Ironman Texas - Triathlon

Well, I guess there's nothing you can do to prepare yourself for 2000+ swimming out simultaneously other than doing it. I was in the water early and was mildly concerned that I might burn myself down treading water but I remained remarkably calm and with a couple of minutes to go, drifted into what I hoped would be a good swim lane. I was wrong, there were no swim lanes, just a mass of humanity surging ahead at the gun. I just kind of moved along with the pack and had the sensation that I could probably not swim at all and still be sucked along with everyone else. I did manage to do some actual swimming at some point and veered off course a bit but mostly stayed in a decent line. I started to get a headache around the first bouy and thought it was my goggles. I stopped a couple of times and finally loosened them a bit but it didn't help. Eventually, I flipped my cap up on my forehead and that did it. By the time I figured all that out, I was headed up the waterway and things bottled up again. I managed to work my way through to the finish and I was out!

Not much, I need to do more open water swimming and work on sighting, but overall, I kept my composure and never got stressed out and was in good shape coming out of the water. I'm happy with that.

I grabbed my bag and stuck my head into the changing sauna/tent and immediately back out. No need for that as I was not changing anything, just grabbing a shirt. So, i dumped the bag on the ground and got the bike stuff on, hit the porta-can and headed out through the sunscreen appliers to the bike and out the gate with a smile on my face.

I don't know how I spent 9 minutes in there, but I guess I did. I suppose I should move with a little more urgency.

The bike went about as well as I could have hoped. Considering the wind and sometimes scorching conditions we have had during training, I was mentally prepared to go to the small ring and spin for 7 hours and try to stay cool. With the drizzle and overcast early and favorable winds, this ride was a joy! I stuck with my nutrition plan and grabbed a Perform and a water at each aide station and kept myself hydrated. I didn't stop at special needs as it seemed I had everything I needed. I kept myself cool with a water splash every 7-8 miles.

I should have carried more salt. I probably need to double the amount I took so I don't have the cramping that I experienced early on in the run. Hydration and food intakes were spot on.

Once again, sleepwalked through another 9 minute transition. Need to get my butt in gear here and pick up a few easy minutes.

Move it!

Man, things were going so well to start. Found a nice easy jogging pace and felt like I was in good shape to gradually increase the pace through the run. By mile 8 I had to walk through the aide stations to make sure I was getting enough fluids in me and take the time to stuff some icy sponges in my clothes. Around mile 11 I experienced some cramps in my calves and settled into a run/walk mode for a while. Never could shake the cramps despite grabbing more salt from the SN bag the second time through and eating some of the pretzels, broth and chips. Saw a lady doing some sort of powerwalk and noticed that she was putting distance between me and the others who were doing the run/walk thing. So, I decided to try the "old man" version of the powerwalk and managed to crank out some awesome 13-14 minute miles that way. I hung with that all the way into the chute where I managed to pick my feet up long enough to stagger through with a mild jog.

I rarely get cramps but when they hit, they are downright debilitating. I think I was a little scared that I wouldn't be able to continue if a full-fledged bout set in, so I backed it down and found something that worked on that day. I need to get my salt early and often and a lot of it so this doesn't happen again.

My buddy Spence caught me through the finish line and directed me over to the massage area. Grabbed up the bike and gear and headed to the shower.


Salt!


Great race for a first-time event. The venue was everything I could have hoped for in my first IM and the volunteers were awesome!