Door County Triathlon Half Ironman - Triathlon1/2 Ironman

First big mistake of the day. I left my goggles at home. I usually am a bit obsessive and check my bag like 10 times, but that's what i get for trying to be more laid back about it. I initially did pack them, but I switched bags and must have left them in the 1st bag.

There was one place still selling supplies race morning so I was able to pick up a pair, but they weren't my usual brand. I picked out the style most similar to the ones I wear and hoped for the best. Tested them out quickly while I got used to the water temp... and THANKFULLY they did not leak. WOOT.

Anyway, the swim was below my capability. The first part wasn't too bad but I was not able to draft off of anyone as usual. I never seem to be able to draft why is that? Once we turned the first main bouy to head in the opposite direction the chop got really notable. It wasn't high chop or swells, but they were really powerful little ones that I kept getting smacked in the face with. Well after getting smacked one too many times I took a huge lung full... and proceeded to cough and then hyperventilate. I had to completely stop in the water for like a full minute until my breathing became manageable. I handed it pretty well and did not freak out even though it sent panic waves through my system. Luckily logically I knew I'd be OK if I stayed calm.

Anyway I think it threw off the rest of my swim a bit, so I took about 5 minutes more over-all then last year which is a bit frustrating since my swim in the pool has been stronger then last year.

Go back to obsessively packing my transition bag, and put a 2nd pair of goggles in my bag.

Not sure what slowed me down this year. Can't peg it on any one thing. Seemed like I was fumbling with my socks for a bit.

N/A

The ride started out well. I averaged 17+ mph for the first two hours and I thought I was going to have a great bike. I was passing 10 people for every one that passed me. I was pushing it at a moderate pace but not too hard. However at about mile 40 the heat just sort of smacked me in the face and it started to take a toll on my pace. I was probably drinking slightly less then I should have. I only filled my speedfil once so drank maybe 50 oz of Nuun and I had 1 bottle of Infinit, 1.25 bottles of Gatorade and 2 packs shot-blox.. The ride started to drag on and I really just wanted to get off the bike as it started to feel like more like mile 80 then mile 50. Luckily the last stretch of 5 mile or so was closer to the water and it became noticeably cooler, which I really needed just then. I came back to life a bit at that point.

At the end despite an entire hour that was rough because of the very humid heat at 100+ heat index on the black-top... I still averaged over 16.3mph only a tiny bit slower then last year when the weather was beautiful. If it had been nice out I probably would have been 17+ since the course is mostly flst.

I was just starting to notice how bad my sun-burn was getting at this point.


Take in just a bit more fluids.

Not surprised this again was a bit on the slow-side because I was already suffering from the heat and sunburn. I stopped to drink which I don't normally do. I really wasn't looking forward to going out on the run because I knew not much running was going to be involved due to the heat which meant I was going to be out there forever.

APPLY MORE SUNSCREEN!!!!

Going out there I knew there wasn't going to be a whole lot of running involved and it took a lot of will just to continue on. My sunburn was just starting to really develop and I noticed I was radiating my own heat. Not Good...

I wasn't even feeling well enough to do timed intervals so It became a run from this pole to that pole or this shade to that shade kinda affair. It was way more walk then run. I maybe managed 10-15 percent running. I was breathing fairly a lot just walking.

A few miles in I ran into the first dunk-tank where I did not get in but they were filling them and had towels in them and they sprayed me down majorly which helped SO MUCH.

At that point I was able to throw in more run bits for awhile.

The support out there was AWESOME. There were residents out there with hoses and sprinklers. The course also has some sprinklers out in the middle of the road along with several dunk-tanks and ICE at pretty much every aid-station... and they did not run out. Even for us slow people!!! I had several people ride/drive by and check-in if I was OK... and even had a course vehicle that had a cooler off the back drive by and ask if I needed water.

I am so flat out impressed how well they handled the conditions.

So I got by by holding Ice in my hands when I could.

By the end my shouders and back were absolutely killing my with sun-burn and I was GLOOOOOWing with heat. I took 2 rags at one of the last aid-stations and put them on my shoulders and pored water on them when I could. It helped a bit.

Last few miles NO shade. I won't lie it was rough. I walked as fast as I could but I'm sure I was probably only going a good 3mph at that point.

Was not very fun at the end there. The last 5 miles felt like forever and made me question why I wanted to do this anymore.



Sunscrean... maybe even arm-coolers. If it was cooler I would have wanted to time my intervals, but I took what I could on this very hot humid and sunny day.

Warm Down? COOL DOWN!!!!! IN Cold-bath/pool they had at the finish. How awesome that that? I would have stayed there awhile but I ran into people I knew so wanted to go sit with them for awhile. I'm sure the water was totally icky with 500's stinky sweaty feet in there before me, but I didn't care. It felt awesome on my hot hot hot shoulders. I wanted to dunk my head, but ew.


Again, as always weight. I weighed a good 15-lbs more then I did last year and it causes me to over-heat sooner then most people.


I love this race and it's so worth the 4 hour drive from Chicago. I'm beyond impressed how they handled the hot humid conditions this year. They went out of their way to make us as comfortable as they possibly could. Only 9 percent did not finish which on a day like today I think is impressive. As always the race is run well. Tons of course markers, bouys are really numerous etc etc.

I still hate the race shirts though same as last year just a different color, and would have been nice if the medal looked different then last year (the front just had the new date) the back was different but who displays the back of a medal?