blah, blah. But, then I got passed by a couple riders in last 15 miles, so I didn't know what was up with that. Then I started to pump myself up once I hit 90 miles on my way to 100. My longest ride was 82 miles a few weeks ago. I celebrated my first century by myself out in the marshes of Blackwater Wildlife Refuge and race over the 100 mile marker/garmin. Then came the real test. Then I just wanted to get 2 more miles, so I could do the last 10 mile count-down, thinking that would get me through this. I started to get leg cramps every mile for the last 10 miles and had to slow down and try to spin, but I was in my large chainring, so no lower gears, this too could have made a difference. My longer training rides I did all in the small chainring. Mile by mile I felt like giving up, but knew I could not do that. Finally, the course was 3/4 mile short according to garmin and I loved pulling in to the finish! I sat at the finish taking in some cold water and a couple more crossed the finish line for the AquaVelo, so I wasn't last after all yeah! LOL!!

More longer training rides and more nutrition training. Maybe force myselft to take more nutrition at the end, I kind of gave up, but then again, I didn't get sick either.

None.


Heat/humidity. Longer training rides and nutrition training. I was behind in my training for 6 weeks at the start due to a hip flexor strain. Had to play catch up and didn't get all my long training rides in.


Great race, would like cold drinks at aid stations, but that may be normal for these events. I didn't take any pizza afterwords, didn't feel like anything just yet.