EagleMan Ironman 70.3 Triathlon - Triathlon1/2 Ironman

I gotta say that after basically floundering at Kinetic in April I was very, VERY pleased with how I performed at Eagleman. I finally felt as if I belonged there with all the other racers. I am not sure of my exact time but I know that I never stopped to rest and always felt comfortable. Sighting was my weak point and I swam a couple hundred yards extra I am sure...but that did not diminish the feeling of pride I had during the swim. I loved the waves. I thought I was pretty clever the way I could figure out which side was best for breathing. When I found that bilateral breathing didn't work I would breath every fourth stroke as I had trained. I even got stung by a jelly and thought, well, cool...something to tell the kids about when I get home. I came out of the water toward the back of the purple cap group, but I did not see any silver caps pass me so "Mission Accomplished".

Learn to sight. Focus on form and speed more. I was not the least bit tired coming out of the water so I knew I could have worked harder.

Here is where my race kind of offically "ended". I somehow left my timing chip in T1. Here is why...I was registered for AquaVelo and so I had in my mind to take the chip off during T2...not T1. I screwed up, I guess and got mixed up. I noticed I did not have my chip at mile 2 and just said, "Ah, well."

Sunscreen!! On my BACK!! In fact, for Madison I will not even be wearing the Tri-Top, I can assure you. A regular cycling maillot for me. I now have a two inch swath on my back that is burned.

I came out fo the water @ 1:30:00 by the race clock and entered T2 at 4:40...this is how I know my time. There were times I was pedal to the matal in my highest gear passing the faster women who had justed passed me like they were standing still...and there were times where I was laboring along into the wind in very low gears just to keep my cadence up. I ate well, (2 bean burritos and ClifShots!!) and hydrated well. I really believe that if the wind had not been so strong I had 2:45 in me. And I must realize that this is my strong leg and the leg in which I need to push myself more.

Again...Sunscreen!!

My biggest struggle was with demons in my head. I was not registered to do the full event. My timing chip was long gone. No one would think less of me if I bailed and went home. The other AquaVelo guys were staring at me wondering why I was putting on my shoes. But Madison awaits and the main lesson of this race was to come...so I am glad I went on out and ran.

Here is the thing. If I don't find a way to get my hips in shape I will never even come close to what I know I can do. I took Ibuprofen for my knees...I took salt tablets to avoid the cramps...I use Orthotic inserts in my shoes...but my hips still cause me so much discomfort coming off the bike that I never get fast enough to even breath hard. I walked about 3 miles total by my estimation. I was well trained but since I had never done any training runs after a long bike ride I had never experienced how my hips felt during the run. It's not just pain...that I can handle, it's flexibilty and range of motion that are hampered. But I kept moving and finished 20-30 minutes slower than my goal.

I am going to hit the weight room hard in the next few months in preparation for Madison. I will try and strengthen my hip flexors and combine that with brick training so that I am running right after fairly long rides. I am also going to do heat training as well.

I sat down and vegged.


My hips.


I know I had a 15:00 IronMan in me yesterday. My goal for Madison is still sub-13. To do this I need to keep swimming and stay ready. Calm fresh water will be really good for me. Steady on the bike...I can't be affraid to push it a little harder. Find a way to overcome the stiffness in my hips post-bike. Drive myself harder mentally.