Ironman 70.3 Boise - Triathlon1/2 Ironman

I spent the past two weeks doing open-water swims in Hymrum Dam which was in the low 50's, so I was completely prepared for the shock of the cold water. In fact, those OWS practices helped keep my nerves in check leading up to the start of the race.

Decided to do the flying mount, which I have practiced many times, but never had done in an actual race. I got on, got my feet on top of the shoes, and got out of T1 good... just as I was thinking how proud and relieved I was to have pulled it off, my left foot slipped off the shoe and as it shot around the crank, it hit the ground, which forced it out of the clip and flew a good 15 feet. So I had to stop the bike and go back against traffic with a slightly bruised ego to recover my shoe.


I like what one BT'r said, they just leave there shoes clipped in all the time and thats how they do all of their training rides, mounting and dismounting, so I'm going to start doing that now.

I really enjoyed the bike ride. I realized that being in the 2nd to last wave has it's benefits, because I did a whole lot of passing rather than getting passed. I figured, if had been in the 2nd or 3rd wave, after the Pros, I would have been completely demoralized by all the people I'm sure that would have passed me.
My goal, based off of my training was a 21 mph, so I fell short of that, but I still felt really good with my bike time. I felt real good as I came into T2, which set me up for a great run, so maybe a 21 mph would have cost me on the run... I don't know.

Coming off the bike I had to pee but I figured I would just take care of it while running (I've actually been practicing that)... but right before the exit of T2 a girl stepped out of the porta-potty, and with no line I just jumped in and took care of business. I was trying for a 1 minute T2, and I'm sure that added 30 seconds or more.

I had the run of my life. For most an 8:10 is hardly noteworthy, but after the 1.2 swim and the 56 bike, the fastest I've been able to do is 9:00mm.
I usually go out too fast and blow up around mile 9. This time I really had to pull back the reins on the first 6 miles. At times, early on, I found myself running a 7:30mm, so I would slow up, which before I just kept with it. This time at the start of the second loop I still felt fresh, so I picked it up slightly, so from mile 6 - 10 I was doing about an 8:15mm, and at mile 10 I still felt really good, so I dropped it to a 7:30mm for the last 3 miles. About the 12.5 marker I started feeling like maybe I started my push too early, but just about that time, I rounded the corner where I could see the finish line, although it was still some distance away, I got a another bolt of energy from the crowd, and I practically did a dead sprint the last 1/4 mile.

I converted to running in sandals about 7 months ago (I've had so many ankle and toe issues I was willing to try anything, and while I still don't know the science behind it or the long-term affects... for me... right now... its paradise!), and while thats all I have trained in since then, I was nervous how it would be in a race. IT WAS BUTTER. I killed my fastest race-time by 20 minutes.

Eat, Eat, Eat, and then I ate some more.


I need more time on the bike


This is my first IRONMAN trademarked race.... I'm not sure I can go back to the others. The organization was incredible. The volunteers were AMAZING.