Magic Mountain Man Triathlon (M3) - Triathlon1/2 Ironman

I started up front and to the outside which normally works for me in a wave start with my age group. What I didn't take into consideration was that this was a mass start all ages and genders so rather than be up front swimming to the side on my own I got run over by the fast guys in the pack. So that made my first part of the swim not so great. I hate being in the masses. But the water was so nice I couldn't complain. After swimming in the cold choppy ocean this was great.

Let the guys go first.

I ended up putting my long sleeve thermal on and my thermal hat under the helmet. I knew it was going to warm up but at the moment it was cold. If I had realized that so much of the first part was up hill (about 7 miles) I might have rethought the shirt.
I had two 32 oz bottles of Perpetum on board with 5 scoops between them, a Mojo Bar and Sport Beans.

Ditch the long sleeve top.

I made 2 32oz bottles of Perpetum with 5 scoops between them. I had a Mojo bar and energy beans in my Bento box. I grabbed water at every aid station and drank the entire bottle. I finish everything and I felt fine.

I felt my calf strain on the bike so I was worried about the run

Not sure. Oh, bike fit is a necessity! anything over 40 miles is killer on the fit right now.

Went well.

My legs felt fine after that bike which was great. My calf started to chime in after a mile so I tweaked my running stride and strike and hoped for the best. I also had to pee again and they didn't have a port-o-potty at the end of transition so I had to hunt one down in the park.
It was hot. I am OK with the heat so I can't imagine how some people were feeling if I thought it was hot. I had them splash me at each aid station with water. I ran with a Fuel Belt with water and Nuun and a gel in the pocket. I took water at the aid stations. I felt slow but I was steady. I passed a lot of people and never got passed. I also thought I was in last place - there were tons of bikes racked in transition and I never saw a woman so I wasn't sure what was going on. I think the bikes I saw were from the Oly distance race. Anyhow, run was fine and I was nursing my calf and ready to be done. In the last half mile I just kept hoping I wouldn't see a woman ahead of me at the last minute that I would have to hunt down and risk really tearing up my calf. Of course with about 1/4 miles to go I saw one and pushed myself to pass her. What the hell, it was my last race this season. My calf muscle went from slightly hurting to screaming. But I passed her and she didn't answer (thank god) and it put me in 2nd overall for women.

Not have an injury!

calf.


I really liked this race. I wasn't sure I would like it (not sure why) but it was great. I liked the hills and it was well organized. I think I was skeptical about it after reading a race report from someone a year earlier and it sounded sketchy but I would like to do it again next year.