Scheels High Cliff Triathlon - Half Ironman - Triathlon1/2 Ironman

Last years course was about 3-400 meters short from what I hear, so that pry had to do with why my time was 09 minutes slower but I was still very disappointed with how I did. Wore friends googles, big mistake. Once I hit the turn around, everytime I came up I was looking right into the sun. This made spotting very difficult and I ended up veering way too far out on several occasions. It also made me come striaght up to look quite a bit and I never got into a steady pace.

Definatly master's swim before Ironman Wisconsin next year. Work on spotting, new googles.

Ate half a cliff bar

Started off good up the big hill, then after about 3-5 more miles I heard hissing from my tires. Asked a guy if I looked flat, he said no but that maybe my tires looked a little low. Got off my bike and noticed the nozzle you fill the air with was bent and loose, tire was a little low but I didn't fill it with c02. Got back on and road. Felt really set back and wanted to average over 19 on the bike so I started pushing harder than I had planned. I have never had leg cramps biking or running in my life, but I began to get really bad cramps in my hamstrings after about 20 miles. Didn't even know what I felt like so I thought I maybe had pulled it, but then it went away but then came back around mile 30. Nice lady on bike told me she had salt tablets and said they should help. Took the pills and the cramps stopped, was very thankful. Got off bike and noticed that my hamstring was pretty tight and sore. Overall very happy with bike time but used way too much effort.

More nutrition on bike. Don't push as hard.

Very very disappointed with run. Just did an Olympic three weeks ago where I averaged 20.4 on the bike and 7:00 min per mile on the run and also did a half marathon where I averaged a 7:03 run. Do not understand how I did so terrible as running is normally my biggest stregnth.Took off too fast up the hill and felt completly bonked out after 3 miles. My run was slower than last years run even though I trained way more, did more bricks and am overall a way better runner. Also my wife did her first half, trained really hard with her busy schedule and she finished at around 6 hr 30 min. Was really proud of her and when she finished I didnt really care about how bad a did because I was happy to see her finish.

More nutrition on the bike, a little slower on the bike maybe.

NONE


Really trying to figure that out. Am very disappointed and pretty confused. No reason I should not have been around 5:30. I understand I need to train more for swimming and the course being the right distance this year has a lot to do with me getting a 9 min slower time than last year but I feel seeing my time after coming out of the water put me in a bad mental state. Then once I had to get off my bike around mile 10, I felt like I had to make up a lot of time and pry pushed too hard on the bike. Once I started running I just felt terrible. My hamstring was bothering me and I just felt bonked. I think when I started to realize I wasnt going to hit my goal I just gave in. This is what I am most disappointed in, usually mental toughness is a big stregnth of mine but I started feeling sorry for myself, was upset and just gave in. There is no reason that someone who can run 7:00 per mile on an olympic course should be running 9:40's on a half ironman.
On a positive note, a lot of things did not go my way but I still got through it. I beat last years time by about 20 min, learned a lot about my body and what is needed for my nutrition, will be even more important for the full im planning to do next year. Will be more prepared next time for incoviences and try and learn from and take what I can from it. Still can't believe how terrible my run was!


Course was nice, not a big fan of the uneven trails very very upsset with how I did, however trails not to blame. No reason that someone who can run a 1:30 half marathon and 7 per mile Olym should be running a 940 run in the half. No exactly sure what happend and feel like I did all this training for nothing. Will need to get over it, try and learn from it and use what I learned for the full next year.