Kinetic Half - Triathlon1/2 Ironman

I felt strong, but not particularly fast. Had a great start and was passing groups of the first wave halfway to the first turn. Was able to draft for first half of first leg of the triangle. I didn't feel like I had the surge available to pick up the pace on the second half. Simply haven't been in the water enough.

Train. Had no cramps, kicked modified 2-4 beats for last third, no problem passing although I had to do it very often on second leg. Third leg was nearly all clear water.

no problems;
ranked 41st out of 495 and 8th in age group. Perhaps best transition ever.


set up bike computer to be ready to go; I forgot to turn it on for first mile or so of bike ride.

Wore glasses until about 20 minutes to go...took them off and visibility improved 100%. Did not hold back at all even when perhaps I should have on first lap. I didn't "drop the hammer" all the time, but I certainly pushed and pushed looking for the edge of the envelope.
Ate 3 Clif Shots every 25 minutes for three times and then ate a third of Powerbar on the next time and then went back to Clif Shots. Ended up eating 9 or 12 of them and about 2/3 of a Powerbar.
Drank about 1.75 big water bottles with Nuun. Took water at two handoffs and skipped handoffs. At the water handoffs, I drank about 1/3 of the bottle and then dropped the bottle.
Very mild chafing at the southernmost tip of my trunk -- wore my new shorts from Bonzaii. Had not worn them for more than 25 miles before raceday.


More long rides. Started to lose the focus and drive with 10 miles to go. Didn't give chase when I could, should have as people who passed with basically my ability. May be time for new glasses that shed fog better.
More Bodyglide under shorts.

116 place overall and 23rd in age group.
Put on hat, left glasses with helmet. In hindsight, I think it was sharper and more focused than other transitions where I "wander" through the motions a bit.
I felt ready to run. I was excited to get out there.


left and forgot to tighten laces on left shoe and had to stop within 5 yards to fix it.

Felt good throughout. Walked through 4 aid stations. Paid pretty close attention to both heartrate and to mile splits. Skipped about every third aid station so stomach wouldn't get sloshy. On mile 5, after making right turn on cabin road and headed into aid station, ate one Clif Shot. At same point on course around mile 9 did the same. At aid stations, alternated between Heed and water.
On mile 12, I was passed by Aaron's friend Adrian. He went by with a cheery comment of support and a huge grin. He was not in any distress. I should have tried to keep up with him...it probably wouldn't have mattered. He was running about 90 seconds per mile faster at that point.

Mile 10. WTF?
Mile 10 didn't have a big hill, I didn't cramp and when I saw the split I was genuinely surprised. I didn't realize that I had totally flaked out and was blowing up. I had been doing a lot of positive self talk on lap two and it only intensified -- it was a roar -- on mile 11. I absolutely had to get ahold of myself so as not to ruin a good day in the last 5k. I still don't know what happened other than I hit a wall and was too fried to notice. Fortunately, I was able to pull myself together and though the next three miles weren't on pace, they were in the ballpark.

Summersaulted across finish line and then could barely get back to my feet. Stretched, ate, stretched and then packed up and left. Was home by 4:00.


More bike training. Should have swum three times in the past month. Mile 10 of the run.


Beat PR by 50 minutes. Beat goal time (5:14 on 5/14) by almost 7 minutes.
Traveled with and shared room with Patrick Pannett.
4:14:00 in zone 3.
low hr 96; ave hr 145; high heartrate 174;
5,453 calories
The volunteers all had information and were available. The course is extremely well marked -- from the water to mile markers to turns. I didn't see aid stations running out of supplies.
Would have liked to see drinks other than water on the bike course. Not a big deal.