Ironman 70.3 Lake Stevens - Triathlon1/2 Ironman


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Lake Stevens, Washington
United States
WTC (World Triathlon Corporation) (Ironman 70.3)
92F / 33C
Sunny
Total Time = 6h 32m 2s
Overall Rank = 759/
Age Group = F 30-34
Age Group Rank = 43/68
Pre-race routine:

I signed up for this race origonally as a chance to visit the great grandparents and have a race as an excuse to go. I had some great training weeks early in the summer but the last month had been spotty. I was definitely undertrained for the run. We arrived in Everett a few days early to visit the great grandparents and had a wonderful time. Saturday was reserved for putting the bike together, registration, taking the bike to transition, setting up my bag to take in the morning and relaxing as much as possible. The morning of the race I woke up before the alarm (because I was well hydrated) and just got ready a little bit early. Had a muffin, bananna and gatorade for breakfast. Headed down to the holiday Inn lobby to catch the bus. That was great. I was able to get to the race and the family got to sleep in. I was ready...at least I thought.
Event warmup:

Got to transition way too early. I was set up and ready about an hour before the 1st wave. I hate being late but I also dont like waiting around...oh well. Walked over to the swim start area and sat down. It was a chilly morning so I put on my wetsuit to warm up a bit.
Swim
  • 32m 17s
  • 2112 yards
  • 01m 32s / 100 yards
Comments:

The swim was great. The wave were sent off 4 minutes apart. There was an underwater line about 8ft down that you can follow the entire way. Bad part about that was that everyone wanted to be right next to the line even though you could see it if you were 10 ft off of it. Thing is there are little bouys every few yards along the line so if you are on top of it you hit each bouy. Issues came when I positioned myself right near the line and was just to the right of the line at the start and everyone else wanted to be where I was. I was stroke for stroke with another racer for about half the race hitting hands. I was trying to keep from running into the bouys and she wanted to be on top of the line. I eventually went inside the line/bouys just to get some clear water.
Got a little bit warm on the swim so sleveless would have been better.
What would you do differently?:

Start off the bouy line a little bit.
Wear a sleveless suit.
Transition 1
  • 01m 49s
Comments:

Pretty smooth transition. No real issues
What would you do differently?:

nothing
Bike
  • 3h 08m 43s
  • 56 miles
  • 17.80 mile/hr
Comments:

The course was beautiful. I had read race reports from previous years and they scared me a bit with it being dangerous and crashes. I did not experience that. I had a blast. The first lap I went way too fast. I was having so much fun. I hit my fastest ever on 2 wheels at 46.5mph but never really felt in danger. Only problem was that the course was open to cars and there was NO shoulder so a few cars and trucks got caught in between the racers and were trying to pass slower riders at the same time as the faster cyclists. There were pros passing a truck on both sides at one time right before a big uphill while crossing a bridge. Not very smart. The second lap was much slower and I knew I would pay for it later.
What would you do differently?:

Slow down on the first lap and bring more Gu.
Transition 2
  • 01m 57s
Comments:

Decent but could have been a little bit faster. I had riden with bike shorts with tri shorts underneath. Intent was to give more padding on the bike and take them off and run in the tri shorts. I initially forgot to take off the bike shorts and had to run back to my spot. Added about 20 seconds.
What would you do differently?:

Remember to take off the bike shorts or just get used to going on long rides with just tri shorts.
Run
  • 2h 47m 18s
  • 13.1 miles
  • 12m 46s  min/mile
Comments:

I paid for my lack of run training and my over zealous first bike lap. as soon as I started the run I knew it would not be pretty. My legs had nothing and I was starting out giving myself permission to walk all the hills. That turned into walk hills and aid stations, which by the last few miles turned into I'll run to the next corner. I felt hotter on the first lap than the second. I was taking 2 cups of water at each aid station one to drink and one to pour on me, and a cup of ice to distribute down the bra and in the hat. My kids and husband were playing in the water at about the 6 mile mark and were great to see. By the last few miles I think it would have been faster and more comfortable to swim to the finish line rather than run.
What would you do differently?:

More run training. it has always been my weak event but I need to work on it. Bring more Gu. They had warm power gel on the course...terrible.
Post race
Warm down:

Hit the finish line and ate 3 peices of pizza and a cookie. Got my stuff and then headed over to where the family was playing in the nice cool lake water. Jumped in and enjoyed the cold water on my legs while the kids kept playing. I think I needed compression shorts, a kind that are as tight or tighter than compression socks. My legs are still not recovered from that run (4 days later)

What limited your ability to perform faster:

lack of run training, not enough Gu.

Event comments:

This is a great and beautiful race. I loved the bike...Loved it. I need to learn how to pace the bike and, well , just learn to like running.
I would recommend the race it to others who are good with hills. It is my personnal worst 1/2 IM time ever, yet at the same time was my personnal best (and first 1/2 IM) since having kids. It will be a while before I do another distance event but I know I will be doing a ton of run training this winter. Maybe a few sprints and Oly next year and save another 1/2 until 2012.




Last updated: 2010-08-19 12:00 AM
Swimming
00:32:17 | 2112 yards | 01m 32s / 100yards
Age Group: 0/68
Overall: 0/
Performance: Average
Suit: Wetsuit - Full
Course: Practically out and back
Start type: Deep Water Plus: Waves
Water temp: 72F / 22C Current: Low
200M Perf. Remainder:
Breathing: Drafting:
Waves: Navigation:
Rounding:
T1
Time: 01:49
Performance: Average
Cap removal: Helmet on/
Suit off:
Wetsuit stuck? Run with bike:
Jump on bike:
Getting up to speed:
Biking
03:08:43 | 56 miles | 17.80 mile/hr
Age Group: 0/68
Overall: 0/
Performance: Average
Wind: None
Course: Beautiful rolling hills with lots of shade.
Road: Rough Dry Cadence:
Turns: Cornering:
Gear changes: Hills:
Race pace: Drinks:
T2
Time: 01:57
Overall: Good
Riding w/ feet on shoes
Jumping off bike
Running with bike
Racking bike
Shoe and helmet removal
Running
02:47:18 | 13.1 miles | 12m 46s  min/mile
Age Group: 0/68
Overall: 0/
Performance: Bad
Course: 2 laps. one loop in town followed by an out and back along the lake. Loop has little shade but the lake out and back is decently shaded.
Keeping cool Average Drinking
Post race
Weight change: %
Overall:
Mental exertion [1-5]
Physical exertion [1-5]
Good race?
Evaluation
Course challenge Just right
Organized? Yes
Events on-time? Yes
Lots of volunteers? Yes
Plenty of drinks? Yes
Post race activities:
Race evaluation [1-5] 4