Ironman 70.3 Racine - Triathlon1/2 Ironman

Swim was awesome. Couple minutes faster than last year and against the current. Swam pretty straight too, only got bad off course once. Otherwise was about 10 feet off bouys whole way. Long long run up the beach and into transition.

I like to take my time.

Worst ride of 2011. Started out wanting to take first 10-15 miles easy. Stayed on little ring. Was doing it all perfetly. Resisted urges to hammer, kept speed around 18 on the flats. Drank gatorade, etc etc. Everything went perfectly first 75 minutes or so. Then, right leg went tight around mile 25 and never let go. Hip flexor hurt, quad hurt, calf hurt and foot kept going numb. The remaining 30 miles were brutal. It hurt to hold 14,15mph and there were long stretches of coasting. Stopped at all aid stations, stretched, took salt caps, water, gels, etc. Never got any cramps, just the tightness. I have to figure out what this is. Same thing has happened at least 5 or 6 times this year. This was the worst. Its like my right leg just shuts down. Spent 30 miles alternating between "quit now, under that tree, wait for SAG" "just get back to transition" and "HTFU" Opted to keep going and at least get back to where I started. Must've one-legged at least 5 of those last miles. Was totally ready to bail in transition but seeing everyone on the run changed my mind to "just try it"

No clue. Need to figure out why this leg has been doing this.

Took time. Stretched. Sent "still alive" text and motivated self. Idea was to go out and see how first mile or 2 went before quitting.

Brutally hot. Left transition thinking I would walk and stretch the first mile, till we were up the hill at the bluff. Then started some run/walk. First 3 miles took an hour. Then things started getting better during second 3 miles, leg lossened up probably b/x hip flexor could stretch. Quads and calf on right side also let go of their death grip. Since most people were on their second loop when I was on my first, my second loop was lonely but faster still. Did last 3 mile leg of run in little over half hour, was like legs totally recovered. WTF gives?

Took bottle of gatorade with me, drank it and kept refilling when i could from hoses. Ice in hat, sponge down back. Ate maybe 6 salt caps. You name it I did it. Was hydrated. Not a single cramp.

Spectators were awesome, all the hoses and such. Life savers again.

Air Conditioned Car


My leg. This tightness has happened about 5-6 times in last 3 months and gets worse each time. Have been trying to stretch and foam roll calf, quads, IT band and flexors almost daily. Have never had this problem to this extent before. And not much has changed--not bike setups, training volume, etc. I have put on about 10 lbs in last year and have not done as much core work. Thats about it but that cant be it totally?


Great race, great place to swim and run. Roads could use some work, but overall real nice. Highly recommended.

Was so brutally hot. Big congrats to all who finished.