Memorial Hermann Ironman 70.3 Texas - Triathlon1/2 Ironman

The swim was great - Everyone jumped in and just sat in the water for a couple minutes treading water. I took the opportunity to relieve myself in the wetsuit - amazing how quickly that warms you up :) I wanted to get that out of the way so I didn't have to stop later. The announcer got everyone pumped up before the gun went off, calling specific people by name and letting the whole group know what we were about to embark on. When the gun went off, everyone started swimming and of course, it was an egg beater for the first 200 meters or so. Once the swimmers thinned out, I got into a good pace and seemed to just be gliding along. In retrospect, I should have pushed it a bit harder here, as this is my most comfortable leg of the entire event, but I just focused on my breathing and keeping it low intensity to save energy for the bike and the run. My sighting was off a bit and had to zig-zag back to the course a couple times, likely due to me getting into a rhythm of just breathing on one side due to the wind/waves and sticking with it.

Push a bit harder on the swim and sight a little better to keep a straight line - probably could have cut another minute or two with just those two things.

Ran up the ramp out of the bay and was looking for "My Boy" at the wetsuit stripping station. I spotted him and ran straight to him, yelling the whole time "My boy! Hook me up! My Boy!". He was laughing a little at me, but got my wetsuit off lickety-split. I told him what a great job he did, thanked him and was off - nice trot back to transition spot. Didn't pass my bike rack and found my spot immediately - good job! Saw the wife, said hello and gave a thumbs up. Tore open the pack of Sport Beans and threw them down while I put bike shoes and helmet on. I had a little trouble getting my gloves on my wet hands and passed right by the sunblock lotion station on my way out of transition - probably the worst decision I made all day.

I probably should have just shoved the gloves in my pockets and got them on while I was already on the bike. My absolute worst decision of the day had to be not stopping at the sunblock station, as I am now nursing blisters on my shoulders and arms due to a baaaaad sunburn. When I saw those folks with the sunblock just dripping off their gloves and just slopping it on people, I said to myself "I don't need it that bad - gross!". Going back now, I would have dived in that crap to get out of the pain I'm feeling now. Oh well, next time, huh.

The bike was very good for me, averaging 17+ mph for the whole leg. I thought I saw a lot of flats, but as this was my first Half IM, maybe that was normal - just glad I was spared that headache. In the past few rides, my eyes have been giving me trouble and drying out, so I made sure to wear shades, due to the wind and sand blowing on the course - very glad I did, as no issues on this one. Kept the nutrition up by alternating Sport Beans, Hammer Gels, and Powerade Gels every 45 minutes. Drank two full bottles of NUUN Water and gatorade by the time I hit 20 miles and picked up a water at the first aid station I saw after running out. I couldn't hold on to it and pedal efficiently, so tried to stick it in my pocket on my shirt. Of course if fell out and I only got around 6 ounces of it - oh well, next aid station. I have only two bottle cages on my bike and both were filled with my $12 Polar bottles that I didn't want to toss, but by the time I got to the next aid station, one Polar bottle hit the side of the road. I was parched and knew I might be in trouble - picked up a gatorade and made it last. I should have picked up two gatorades and tossed both bottles, but I'm a tightwad and didn't think about that beforehand. I was averaging 19+ on my way back and didn't want to slow down, as I still felt rather well. I saw my wife right before I made the final turn and said hello as I whizzed past her. I didn't use the bathroom the whole time I was on the bike.

Put two cheap water bottles filled with my beverage of choice on my bike and toss at least one at every aid station to ensure I've got enough fluid to last. When I picked up the gatorade, I knew that was my last aid station and had to make it last - I could have drank the whole thing in 2 minutes and should have, but I didn't and would pay for it on the run.

Felt good coming into T2, and was pumped as I was almost 30 minutes ahead of where I thought I was going to be. I had high hopes of a PR in my half mary time and was ready to hammer it. Found my rack and space with no issues, stripped the helmet, gloves, shoes and then put the running shoes and hat on. Ran by the sunblock application station again :( Dumb, Dumb, Dumb Decision.....

Nothing really, except to dive in the sunblock on the way out......

Starting off the run, I had high hopes of finishing in under 2 hours, as I still felt rather well, but my lack of proper hydration on the bike quickly crept up on me. About 3 miles into the run, I finally stopped to piss, and it was obvious that I was in need of serious hydration as almost nothing came out and it looked like orange gatorade. I had already initiated the run/walk combo, so I knew I just needed to focus on getting hydrated and push as much as I could without completely bonking. I stopped at every aid station to have at least one cup of fluid, sometimes two, and continued the nutrition with powerbar gels that were available at the aid stations.

Nothing really on the run - I cooked myself on the bike.

Walked around the finish in a daze for about 30 seconds until I saw my wife. Went over, thanked her for allowing me to skirt a lot of my duties for the past 4-6 months to train for this and told her I loved her. Stretched out a little, had someone take our picture, and then went and found the North Texas Multisport tent to catch up with the rest of the folks. Lee handed me the best burger I had in a long time and we took a couple more pictures. Then we had to head back to Dallas, so we wouldn't be picking up the crumbsnatchers too late.


Definitely not hydrating more on the bike...... and probably my skin cooking due to not applying sunblock.


Great race, Great venue, Great volunteers, Great organization - Looking forward to next year!