Great Illini Half-Iron Distance Triathlon - Triathlon1/2 Ironman

Suit went on well, but had no clue how or where to put on the lube (neck and armholes?). Started well. Took a while to get up to speed and get the breathing down. I didn't experience much traffic unless I ran into somebody (sorry dude). My sighting and navigation were terrible today. Had trouble picking up the bouys and kept drifting to the left. Swam more than I had to, but got out of the water feeling fresh and enjoyed swimming in a wetsuit. Lake was great.

Need to think about wearing contacts, so that I can actually see where I'm going. Happy with the time, but plan to work on my mechanics this off-season.

Suit came off fairly easily. Wanted to take my time to make sure I had everything I needed on the bike. Took my own nutrition taped to the bike or in my shirt pockets.

Nothing.

Started the bike well with the wind at my back. Took a gel at about 20 minutes in and my stomach was just not feeling good. Tried to drink on a pretty regular schedule, but while my stomach wasn't cramping yet, it just didn't feel right. At about 3 miles or so I picked up two followers. The one guy drafted me for at least 10-15 miles, until the turn around anyway. I could see his shadow going out, and he was right behind me avoiding the wind. The other guy popped out and around after about 5 miles. I was going to say something, but after a while thought, it's his race and if he can't finish it within the rules, that's on his conscience. He eventaully passed me and glammed onto someone else before flaking out and dropping back on the second lap. The bike felt good for the most part. The course was flat, but the wind was a constant factor. Need to get aerobars this off-season. Took three Cliff shot gels and 3+ bottles of Heed. Tried a banana but my stomach was just too upset. Completed my first successful bottle exchange! Saw Jeff at the last turn around and just couldn't stay within sight of him. My stomach just never settled, but other than that felt good coming off the bike. It was a beautiful but windy day for a bike ride.

Probably overhydrated. I am so used to riding in the heat and drinking tons to compensate for my sweatrate that I over did it in the cooler temps.

Came in and changed socks and put on Brooks. Kept shirt on for nutrition in pockets, dropped sunglasses, and decided against hat.

Back/kidney area was really hurting. Had to pee, but didn't see anywhere close to go. Dropped all the nutrition I was carrying almost immediately, as I knew that there was no way to settle my stomach. My legs, heart, and lungs were ready for a good run, but my back, stomach, and brain said no! Toughed it out with a 9 min pace for a while, but my mind wanted to quit and my body was giving me multiple reasons to slow down and stop. Luckily, I was able to keep encouraging others, and that kind of got me out of my own pain. I also started to recite different memorable sayings (from some BT posts) and song lyrics to pass the time. Seeing my friend Jeff after every turn around kept me positive. For the first time in a race I walked through the aid stations, taking just water. Also walked several hundred yards at about mile 11-12. I was getting lightheaded, and I'd promised Christy that I wouldn't push too hard. Stomach was crampy, but the nauseousness went away, and I actually kicked into a decent pace the last mile. Happy and surprised with the total runtime, compared with how fast I felt like I was running.

Probably pee at T2 and start drinking just water and taking electrolyte tabs on the bike instead of Heed and gels. Anyway, that it why I was here: to learn. It would be nice to have a Garmin to keep track of my pacing.

Ate a couple of pieces of cheese pizza, drank a bottle of water, and a Coke. Saw Jeff and talked for a bit, and then got on the road for the 4 hour drive home.


Nutrition and hydration, but as I said, live and learn.


Good race support and excellent volunteers. Cool shirt, but I would have loved some other way (trinket) to remember the race (they didn't use race numbers).

I will be back. The race was about the atheletic endeavor not the "event". Again, the Great Illini was nothing fancy, but the volunteers and supporters were excellent. The race had more of a family feel, with most people offering support and encouragement to each other.