Waterman's Half - Triathlon1/2 Ironman

I go my suit on and left transition to walk down to the dock. Special thanks to the guy that help me with my zipper. I was so cold and my hands and fingers so numb that I couldn't zip up, so thanks bro.

Leaving transition I had my worst bout of "why in the h3ll am I doing this". The ground was freezing, the grass was freezing, and there was no place that I could go. Its my fault for not having some type of wet suit booties or whatever, but damn my feet are freezing. It did get better though, as I was on the dock waiting to jump in the water, I think that my feet finally froze to the point that they were numb. I literary stopped having any feeling from my feet.

Jumped in the water and actually felt a bit better, the water was 61 degrees so nearly double the outside air temp. I started swimming and it really became a effort of simply finishing... I was cold, I was having a hard time settling into any sort of rhythm and I knew that my only goal was to get this damn thing over with.

Do I really want to keep doing this?



I don't know... if I had booties and had worn the full suit things might have been better, but honestly I didn't sign up for a polar bear plunge but that's what it felt like.

Yes you read that right my T1 time was a tick of the clock under 12 minutes. Surprisingly I was 22 of 24 in my AG so I guess it could've been worse.

I knew on the last leg of the swim that it was going to be ridiculous once I got out. What reprieve I got from the 61 degree water was soon to be a detriment multi-fold when I got out. Not sure what the air temp was at the end of the swim, but I'm sure it was still in the 30. The moment I got out I started to shiver uncontrollably and could barely manage a walk into transition.

I knew that there was no way that I could do the bike in any sort of normal triathlon fashion, it was simply too cold. So I toweled off to try to get as dry as possible... I'm not talking about a quick once over with a hand towel... I used a full on beach towel and was drying off like I just got out of the shower.

I then did my best to put on my multiple layers of clothes... 2 pair of socks, my tights, a long sleeve running shirt and my long sleeve cycling jersey. All thing while still shivering uncontrollably.

Do I really want to keep doing this?

Finally grabbed my bike and walked to the mount line. No run, no flying mount none of that nonsense there was no way I could execute so I didn't even try.

Nothing, given the conditions I would do exactly the same thing again.

I was dreading this part... mid thirties, still wet, and I'm about to go ride a bike for 3 hours... why am I doing this.

Started out pretty slow, I was actually a bit concerned for my own safety. I was still shivering and my hands and feet were numb. I wanted to try to warm up a bit before going anything that resembles fast just to make sure I was in control of my body and the bike.

For the first 10 miles or so I was actually looking forward to the climbs and was cursing the descents... how effed up is that!

After about 45 minutes or so on the bike, I pretty much warmed up. I could feel my hands and my body was warm. This was the best I felt all day, although I still couldn't feel my feet. I knew at this point I'd be able to make it and I wasn't questioning if I should continue. I was well in the hole by now though and I just decided to get though the rest of the race.

shoe covers maybe.

No flying dismount again, I had decided that I was completing, not competing so I didn't want to take any unnecessary chances, besides, I honestly still couldn't feel my feet.

Came in and pulled off the jersey and long sleeve, pulled off the tights and one pair of socks and put on the running kicks. I grabbed my race belt and headed out.

All things considered it wasn't a bad T2, I was 10 of 24 in my AG.

Nothing.

Normally, this is my best leg but by this point in the day I just didn't have any push left in me. I'd given up on "racing" this race so I just settled into a nice easy pace.

By mile 2ish of the run, my left foot started to come around and I could feel things again... the right however was not. It was at mile 3-3.5 that I honestly thought about pulling off and looking at my foot, I really thought I might have a case of frost bite. But I just pushed on. Thankfully, by mile 5 or so I started to get feeling back in the right foot , so I knew all was good.

Nothing, had I been "racing" I know I could've pushed to 8:30ish miles.

Walked around, got some cold pizza and stretched a bit.


The temperature, plain and simple.


So I set a PW (Personal Worst)for this distance, coming in over 35 minutes slower than my previous "worst" time, but in the end I'm happy. I had strongly considered not even doing the race. It was a mental challenge from the time I woke up, so that said I'm glad I finished! Not sure I'll do this race again though, the timing is just too "iffy" for the weather.

BOP>DFL>DNF>DNS