Ironman 70.3 Racine - Triathlon1/2 Ironman


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Racine, Wisconsin
United States
HFP Racing
90F / 32C
Sunny
Total Time = 7h 44m 55s
Overall Rank = 1652/1851
Age Group = W64-69
Age Group Rank = 2/3
Pre-race routine:

Drove to Madison Friday, hung out with my daughter and stayed overnight. Left for Racine Saturday am. Drove bike course, registered, athlete meeting, checked-in bike, and made it to O&H bakery to get some of there famous Kringle.
Stayed at cheap hotel about 15" from North Beach. Got up at 4am. PB&honey on a bagel, a couple cups of coffee and sipped G2 on the way to race. Paid $5 to park in large lot 2 blocks from transition although I could have parked on street not far away. Met the other 2 ladies in my age group before the race started. Transition closed at 6:30 so walked down about a mile to swim start about 6:20. Carried my wet suit down since I was in wave 15.
Event warmup:

None
Swim
  • 1h 02m 3s
  • 2112 yards
  • 02m 56s / 100 yards
Comments:

Had a GU and some water right before start. I knew I was one of the very slowest swimmers and there were 6-7 waves of 30-39 AG behind me. So I tried to swim wide, but I drift right so I kept ending up in the midst of the oncoming waves. More jostling and traffic than I'm used to. But I enjoyed the swim. The water temp felt good and I was relaxed. I knew if I just did my thing I'd be very slow but would finish fine - and that's how it went. Buoys were on right and I breathe right so that was nice, too
What would you do differently?:

I don't think I'll ever get much better at swimming.
Transition 1
  • 09m 51s
Comments:

Long jog from beach to transition area. I don't remember where the timing mat was. One of the other ladies in my age group who finished the swim before me was still there because she couldn't find the top to her aerobottle and was kind of frantic. I helped her look for about 30 sec but then got my stuff together and left.
What would you do differently?:

I didn't think I spent 9 min in transition - don't know what took me so long.
Bike
  • 3h 49m 55s
  • 56 miles
  • 14.61 mile/hr
Comments:

Right out of transition a very short, steep hill but I was in the right gear and spun, spun, spun. I was doing fine the first 15 miles but I fell just before the 1st aid station. Nothing serious but it looked worse than it was because I had blood running down my arm and leg. At the aid station, the medic wanted to clean me up and I said "No No - I want to cross the finish line bloody - that would look cool". Haha I was already fading half-way through - it was so hot. Maybe GU and water wasn't enough. Finished with a very disappointing pace. But was grateful I wasn't one of the racers I saw on the side of the course being treated.
What would you do differently?:

Need to ride more with more speed intervals
Transition 2
  • 05m 56s
Comments:

I hardly remember T2
Run
  • 2h 37m 10s
  • 13.1 miles
  • 11m  min/mile
Comments:

When I finished the bike, I honestly thought I might not be able to finish the race. The 1st couple miles were bad (big hill) and it was very hot (91) but after I stuffed some ice down my back at the 2nd aid station, I perked up. I got into a run/walk routine and actually passed quite a few people. I kept stuffing ice down my back and was feeling pretty good about the run going better than I had expected at the start (although certainly slower than I would've liked). Appreciated the cheering I got at the finish (in spite of my very slow time) and the announcer made a big deal of my age.
What would you do differently?:

Under the circumstances, I was happy with my run.
Post race
Warm down:

When I got back to the bike rack, one of the other ladies in my age group was there. She was a DNF (heat and asthma issues). She told me to be sure to go to the awards ceremony because I would get a trophy and they were really nice. I had known I would place because there were only 3 in my AG but I didn't know I'd get a trophy. It was super cool. I started to leave after the awards ceremony, and the 1st place lady in my AG stopped me and said she wasn't taking the World slot so I could have it. I thanked her but told her this was my 1st half and I thought it was really hard and I just wanted to get back to sprints for the rest of the summer.
I splurged and got $49 worth of take-out from Waves Pub in downtown Racine (great menu) and ate it all (2 desserts, of course)

What limited your ability to perform faster:

heat and old age and I need to get better on the bike

Event comments:

I had never done an Ironman sponsored event and I was very impressed. It was very well organized. Traffic control was great (I heard they hired 60 policemen), the course was very well marked and coned. Aid stations were frequent and very well stocked on the run - they still had ice for the very last runners.
I just gave it a 4 because I think they should have had one more aid station on the bike course and the really, really bumpy section at about half-way.


Profile Album


Last updated: 2011-03-12 12:00 AM
Swimming
01:02:03 | 2112 yards | 02m 56s / 100yards
Age Group: 3/3
Overall: 1820/1851
Performance: Average
Suit: xterra full
Course: Out 200 yards then straight line and back in. Buoys on right, boats on left.
Start type: Wade Plus: Waves
Water temp: 66F / 19C Current: Low
200M Perf. Remainder:
Breathing: Drafting:
Waves: Navigation:
Rounding:
T1
Time: 09:51
Performance: Bad
Cap removal: Helmet on/
Suit off:
Wetsuit stuck? Run with bike:
Jump on bike:
Getting up to speed:
Biking
03:49:55 | 56 miles | 14.61 mile/hr
Age Group: 2/3
Overall: 1791/1851
Performance: Below average
Wind: Some
Course: A lot of turns. Some very bumpy roads. No big hills - just rollers.
Road: Rough  Cadence:
Turns: Cornering:
Gear changes: Hills:
Race pace: Drinks:
T2
Time: 05:56
Overall: Below average
Riding w/ feet on shoes
Jumping off bike
Running with bike
Racking bike
Shoe and helmet removal
Running
02:37:10 | 13.1 miles | 11m  min/mile
Age Group: 1/3
Overall: 1653/1851
Performance: Average
Course: Out and back double loop. One bad hill on way out that you had to do twice. Also a smaller hill but rest was flat
Keeping cool Drinking
Post race
Weight change: %
Overall:
Mental exertion [1-5]
Physical exertion [1-5]
Good race?
Evaluation
Course challenge Just right
Organized? Yes
Events on-time? Yes
Lots of volunteers? Yes
Plenty of drinks? Yes
Post race activities: Good
Race evaluation [1-5] 4