Outer Banks Half Triathlon - Triathlon1/2 Ironman

Did not get to take any warm up swim and I let it get to my head and started out a little panicked. Water was choppy, this was a first for me, and visibility was maybe 12" underwater. Took me a few hundred to get calmed down, but once I did, I was able to find the rhythm of the waves and breathe at the crests. Felt good, but there was a big group in front of me and I thought I was near the back of pack which was a little disheartening.

Get in the water earlier and get a chance to get comfortable with the conditions.

Felt good and strong here, everything went as planned other than the mount, kind of got a little discombobulated and gave a few seconds back here.

nothing

Started out with a decent group of people and tried to keep up even though I was telling myself to race my race and not let anyone else influence that. First lap, pace felt comfortably hard and I couldn't decide if I wanted to stay there or back off to save for the run. Second lap, my pace slowed down and my mind had an argument with my legs about what we were going to do. Legs won and we slowed down a bit. This is when we started to hit the end of the olympic group. It still amazes me the people who do a "race" only to sit up and chat with their friends beside them about the hurricane damage.

Hindsight tells me that I should have taken it a little easier

Left a shot block on my towel during T1, came back to find ants EVERYWHERE. Had to take time to shake off my hat and race number. Got the socks on and shoes on and out I went

Make sure I finish eating in T1, or take it with me.

This is where the wheels came off. Don't know why, but 1/2 mile in both quads cramped up bad. Suffered through the first mile, then as I was taking care of another biologic issue at the first rest stop, I realized that a quick sit down would do wonders for my legs. Not saying everything was fixed, but the little trick of sitting down to stretch the quads enabled me to get through the run. At 3 miles left, I met another guy who was having trouble as well and we both pushed each other in providing support to not quit.

Don't think my run training was quite where it needed to be. Had an ITB issue in May/June that set me back, then I had to make up for it during the hottest part of the summer, which didn't help, then life got in the way toward the end of my training.

Nice EMS volunteer with the garden hose to drench and cool me down. Walked around for a bit, then some pain killers in the form of fermented barley and hops.


Training, and the heat on the run course. Sun came out, and wind went away and the humidity just kicked up a notch.


At first I thought having aid stations every mile would be overkill, but was I wrong!!!! Each and every one was much appreciated, with great and enthusiastic volunteers who were out for a LONG time.