Chelanman - Triathlon1/2 Ironman

Swim line for sighting. On the way back look out for the sun coming up, right into your eyes.

Nothing, PR!

The new JFT tri top rocks, and for once had everything set up well and the wet suit came off somewhat quickly. PR’d the T1 at 3:40! Fastest time ever for a ½ ironman, and way below my average for all races!

Nothing

Bike: Coach Jill has been telling me to slow down a little on the bike, to save something for the run. I left on the bike, and really felt like I was taking it easy as I know the back ½ of the bike course is tough. I saw Janusz (teamate) with his flat and asked him if he needed anything and he waived me off, I really wanted to have a “Chrissy W” moment as I know he was going to beat me! I saw the rest of my teammates throughout the out and back on the bike, which was so cool!. The bike course seemed much easier than last year, but I suspect that it was because it was much cooler this year. Navarro Coulee seemed to be much easier although I had to make a pit stop in the bushes, and got a good laugh from some fellow riders who saw me emerging from the bushes. Nutrition was 2 bottles of Perpetium and 2 thermolytes. I had forgotten about the thermolytes because it was so cool. I felt like I was in great condition for the run when I got off the bike. My Garmin however died at 56 miles on the bike, which irritated me. Bike time was 3:21:13 which is a Chelan course record and faster than 2 of my rides at Lake Stevens!! Overall very happy with the Bike!

Actually train for the distance

T2: Socks where totally soaked, and so changed to dry socks, which took a little longer than I planned, but still PR’d T2 at 3:42!

OK so I thought I was going to totally fly on the run, come in somewhere around 2 hours. It sure didn’t work out that way. Left and went out easy, 1st mile was 13 minutes according to my watch, picked it up on the second mile. Around mile 4 the real fun began. Walked up the karma hill just to take it easy. Back to running. Around mile 5 I started to have a meltdown mentally and finally before mile 6 I had to walk for a bit. My right shoe was causing me some major pain, took my shoe off at the turnaround and looked in the shoe and took out the insole, my foot (thought I might have a blister), but nothing was obvious. This is the 1st long run after changing from Brooks to ASIC’s but after this run thinking I’m going back to Brooks. Went back to running after the turnaround, and actually felt much better overall (mentally). Started getting my groove back around mile 7, and thought I would just run it in, and have an average training run. At mile 9 I looked up and saw the mile sign, and my left calf cramped big time. Slumped over grabbing my leg. The gentlemen behind me asked me if I was ok, & needed medical help, I told him it was a cramp, & I have had them before. As soon as I could I started walking to the next aid station and got Gatorade. Finally was able to go back to the run one telephone pole, walk one. If I tried for 2 telephone poles, I got the cramp back, although there were some times when I would go about 1 ½ telephone poles. Looking back on the race, I had a nutrition breakdown on the bike portion, I should have taken more thermolytes and stuck to the hot weather plan with the thermolytes. Anyway the run time ended up 2:30:22 course record, but not something I’m happy with.

Bricks bricks bricks

Walked a little before the rain started, then headed to the hotel.


Training time


Overall: 6:38:53. Course Record! At first I was pretty upset about how the race went when I finished, but looking back, I had an awesome race, had PR’s on the Swim and both transitions, faster bike than last year, and a faster run than last year on a course that is tough. So I guess it was a good race all things considered. Having teammates there is priceless, nothing like seeing the JFT team at the finish line, although I’d like to get there a little earlier next time! Thanks coach Jill for the encouragement as I really thought I would have a much tougher time