The Utah Half - Triathlon1/2 Ironman

The start was ok, but during the initial washing machine someone caught the collar of my wetsuit on their pull and flipped it inside out. This rubbed my neck raw on the velcro everytime I took a breath. Luckily, it flipped back after about 200m. Sighting was ok until we got to the outside of the rectangle. I sighted to the wrong corner and started swimming there. A kayacker had to tap me with his paddle and tell me I was going the wrong way. Poor sigting issues, a hard sun line, and the neck made for a rough swim. I was dissapointed in the performance, but felt calm and ready to go on to the next events.

Sight! I am terrible at it. I need to get out and practice, or just calm down in races. I need to figure something out.

Chose not to do a flying mount. No real issues w/ the way transition went though.

Looking at my HR data, I would calm down. 30 seconds in a 5+ hour race is not worth getting a high HR that I had to try and calm down.

I felt fine during the bike and was excited to get some of the time back that I had lost on the run. Looking back on the data, I went way too hard. I should have given up more time to save for the run. My avg HR was way too high (153 w/ max of 175). I also made the big mistake of using the same nutrition plan that I had been using in the desert w/ 112 degree heat on a race day that had a high of 78. Here is what I ate and drank:

15 minutes: 1 GU (100 cal)
45 minutes: 3 shot blocks (100 cal)
90 minutes: 1 clif bar (240 cal)
110 minutes: 3 shot blocks (100 cal)
130 minutes: 1 GU (100 cal)
Drank throughout: 20 oz water and 27 oz Gatorade (160 cal)



I would definately eat and drink less, and add some salt in the mix. I would also cool it and pace myself better. I only had a couple times where I felt my legs, and I should have noticed and backed off then.

It was a great transition, until I forgot my race belt... that was the only mistake. I was too focused to make sure that I took my helmet off and forgot the belt. Other than that, it was a good transition.

Don't forget my race belt and have to go back for it.

Well this is one run that I am glad that it is over but I will always wish I could have back. I started out feeling great, until about 1-2 miles in I started cramping pretty bad. It was worse than the usual side stich. It was my whole stomach tightening up. I thought a quick walk to bring the HR down would fix it, but it didn't. I had stomach issues from mile 2 on. I wish I would have fought harder through it, but it mentally defeated me. When I saw my time goal go out the window, I let it bring me down more than I should have.

Next time I will conserve on the bike and not eat and drink as much. I will also fight through it more.

I sat stunned for a while, pretty dissapointed in the run and overall time. Then I tried to get over it and spend time with my family. Not a whole lot of warming down other than walking around. That made for some sore legs the next couple days.


Poor nutrition and poor pacing... First HIM, so hopefully something to learn from.


The main concerns I had coming in were with the bike course. I read reviews that a lot of people flatted and some people had to stop at intersections. I didn't see anything like that. The bike course was a little bumpy, but not bad. I didn't see any flats and they were great about stopping traffic. The volunteers and support were great. The only complaint of the day would be with the swim course. They didn't start setting out the bouys until 7 (time it was supposed to be starting). Then they changed the course to what had been posted. Made for some confusion, but w/ my sighting skills, I don't know that it would have made a difference. Other than that mistake, it was a good race.