Ironman Texas - Triathlon


View Member's Race Log View other race reports
The Woodlands, Texas
United States
WTC & Memorial Hermann Hospital
85F / 29C
Overcast
Total Time = 12h 26m 12s
Overall Rank = 629/1998
Age Group = M40-44
Age Group Rank = 117/384
Pre-race routine:

I live in the area, so I was pretty casual about pre-race prep. Much more so than other IM races that I've traveled for. Waited til the last minute to pull stuff together for bag checks and race morning gear. I did go to the dinner on Thursday night (enjoyed the Mike Riley spiel) and the practice swim on Friday.
Event warmup:

Got to transition late and prepped the bike. Just got started as they were trying to get everyone cleared out and moving to the swim start. All I had to do was pump up tires and fill my water bottle. Realized on the way over that I forgot my timing chip. So the wife went home to find it and I walked over to North Shore Park. I didn't realize until she left that she was carrying the backpack with my wet suit, cap, and goggles. When I realized that, I started getting a little nervous.

Body marking at the park was smooth. Finally found my wife; she took a quick look around the house but couldn't find the chip and thought she better head back over with the rest of my gear. Took about 10-minutes of asking every official I could find to get to someone who knew where to go to get a replacement chip. I think I might have had the highest heart rate of the whole day during this time period. Got the replacement chip, put on the suit, and waited in the line to get in the water. Ended up in the water about 5-minutes before the gun went off.
Swim
  • 1h 35m 37s
  • 4224 yards
  • 02m 16s / 100 yards
Comments:

For a BOP tswimmer like me, this was a brutal experience. The first third of the swim, I don't think I went more than 30-seconds without being hit, kicked, or swam over. The worst part of the day was a *^$* breast stroker who kicked me right in the privates. AARGH! At one point I noticed another guy stop swimming and just SCREAM in frustration. For me, there was huge amounts of contact until the first turn bouy, and through the last section through the canal. I did notice people walking some in the canal, and at one point I was pretty close to the wall and my hand hit the sandy bottom. Water in Lake Woodlands is best described as "murkey". I'd describe visability at 1-foot, so you really can't see anyone around you until your on top of each other. Swim exit was great, very well built and easy to use with no delays.
What would you do differently?:

I think I may have started a little further over, further away from the park. So many of the weak swimmers want to stick by the shore that it may have been a little less crowded in the back of the pack closer to the middle. I wore a sleeveless wet suit, and was VERY glad I did. I had no overheating issues, and I think I would have been much more prone to panic attacks during the full contact swim without the suit. One of the things that makes me reluctant to sign up for this race again is the thought of possibly having to do this swim without the wetsuit.

Also, keeping up with my gear would certainly reduce my pre-race anxiety level.
Transition 1
  • 05m 59s
Comments:

Wet suit "peelers" were great. Changing tents were extremely hot and muggy. Lots of people were just using the ground in front of the test. I went in and grabbed a chair. My T1 consisted of garmin and HR strap, race belt, shirt, helmet, and shoes. I also put two gel flasks into my shirt back pockets.
What would you do differently?:

Nothing. Smooth transition.
Bike
  • 5h 48m 48s
  • 112 miles
  • 19.27 mile/hr
Comments:

Overall, a good ride for me. But I had issues. My stomach started to knot / cramp up about 10-minutes into the ride. It was annoying and uncomfortable, but I still seemed to process fluids and gels. I started the bike with an aero bottle full of water. Picked up either water or Perform at each aid station, which worked out great, and took a gel every 30-minutes. The aero bottle and one cage was an ideal set-up.

About 20-miles into the ride, I could feel that the cleat on my right shoe was moving. I have speedplay pedals and didn't bother to check either of my shoes before the race (big mistake). I saw a SAG scooter just North of Montgomery, and pulled over to ask to use a screw driver. When I unclipped, my cleat fell completely off the shoe. The four small screws that connect the cleat to the adapter plate were all gone. The SAG person looked in their bin, but couldn't find any replacements, so I borrowed a screw driver and took two screws out of my left shoe and reassembled the right cleat with those. After getting everything as tight as I could, I hopped back on the bike and took off. Not ideal, but both shoes held together to get me back to T2. I figure the stop cost me about 5-minutes.

Saw someone take a spill at the Mile 50 aid station before Richards. The person was behind me, so I didn't see what they did, but it didn't look good.

Tried to keep HR in the low 140's, which worked very well. I felt fresh and strong for the whole ride. I did notice the wind when we made the turn to head back South, but it wasn't nearly as bad as most of the weekend rides have been this Spring. I think we were very lucky to have great race weather.

