HITS Triathlon Series: Ocala - Half Iron Course - Triathlon1/2 Ironman

Great water temperature as I didnt have a suit, the hot days leading up to the event made it warmer than expected. Swim was good really, kept it steady, didnt wear out for the race.

Need to work on technique and swim more.

Seat in transition is great.

Was fighting a spider in my aerobars for the first half mile, not great for my concentration :)
Slowed down for some intersections when it really didnt seem the cop was going to stop any other traffic. Stopped at one because a car was coming through.
Really needed to pee in the last 15 miles but couldnt find a port-o-loo.
Considering I rode the bike for the first time one week before the race Im happy with the time.

Get fit on the bike, spend more time riding it. Move aerobar torpedo mount, it was hitting the ski bends on the way out.

Had stomach cramp out of T2 so kept my pace low. Gone by mile 4. Around mile 6 or 7 I bonked and started walking sections, got back into a run for the last 3 miles though.

Had some leg cramping when I tried to re-tie my shoe, took a few minutes to fully shake off.

Not take a 5 week vacation with very little training leading up to a race!

Self applied quad massage.


Training. It went well in the 15 to 5 weeks pre race but then moving countries and vacationing badly affected my training.


Great to have the feel of a local race with the support/planning/execution of a larger one. They had the "feel" down but it would have been a lot better if some of the race was not shared with traffic (which I understand is impossible for a 100 participant event - even if you are charging $250 for a half).
Volunteers did an outstanding job but I am glad I wasnt near a pack as each aid station had 1 volunteer.
The lake swim was the best Ive done in florida, clear & calm water, nice lake. The bike was ok, it was flat. The road surface was satisfactory, nothing to complain about but not new, smooth roads. Very backwoods, if you like looking at trees, this is the race for you. The run through the trail was nice and in the shade, but on soft soil so a bit of extra work. Out on the road there were long sections without shade and it was hot, but its florida and thats what you train for.
The organizers worked hard to execute this event well.
Finishers medal is junk, which makes me sad and why they give an award to every age I do not know, I feel it knocks the FEW people who now do not get awards than it excites the many who turn up and get one because they're the only 26 year old that turned up (hi).
Overall the race was good. I would DEFINITELY do a HITS race again, very well run race & feel. Not sure about doing ocala again as the course wasnt good enough to make me want to go back