Deer Creek Fall Challenge - Half Iron Triathlon - Triathlon1/2 Ironman

The swim was definitely short. I can usually swim about a 1:40 pace easily so based on that and what is in the race results I estimate the swim to be about 500yds short. I could be wrong though since I don't know exactly how fast I was swimming. But anyway, the swim went well. Took a GU before the start. It was a little crowded on the first loop but coming into the second loop it thinned out after most of the shorter distance racers got out of the water. My arms felt a little numb in the beginning, maybe since the air temp at the start was in the upper 40's and I also haven't swam in a week. That went away though, felt great afterwards just focusing on form and felt like I was cruising at a good pace.

Nothing, it was a good swim and for HIM distance I don't really push the pace anyway.

I couldn't find my wetsuit strap for some reason. No big deal though, I got it unzipped before transition so it didn't cause me to waste any time. I brought arm warmers and gloves just like last year but for some reason I didn't feel all that cold so I didn't use them this time. I think I took off like 6min from T1 last year lol!

It was a good T1 for me so I wouldn't change anything. I can probably hurry up a bit but I'm not in a rush for HIM.

My goal was to stay high zone 2 to low zone 3. It was pretty easy keeping it zone 2, even low zone 2 at times, on the first half of each loop since it was flat and there was a tailwind at times. But, on the second half of the loop it's pretty hilly for this Chicagoan plus there was a good headwind, too. Got into zone 4 sometimes getting up those hills and zone 5 up the 2 big hills at the end of the loop.

I was practicing my nutrition strategy for IMCOZ which was to start taking gels at 15min into the bike and every 30min after that. I also had a Stinger Waffle at 1:45 to simulate about how long between eating it and beginning the run at IMCOZ and to see if it would bother me. Seems to have been fine so I'll probably be having two Stinger Waffles during the IM bike, one at 2:30 and one at 5hrs in. I also went through about 40oz of Gatorade so I'll need to plan on that too.

Find a race with no hill!! Ha, not really...I've learned this year that I can race on SOME hills even being from flat 'ol Chicago.

I took my time a little here...I really had to use the bathroom! Didn't do anything special, just took my helmet and glasses off and put my socks, shoes, and visor on. Also grabbed 2 gels. I walked to the run out line...it was pretty close so it's not like it took a whole lot of time from me.

Again...maybe just put some fire under my butt, next time!

Ah...I exceeded my goal on this one. Last year I walked a bunch and ended up with a 1:52:30. This time I was hoping to stay in low zone 3 and end up with a 1:45...although my training was telling me that a 1:40 was possible so I left that as my stretch goal. I actually went out WAY too fast and it really didn't feel like it. I thought my Garmin was just giving me bad info until I hit the one mile marker and my watch beeped at the same time. That mile split was a 7:10 and I knew I had to stay somewhere in the 7:50's. My HR was up there so I slowed down a bit but was still feeling great keeping it around mid to high zone 3. I kept this up for about 10mi.

During those 10mi though, I could feel the liquids sloshing around in my stomach from stopping at the aid stations. It would slosh around a bit, then go away, I'd stop by another aid station and it would do it again. It didn't slow me down or anything but it was just a little annoying. I skipped a few aid stations for this reason, but I seemed hydrated enough.

Going into the run I was thinking if I felt ok that I would hammer out the last 3mi...and that's what I did. I passed up the 3mi marker (3mi from the start so I knew I had that much left) and upped the pace. That first mile was a 7:10, the second was 6:57, and I was hoping to go faster again but I just couldn't keep that up and ran 7:04 for the last mile.

Oh yeah, at the beginning of the run, right outside of transition, I stopped at the port-o-potty and also stopped my watch. My watch time for the run was 1:38:26...that's 2min and 3sec in the bathroom!! They really need to put that port-o-potty in transition lol. Would have had an official avg of 7:32/mi which is way faster than I had a goal for.

Nada! I'm extremely happy with the run and it's given me some extra confidence for IMCOZ.

I was wating for my brother to finish so I walked around a bit then laid down with a towel over my face.


Actually, everything seemed to have come together for this race and I'm more than happy with it. Can't really complain when you pick up an Age Group podium spot...3rd place M3034!!


Great race! No huge expo or finish line activities, but for the cost of the race no one can really complain. If I could get out to Ohio with no problem every year I'd do it...but I also like to try new races, too. I recommend it, it's a good small race and a great course!