I felt like I spent most of the ride working my way up through the field. It was pretty interesting to watch the officials, and some of the packs. I did see a few people who had obviously found a wheel to grab, but no one seemed to get any penalties. I don't think I saw anyone serving time in the penalty box.

My goal was to go under 6-hours. I ended up under 5:49, with the cleat stop and one stop to pee. The Garmin recorded my average moving speed as 19.8, whihc I was very pleased with.
What would you do differently?:

Over the next year, I'm going to move to a more aero postion on the bike in an attempt to get a little more speed. Other than the obvious maintenance checks, I think was a good ride for me. With only a little more work, I should be well over 20-mph on this course (depending on the wind).
Transition 2
  • 04m 49s
Comments:

Nothing fancy. Bike handler took my bike and helmet. I plopped down outside the tent. Took off bike shoes, put on socks, run shoes, cap and took off.
What would you do differently?:

Forgot to take gel flask out of my shirt pocket which was a little annoying.
Run
  • 4h 51m 1s
  • 26.2 miles
  • 11m 07s  min/mile
Comments:

I was hoping to run 4:30, so ws a little disappointed in this time. Started slow and walked aid stations, but got slower and slower and the first and second laps went by. My stomach cramp from the bike was still with me. A little before the end of the second lap, I switched from Perform to Water, and started a gel every 20-30 minutes. This seemed to perk my up, the day-long cramp disappeared, and my pace increased steadily on the third lap. Not sure if it was the change to water or if things had started to cool off. I got passed by the top 5 F Pros on my first lap (they must have been on their third), which ws kind of neat. Overall, I thought the course was great, the volunteers were fantastic, and the crowd support bordered on overwhelming.
What would you do differently?:

No sure.....had no nutrition issues in training with Perform, so I really don't know if that was a problem for me or not. Bike seemed easy and relaxed, so I don't think that was a problem. Now, three days after the race, I've had very little stiffness or soreness, so I certainly didn't stress the muscles too much on this run. I slacked off on long runs towards the end of my program compared to Silverman last fall. For me, I think more and longer long runs would have paid off.
Post race
Warm down:

Got the shirt / medal / hat and hung out and Market Street for a while, then collected gear and headed for the house. Slept pretty good Saturday night.

What limited your ability to perform faster:

Not sure......this was over an hour faster than my IM PR time, but I can see that I have potential to go at least an hour faster on a course like this. With some work, I should be able to shave at least 15-minutes off the swim, 15-minutes off the bike, and probably 45-minutes off the run. Losig 10-15 lbs would certainly help a lot.

Event comments:

Great race. Course is "easy", but race could be difficult based on heat, humidity, and wind.




Last updated: 2010-07-12 12:00 AM
Swimming
01:35:37 | 4224 yards | 02m 16s / 100yards
Age Group: 300/384
Overall: 1579/1998
Performance: Good
Suit: Xterra Sleveless
Course: The course is split into three "legs". Leg #1 is down the lake. Leg #2 is up the lake, and Leg #3 is down the canal to the transition area at Town Green Park.
Start type: Deep Water Plus: Shot
Water temp: 78F / 26C Current: Low
200M Perf. Below average Remainder: Average
Breathing: Good Drafting: Bad
Waves: Navigation: Good
Rounding:
T1
Time: 05:59
Performance: Good
Cap removal: Good Helmet on/
Suit off:
Wetsuit stuck? Run with bike:
Jump on bike:
Getting up to speed:
Biking
05:48:48 | 112 miles | 19.27 mile/hr
Age Group: 148/384
Overall: 687/1998
Performance: Good
Wind: Some
Course: Single loop course through slightly rolling countryside, mostly pasture and forest. My Garmin recored 2200' of climb. No steep or long hills, but there's not a lot of shade and portions can be windy.
Road: Smooth Dry Cadence:
Turns: Cornering:
Gear changes: Hills:
Race pace: Comfortable Drinks: Just right
T2
Time: 04:49
Overall: Good
Riding w/ feet on shoes
Jumping off bike
Running with bike
Racking bike
Shoe and helmet removal
Running
04:51:01 | 26.2 miles | 11m 07s  min/mile
Age Group: 97/384
Overall: 580/1998
Performance: Below average
Course: Three loop course through commercial and residential areas of The Woodlands.
Keeping cool Average Drinking Just right
Post race
Weight change: %
Overall: Good
Mental exertion [1-5] 4
Physical exertion [1-5] 3
Good race? Yes
Evaluation
Course challenge Just right
Organized? Yes
Events on-time? Yes
Lots of volunteers? Yes
Plenty of drinks? Yes
Post race activities: Below average
Race evaluation [1-5] 4