![]() Swim
Comments: I started in the middle of the pack - A little busy at first but by the first buoy of the first lap, I was in a groove. Swim went smoothly. What would you do differently?: I felt like I didn't push myself as hard as I could have. In my mind, expending a tremendous amount of more energy to gain a minute or two is better served on the bike. ![]() Transition 1
Comments: I wanted to be out of T1 in under 3, so a 3:59 was pretty disappointing. I tried something new this time; that was swimming without my Singlet under my wet suit because it seems to rub my arm-pits raw, but trying to put it on wet wasn't too efficient in T1 - also I ended up putting on arm-warmers - all-in-all it actually felt like 7 minutes so I guess I will take just under 4. What would you do differently?: Maybe I need to try a different Singlet - I like the DeSoto that I use but I'm a litte broader through the shoulders so I think it may be a bit snug. ![]() Bike
Comments: My best bike split at the olympic level was 19.2, and I'm usually solidly in the 18's, so I was extremely happy with my bike interval. Instead of GU I had a boiled two potatoes in an 1/8th C. of salt, a day before the race, then cut them up into bite sizes and put them in small bag in my shirt. It was butter - I got off the bike feeling like I could do another 56 mi. At one point I did hit a huge pot hole (some of the road sections were in terrible condition) and all my water bottles fell out and my chain came off. I'm surprised nothing happend to my tube/tire/wheel. I counted at least 15-20 people on the side of the road fixing flats. I'm not sure if that's normal for a race of this distance but it seemed like alot. I lost a minute or two gathering up my bottles and putting my chain back on, and aside from hitting the Red light on the way back (I hit the Green light perfectly on the way out) and one big rain down pour that lasted about 30 seconds the ride was a lot of fun. There was some wind but it didn't seem to be as strong as they had predicted. What would you do differently?: I may have not stopped to collect my water bottles when they fell off my bike, because they were handing out water at mile 15, 28 & 45. I would have had plenty of water. ![]() Transition 2
Comments: T2 went a little better but I would like to get T2 down in under a minute. What would you do differently?: Not stop to pose for a picture for my wife. :) ![]() Run
Comments: I felt sooooo good coming off the bike. My first three miles were 8:05 MM average. I knew this was too fast and I should have listened to myself. By mile five I had dropped to an 8:45 MM average. I was nervouse to eat oranges or bananas because I've never eaten them on my long practice runs and I wasn't sure how my stomach would respond. I relied on H20, only. By mile 8 I realized I need somethimg more than water. I decided that if oranges and bananas were going to cause me stomach issues, I would at least stagger across the finish line with cramps, but if I didn't eat something I wasn't going to finish at all. So I started downing the oranges and even some Coke at all the aid stations. About mile 10 I started running with a guy my same age. He kept assuring me we could make it across before the 5:30 mark. I wanted to walk so bad but he kept encouraging me along the way. - He carried me to the end. I think I may have walked the last 2 miles without him. With 1/2 mile to go I told him I would let him cross first, because it was his encouragment along those last 3-4 miles that got me where I was. With about 1/4 mile left his leg cramped so bad it brought him to a complete stop. I stopped with him but he told me to finish out - he would have to walk it out to the end. I went ahead and beat the 5:30 goal by about :43 seconds. He missed it by :07 seconds. I don't think it was as important to him, but oh what he did for me. What would you do differently?: Pace myself a little better from the start. ![]() Post race
Warm down: Basically did some stretching while talking with my wife. I was in a state of euphoria. It was a feeling I can't describe as I layed in the grass under a shady tree, recounting to my wife, different successes and obstacles, that had just made up the last 5 hours, 29 minutes and 17 seconds of my life. It all happened on my 40th birthday and with my wife at my side. It was the best birthday, in 40 years. What limited your ability to perform faster: Mis-judging the run pace at the first. Event comments: I loved that it was a 1/2 only. No Sprints or Olys. Taking nothing from them, because I love those as well, but looking around, everone just seemed to be on a different level. It was a fun day - It's what I've spent the last 8 months training for. I trained so that I could enjoy the day, not just survive it. I didn't want to finish, miserable with no desire to go back. In fact, I'm left me wanting more. My next goal.... the FULL MONTY, Next August..... For my 41st b-day. Last updated: 2010-08-09 12:00 AM
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United States
Triathlon Racing Inc.
77F / 25C
Overcast
Overall Rank = 75/303
Age Group = M40-44
Age Group Rank = 12/38
My first-ever HALF IRON MAN. This is the event that I've spent thinking about and working toward for the last year. My goal: Under 5 hrs 30 mins. I checked into the hotel and went down to check in (which happened to be at the Marriott where my wife and I were staying), and just hung out at registration to soak it all in. There were some tremendous athletes in the room. It was a scosh intimidating but more inspiring. The forecast all week has been 12-19 MPH winds gusting to 35-40MPH coupled with scatterd thunderstorms. As if doing my first HIM weren't enough, MOTHER NATURE decided to make it interesting. I figured I better dumb down my goal to 5:50 from 5:30. With a 6:50am start time I got up at 3:30 - 1 can ensure, 1 banana, 2 cinnamon rolls, Orange and a bagel. Hung out in the hotel bed just watching T.V. and relaxing until about 5:00am. I got my stuff together and drove to Utah Lake. I completely forgot bug spray after I had been warned by a dozen people not to forget it. I finally found someone that had some but only after I had a couple of dozen bites (these suckers were huge). Set up, wet suit on, and at 6:30am made way to the water start. So far the day started overcast with little wind. I was crossing my fingers that the weatherman was wrong.
The only warm-up I had was about 15 min. in the water.