Memorial Hermann Ironman 70.3 Texas - Triathlon1/2 Ironman

This was not my best swim. I was dunked more than once and my legs kept being pulled. Everytime I thought I found a clear spot to swim, I was cut off by some one who had swam off course and was trying to get back in or someone who was not swimming a straight line. The other problem I had was with the male swimmers who started after my wave...there was one guy who would swim really fast past me and then he would slow down...I would get around him and then he would swim fast...over me again and slow down in front of me again...this was really frustrating. I tried just to stay calm and do my best to get out of the water and then focus on the rest of the race.

I might have been able to swim a little harder in this race...but I am not sure if any of the issues that slowed me down were any fault of mine...I think it was just the circumstance of the race.

This was a good transition for me. Just made sure I had everything I needed on the bike and headed out.

I was really pleased with my performace on the bike...the new bike made a huge difference...that and the wind was in my favor this year. I took 14 min of my bike time from last year. I was able to push on the bike without being uncomfortable. The wind going out was not that bad...a bit of a cross-head, but I was still able to keep the my speed between 17 and 18 mph. After the turn around, the wind was at my back and I was able to get keep the speeds between 19 and 20 mph. In training I really paid attention to my cadence at different effort levels and I used what I learned in the ride yesterday. I was very efficent a cadence between 85-90 rpms. The legs felt fresh and I did not feel like I was using too much energy on the bike. Also, the neck did not start bothering me until the end...but it was not that bad.

This was a smooth transition. Shaved time off from last year so that is good.

The best thing about the run this year is that I did not cramp! I felt the same sort of thing starting in the inside of the knees like I did last year, but I just ran through it this year...I was not going to stop because I know how that would have ended...and it went away once I got settled into the run. The first 5 miles of the run, I had a good pace going...around a 9:10 min/mile and I was feeling pretty good...but then I started to really feel the heat and my legs started to get a bit heavy. The next three miles the paced droped to almost 11 min/mil. I found a littel energy for about the next 4.5 miles and was able to get the pace around 10:24 min/mil. This is also about the time my entire body started to tingle and I could not really feel my hands or my feet. In the last 1.5 miles I hit the wall big time was just doing good to keep myself running and not walking. I am still happy with the run...I was able to take 2:19 off my time from last year...so any improvment is a good thing.

After the run my body was really tingling and my face was also tingling and I felt like I was going to have a nose bleed...it was the weirdest feeling.

I walked aroud a bit. Also drank a Gatorade and some water. Cooled myself down with a cold towel. Also, ate a banana and some pizza.


I need to learn to hold my line better in large crowds in the swim.

On the run, I think the heat got to me in the end.


The post race was much better than last year in terms of having food for the athletes.

I like the course for the most part...I did not like the addition of running on the tarmac of the airport. It was very hot during that portion of the run and it made the run feel much longer...I know the feeling longer is a mental thing, but a big part of the HIM is the mental aspect.

All and all, it was a good race.