Iron Star Triathlon - Triathlon1/2 Ironman

The course was actually pretty cool, there were just some hiccups in planning. We had to swim INTO the sun and with the morning fog it was really tough to see ANYTHIHNG, much less where to go. It was a little unnerving, even for a strong swimmer. I can't imagine how it felt for people who aren't comfy in the water.

My first 1/4 mile was horrendous. I lost the lead pack in the sun and got discouraged. As soon as we rounded that bouy that took us out of the sun I was on. I really picked up my pace and it started feeling easy. I just picked off poeple and buoys pretty quickly. My rotation felt ON and so did the length of my strokes. If I hadn't had such a slow first 1/4 my time would have been really strong.

In the middle of the swim there was a whole section we could walk. It was BIZARRE. Everyone walked about 200yds. I dolphin dived a bit and realized my HR was rising, so I just caved and cruised along too.

I wouldn't get unnerved about the sun and just hang on the feet of the fast kids!

Wow, we were all giggling how slow this was going to be because it was 40 degrees out! I dried off and just took my time gettng my gear on. I decided since I was warm from the swim to forgo the leg warmers. This is a mistake that haunted me the rest of the race. I couldn't feel my lower legs until the run...my toes until mile 4.

Wow, that was WAY tougher than anticipated. I would also venture to say that this is the slowest I have ever ridden my bike. I was at 16.5 half way and that is relatively slow for me. Oh and the RPE was HIGH. I just didn't have it in me. The last half of the course sucked the life out of me completely. We had a strong headwind the last 20 miles and I had to work to hold 14. I think I just lost it mentally too. If there was a bus rolling around picking people up I would have been tempted. I had to stop at around mile 28 to stand on my legs bc I couldn't feel them. I am guessing that kind of cold causes muscle fatigue? Maybe....

I also didn't nail my nutrition. I went into this thinking I needed a 1000 cals on the bike and I came back with a full bottle of PAdeEndurance, a half bag of cliff chews and a full bag of those gel chew things. So that's 271+100+150 left on the course.

fuel properly and wear appropriate clothes.

I was so happy to be off the bike but yet so disheartened from the performance that I had a hard time moving fast.

2 words. Asthma Attack. I started running out of T1 and just felt crappy. My body was rebeling as was my mind. But things went downhill quickly when I hit mile 1 and my chest siezed up. I couldn't breathe and I started doing that scary wheezing thing that makes a noise like you are breathing through a pin hole. Some woman saw me from the sidelines and ran over and talked me down. Got me to relax and breathe deeply. At the same time another Austin gal came and ran with me a bit. She saved me throuhg mile 2. I can't remember her name, but she was so sweet.

My chest continued to sieze until mile 5 when a Tough Cookie friend's hubby ran to get their son's inhaler from their room and another Tough Cookie friend chased me down on the course to give it to me. After 2 puffs my lungs opened up and I could put the asthma that hasn't reared its head in 2 years to bed for the day. Sadly thoguh, after fighting for air for 4 miles, poor nutrition and sad from expectations crushed, I didn't have much fight left in me to battle the course.

I slogged through another loop and then by the last loop, I was pretty much alone on the course. UNTIL I saw my friend and fellow Tough Cookie up ahead of me! She had horrible blisters on the balls of her feet and it was really painful. We walked and chatted for a while and then I started a walk/run to get the "race" behind me. She caught me and we ended up finishing together which was nice.

HTFU and put take each new mile as a NEW MILE.

my warm down consisted of me collapsing into tears onto my coach and then collapsing in more tears on the pavement wtih my kids fallling on me. That part was awesome...until I had to saw "not on mommy's legs because they HURT!"


oh geez, what didn't that day. I am a decent cyclist and this destroyed me. My runs are ok short course, but i can't bring it in an oly either so this - well my expectations limited me.


There was no food left for us slowbys when we finished - at least other than a bagel,banana or ass tasting muscle milk. So my husband had to make a dash to the golf shop and buy a burger for me. Uncool.

There are aspects of this race that are great - National Forest on the ride - and parts that were pretty bad - run course. But I am still glad I did it, freezing weather and all. I can say I did a half ironman, but i can't say I EVER want to do one again. 2011 will be put towards short course...going fast no endurance needed!