Whirlpool Steelhead Triathlon 2006 - Triathlon1/2 Ironman

Waited 20 seconds for the wave to clear, then started at the back/right (I didn't want anyone jumping on me either.) Very quickly got into a decent rhythm. Tried to keep someone on either side of me. Never really paid much attention to whether I was passing people from other waves (I saw a few different colored caps). About half-way, I felt like my shoulders were starting to fatigue, but nothing significant. All of a sudden, we got to the orange (last) bouy and it was time to head in!

I'm still not much for drafting and I was anywhere between 10 and 75 feet away from the bouys during the swim.

All in all, this was a great swim. (Time aided by some current.)

T1 included about 600 yards running up the beach and into the transition area. Took a little time to wipe the sand off my feet. Shoes on, pulled my jersey on (before the helmet this time), and snapped my helmet. Picked up my packed of nutrition that fell out of my jersey pocket. Put on my sunglasses while walking out of transition (lots of traffic, so I didn't run).

Probably should have hit the porta john.

Given the forecast, my plan was to hammer the bike as long as possible, 'cause I knew I'd fade on the run. Spent the first 10 miles jockeying with 3-4 other riders, passing them up hills, then getting passed a minute later. Somewhere around 10 miles, they didn't pass me again. Did the same with another 2-3 riders pretty much each 10 miles. Most of the people who passed me for good, just blasted past me like I was standing still. About mile 45, I started seeing spare tubes laying all over the course.

Nutrition: Ate an energy bar about 30 minutes into the ride, drank a bottle of gatorade by the second aid station (about 22 miles). Picked up another gatorade. Ate a luna bar about 90 minutes into the ride. Drank the second gatorade over the last half.

I noticed sweat dripping at about 40 miles (10 AM), so most of the ride was very comfortable.

Debated the entire ride whether to stop along the side of the road (didn't).

Really pleased with the ride. Took advantage of the weather to leave myself as much time as possible for the run.

Pretty heavy traffic, so I unclipped and stopped at the dismount line. (Didn't want to run across the hot asphalt barefooted.)

Racked the bike, doffed the helmet, wiped the rest of the sand off my feet and put on my socks and running shoes. Grabbed my race belt and hat and headed over to the porta john. (Definitely worth the extra seconds)

Nothing much. Transition area had to hold 1800 bikes, so it wasn't going to be super fast.

This was the ugly (not unexpected, even if I didn't hammer so hard on the bike). Realistically, I was figuring on 2:25 based on my pace on recent long runs.

Stopped in the chute coming out of T2 to give my sweetie a kiss (she really deserved it!)

Ran most of the first 5 miles, walking through the aid stations (every mile). After mile 5, I made a deal to run to the turnaround, then promptly welshed on it. Switched to a run 5/walk 1 which got me to mile 9, at which point I couldn't motivate myself to start that next 5 minute run. Crossed mile 10 at 5:30 and thought I could do a 30 minute 5K and still finish in 6 hours, but couldn't find the motivation to start running again. Walked until mile 12.6 and ran the last half mile.

Still happy to come across the finish line.

Probably had a water at 6 stations, gatorade at another 4-5. Grabbed a few grapes at one, and a cup of ice at another. Usually doused myself with some water and or ice.

Mentally, I just couldn't convince myself to run. Probably need to do more long runs (had some 9-12 mile runs) and definitely some long bricks.

Wanted to call it "BAD" but 12 1/2 minute miles probably aren't that much slower than my anticipated 11-11 1/2 minute pace.

I can rejoice that I'm healthy enough to compete in something like this.

Drank a water and an apple juice and a gatorade. Walked out into the now-cold water. Sat on the beach for 15 minutes watching my sons play in the water. Got some food, and headed up to cheer on the later finishers.


Swim? Nothing!
Bike? Nothing! (Well, maybe having a modern era tri-bike with fancy aero wheels, like some that I passed on the ride...)
Run? Mental preparation. A lot more physical preparation wouldn't hurt either.


Left "organized" blank since the race grew from 700 to 1800. Shuttles from athlete parking to transition didn't run after the race!

I'll try to upload some pictures later this week.