California Half Ironman - Triathlon1/2 Ironman


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Oceanside, California
United States
Ironman North America
50F / 10C
Precipitation
Total Time = 6h 11m 4s
Overall Rank = 1141/1995
Age Group = 35-39
Age Group Rank = 239/367
Pre-race routine:

Popped up at 3:30am. Still on Chicago time I guess. Went to bed at 7pm. Stretched, ate, packed and rode the 1/2 mile to race site at 5:30 am. Basically just chilled out in the tent to get out of the rain. It was CCCCOOOOOLLLLLDDDD! Like 48F at start time and raining. Had to rush to get my wetsuit on because of a swim wave line-up like 15 minutes before I was ready!
Event warmup:

1.2 mile swim.
Swim
  • 39m 36s
  • 2100 yards
  • 01m 53s / 100 yards
Comments:

Lined up right to avoid the melee. Promised myself I'd take the first half easy and pick it up if I felt good. And I did. Second half was much better. I felt great! Too bad I'm so slow. Oh well, I have 200lbs to push around.
What would you do differently?:

Nothing. Swim went pretty much according to plan. Navigation was tougher than I expected. Current was moving us around pretty good in the middle part of swim near the open ocean.
Transition 1
  • 07m
Comments:

Since it was pouring rain at the swim start, I left everything in my waterproof tri bag. Took awhile to get it all out and on. I certainly was not hurrying. At least it was all dry!
What would you do differently?:

Try to move a bit faster. Can't complain much though, the rain slowed my progress down because I kept it all in the bag.
Bike
  • 3h 15m 16s
  • 56 miles
  • 17.21 mile/hr
Comments:

Spent 5 minutes or more fixing a flat! AAARRRGH. My bike said I averaged exactly 18mph while I was on it, so the difference was my flat tire. Live, race, and learn.
What would you do differently?:

Brand new tires and tubes next time. I really don't think I could have gone any faster considering my first ever road bike ride was 5 months ago.
Transition 2
  • 04m 47s
Comments:

Again, everything was in the bag. No doubt added some time. But it was dry!
What would you do differently?:

Nothing. Rode exactly as planned save the flat. Actually rather proud of myself considering how much harder this course was than anything I've ever seen.
Run
  • 2h 04m 27s
  • 13.1 miles
  • 09m 30s  min/mile
Comments:

Trouble! Both quads shut down in the first mile. Was seriously convinced I would DNF. Slowed down and started eating and drinking at every aid station. By mile 7 or so I had beat back the intense cramping and pain. I am amzed I never stopped except to walk thru the stations.
What would you do differently?:

Simply need more training. I am very proud of my ability to work through the intense pain and cramping of the first 5 miles.
Post race
Warm down:

Pizza and soda in the food tent.

What limited your ability to perform faster:

Only 6 months of traing. Flat didn't help either.

Event comments:

Awsome race. Extremely well done. Hundreds of Marines from nearby Camp Pendelton were everywhere helping out. Great medal and t-shirt too. Hard to believe there could be a better organized event than this.




Last updated: 2006-03-20 12:00 AM
Swimming
00:39:36 | 2100 yards | 01m 53s / 100yards
Age Group: 211/367
Overall: 1108/1995
Performance: Average
Did not wear a HR monitor. Didn't even wear a watch for that matter.
Suit: Xterra Vector 2 full
Course: Started in Oceanside bay and swam .6 miles out and left into the pacific to turnaround. Started by walking in from boat ramp.
Start type: Deep Water Plus: Waves
Water temp: 56F / 13C Current: Medium
200M Perf. Average Remainder: Average
Breathing: Good Drafting: Below average
Waves: Average Navigation: Below average
Rounding: Average
T1
Time: 07:00
Performance: Below average
Cap removal: Average Helmet on/
Suit off:
No
Wetsuit stuck? No Run with bike: Yes
Jump on bike: No
Getting up to speed: Average
Biking
03:15:16 | 56 miles | 17.21 mile/hr
Age Group: 272/367
Overall: 1301/1995
Performance:
Wind: Strong with gusts
Course: Very hilly. Long 7% grades lasting for a mile or so. Don't have those in IL! Strong headwind last 15 miles. Tough bike course.
Road: Smooth Wet Cadence:
Turns: Average Cornering: Average
Gear changes: Average Hills: Below average
Race pace: Comfortable Drinks: Just right
T2
Time: 04:47
Overall: Average
Riding w/ feet on shoes Bad
Jumping off bike Good
Running with bike Average
Racking bike Average
Shoe and helmet removal Below average
Running
02:04:27 | 13.1 miles | 09m 30s  min/mile
Age Group: 212/367
Overall: 1099/1995
Performance: Below average
none
Course: Flat 2 loops next to ocean.
Keeping cool Good Drinking Just right
Post race
Weight change: %
Overall: Good
Mental exertion [1-5] 4
Physical exertion [1-5] 5
Good race? Ok
Evaluation
Course challenge Too hard
Organized? Yes
Events on-time? Yes
Lots of volunteers? Yes
Plenty of drinks? Yes
Post race activities: Good
Race evaluation [1-5] 5