Revolution3 Half Ironman Triathlon - Triathlon1/2 Ironman

WOW do I love OWS instead of the pool. So much freedom and 6th out of the water, holy moly. For 115 in the wave, surprised how spread out it became early on. I'm used to sprint starts with the washing machine. First wave so smooth water, if you were in front. I was able to catch a draft from about 250-400, then he dropped me, then was on my own for the remainder. Swimming upstream, current wasn't too strong (not noticable). I stayed close to the shore going up, bilateral breathing sighting every 4 breaths. Seemed to work out great. Back got tired (weird) on the downriver portion. I think the wetsuit has the hips so much higher, I was not used to it. Bumped into a few floating objects, including a sighting buoy, not sure what the others were. Did notice a guy on my feet, he hit my feet twice, and about 500 yards apart so got a great ride. Got out of water near the front and only 1 guy from the next wave 4 minutes back passed me, sweet!!!

Not worried about Transitions for my first HIM, figured I take it slow but efficient, just keep moving. Suit came off in a breeze <10 seconds. Decided this season to start with shoes clipped in, that is way too easy, what a snap. Actually turned out to be fairly decent and efficient

Started off in an easy-ish pace to get the legs going and keep the HR down. I enjoyed the course, it had a mixture of climbs, rollers, climbs, etc and happy I'd been training on hills intermittently. Overall kept the HR in check and didn't chase too many people that passed me. I had been training to not fry my legs during the bike and wanted to do the same here so was hard but comfortable. I didn't chase too many rabbits that passed me, which was spordic as it was. Just a guy here, a guy there, nothing like pacelines or anything. Most of the ride was completely by myself with not another rider in sight, that was odd but refreshing, like a training ride. Around mile 47, the legs started to get tired and losing power so backed off slightly to keep HR in check.
Since this is in the country, I'd hear a dog bark and immediately scan searching for the linebacker to come get me. Unlike rural Georgia, rural Tennessee has figured out how to keep the dogs enclosed on their property. Whew!
Around mile 14, a volunteer at a turn wasn't wearing a shirt and was completely ripped doing muscle poses pointing the turn up ahead. I sat up, tried to flex my right bicep and grunt back, he laughed as I went by going around 22 mph. THANKS Mr Volunteer, I'm wirey, not skinny!
Throughout the bike leg, my stomach was hurting and I kept thinking, if I see a portojohn, I'm gonna stop. I remember reading the dood's report from Augusta a few years ago about a guy riding by him and I wasn't going to be that guy. Never found one and low and behold, no issue on the run, awesome.

Realize my legs will be torched on the run anyway so push a little harder and chase those darn rabbits.

Took my feet out way too soon, like 1/2 mile down the street, oops. Get to the dismount line all by myself, flip leg over, hop off in a psuedo run and jog into T-2. Awesome! Then get to my rack, argh someones wetsuit is where my rear wheel goes in the rack. So reach down, move the wetsuit and rack the bike. No biggy. Again, HIM, don't rush, smooth, easy, efficient. Socks roll right on, shoes on (thanks Yankz) gu loaded up, drop empty gu packs, helmet off, wave to wife and daughter, and off.

Started off feeling good, easy pace just clicking the time by not looking at the watch, just running at a reserved pace. Mile 1 down, mile 2 down, mile 3 down, feeling awesome, this is great and wow, I am actually enjoying this race. Mile 4, see the hill, well to keep the HR in check, decide to walk up it. At this point, I catch the 18yr old in pink that passed me on the bike, he is struggling. I comment, hey dude, calf? Nope it his foot is numb and he's not sure whey. WOW, that sucks. So get to the top and I keep digging, plodding along, up and down the long rollers. At the turnaround, my legs started getting tight so I develop the walk the aid station routine. Sure enough, it works!! Grab a cup of water, walk 30-45 seconds, refreshed, legs feel good, back to plodding along. This keeps up for the rest of the race and when I see a hill, I sacrificed speed for HR, Overall pace diminished but at least I didn't implode. At mile 9, I finally look at my watch, holy moly, I've banked a ton of time! I learned a lot with this run, choices, slow down early on and struggled late, or run based on feel early on and struggle late. Go with the latter.
Then I'm about at the 12.6 mark and the left quad starts to cramp on the uphills, oh no, walk, waddle, jog, run, etc. Just glad it waited til I was almost to the line. Not the best run ever but decent experience and a huge learning.

Get the foil wrapper, wow, what a difference that makes. Hear Slayer announced as he crosses the line so go congratulate him and introduce myself briefly, then see 15step Daniel cross and say hi to him. Kinda walk around on toasted legs that were cramping and super tight/sore, walk all the way back down to Transition to pack up the gear then push the bike back up to the hotel, jump in car and sleep on the way home.


Happy with the effort other than the stomach pains.


Rev 3 - great race, great venue, tons of volunteers and atmospere was awesome. The family loved it.
First HIM, success! But these long races sure test my patience.