Soma Triathlon - Triathlon1/2 Ironman

Water felt good, not too cold. ABQKid and I stayed at the back and to the right to let the faster people go. Swim was really crowed and I got hit and kicked several times thru out the race. At one point a Kayaker yelled at a group of us that we were way off course. I looked up and saw everybody else about 50 yard to my left so I headed back that direction. Took the swim pretty easy and felt fine the whole time. Having a wetsuit stripper also helped out a lot.

Need to learn to sight better. It was only my 3rd time swimming in open water and 2nd time with a wetsuit.

Took way too much time trying to clean the grass off my feet before putting on my socks and bike shoes.

Don't know, maybe brush off my feet faster.

Bike went really well. I tried to not push too hard since I knew it was a long race. Drank 1 1/2 bottles of water, 1 of gatorade and 1 3 hour bottle of perpetuem. I put some endurolytes in my bento box and was planning on taking 1 an hour. Well I guess my aero bottle was splashing into my bento box and it turned my endurolytes to a nice paste...lesson learned.

Keep endurolytes in a pocket or a little dispenser.

Racked bike quick and put on running shoes quick, but when I went to put on my number belt I realized that the elastic strap had come out of the buckle. I threaded it back thru the buckle, put some endurolytes in my pocket and off I went.

Check my race belt before I set it in transition.

For 3 weeks leading up to the race, I was battling a strained achilles, so I was dreading the run all day. Worrying about my achilles and knowing that the run is my least favorite of the three was not a good way to start out the run. As I started out of transition it felt like both my thighs were on the verge of cramping so I thought I better get some salt in me. I shuffled to the first aide station and took an endurlyte and water. I felt better for the next few miles, but could tell I was running slow, even for me. After the first lap, my strained achilles started to rear it's ugly head and I started taking a lot of walk breaks. 2nd lap was over 10 minutes slower than the first. With about 1.5 miles left ABQKid caught me and I told him to let the group and wives know I was on my way.

Besides being born a faster runner, not much. Injuries happen to everybody, just part of the game.

Crossed the finish line, hugged the wife and congratulated ABQKid on completing his first half also. I stood by the finish line and looked around and told myself you did it, you completed a half iron. I did it and was over 1/2 hour faster than my goal...What a great day.


Lack of experience and lack of base. I've only had a bike for 10 months and only did my first tri 5 months ago. I know that I'll get a lot smarter at this sport as time goes on.


Was a very well run race. Everything seem to run real smoothly.