LongHorn Ironman 70.3 Triathlon Festival - Triathlon1/2 Ironman

Stayed way to the outside to avoid the bodies, but still got caught up with feet and had to reset my goggles twice. The got into a rythum and began swimming. I stayed outside which required more swimming, but managed to stay out of the crowds until the faster mens heats came up on you and just ignored the fact you were in the water. I got hit, kicked and could literally feel grabbing on my ankles...no not touching...GRABBING. Anyhow, I was not in it for the podium so overall it was not that big of an issue. The finish was good except for the large rock I stubbed my left foot on while exiting the swim...man that hurt!
Wetsuit strippers were great! Glad I had on a onepiece! That wetsuit came off so fast I feel I could have lost some shorts if I had not. :)


maintain my stroke and kick harder when I am being used as a floatation devise. Kidding, nothing really, I still had a good time even if i was off pace by about 5 minutes.

The mud at the top of the hill going right into transition was bad. I had to actually sit down and towel my feet off, as the water bottle I poured on them did nothing. I was not rushing and due to an injury suffered before the race was cautious moving through transition to avoid further damage to the calf

Not had a calf tear...oh and triathlon shoes would be nice. Oh yeah, a fire hose for the feet.

In my book this course was pretty flat. I come from Pittsburgh, PA and we have rolling HILLS! I am also used to not riding on smooth roads so it also seemed quite smooth at times for me. There were lots of turns so you had to slow down quite a few times and that was a bit much, but overall the course was good. I did start to have left achilles pain and calf issues at the 36 mile mark. So for the next 10 miles I was out of the saddle at times trying to stretch the leg out. It helped, but cost me some time. I felt very comfortable with the pace and did not feel too winded. I could have pushed harder, but this being my first race I was not sure. At this distance this was a PB for me, so overall I am happy.

Not had leg pain:)

I walked into transition because i still had my bike shoes on. I was also fully anticipating that I would have to walk most of the 13.1 miles due to a calf tear I had suffered a month before the race so i took my time.

nothing

I had a race belt on and could fuel when I wanted to. I started off with a light shuffle kind of testing the leg on the level ground. When I got to about the 1/2 mile mark I started to walk. I picked up sponges at the first station and packed it into the front of my suit. However, the heat was never a factor for me as I lived in Florida for 10 years and I did heat training in SC for this race.
I picked up ice and fluids at each stopped and refilled my fuel belt when empty. I was surprised that I was able to shuffle on my leg more than I had anticiapted I would. I was glad. I shuffled the flat parts and some of the downhill portions that I was able to have solid footing. i walked the uphills and uneven ground to avoid another tear or compunding the 2 that I already had. People were great and I felt really good. I knew that my time was going to stink, but I had accepted that before the race even started.
The volunteer working the hill at about the 4 mile mark was great. heck they were all great!
I saw people along the way in a lot of pain and pretty bad off so I was glad I was not feeling bad in any way. The finish was fantastic, except for the fact that for some reson I began to get real emotional coming over the finish and in the pictures it makes me look like I just had a stroke! :) It was only my second triathlon ever and my first HIM so I was totally stoked!

Have two healthy legs and work on my finish line pose!

I felt very good...a little stiff so I went to the med tent and had them wrap an ice bag around my bad calf. Then I went and got a water, (no food...I have never been one to eat after all that...crazy right). Then walked to get my gear and then headed toward the car.


2 second degree calf tears in my right calf. One suffered in mid August and the other in mid September.


The volunteers were great! The spectators were great! and for the most part the fellow racers were great. (Not the guys grabbing my ankles during the swim and the ones that did not follow the no drafting and blocking rules, but hey what can you do). I had a great time, loved the race, the city and the whole experience!