Orangeman Triathlon - Triathlon1/2 Ironman

Positioned myself on the right middle and after the horn, I was off! Lotsa contact but nothing severe on my way to the first buoy. I kind of swam a bit too wide and I corrected myself and stuck with the pack as best as I could. At this point I started to hyperventilate due to tightness of wetsuit and I eased my effort to long strokes and gliding into an aerobic effort. I thought to myself, “Don’t lose it here, it’s only the beginning!”

About half-way through I started seeing the 3rd wave catch up and pass. I was nearly swum over but the swimmer corrected and passed on my left. More contact throughout the rest of the swim. Got splashed badly at one buoy and drank lots of water but kept going.

Nothing broke my focus and stroke technique as I started catching a few racers in my age group. One swimmer with a much higher stroke rate swam to my right as I lined up myself to the buoys and he looked like he was having a hard time. I let him get half a body length ahead and I drafted him. At about 1/3rd of the way swim left, my steady, long glide aerobic pace wore him down because I no longer saw him after I had passed him. He must have tired himself out.

I'm happy with my swim performance and decision making. =)

Break in the wetsuit well before racing if possible. Sight better.

Out of the water, not out of breath. Took off Garmin 910xt and gripped it between my teeth as I started to take off my wetsuit. I never wore a watch during the swim that after I stripped down halfway, I kind of panicked in my head saying, “Oh no!!! My watch!!!” But then it was right below my nose, hehehe! Whew!

Took my time here, debated on sunscreen but applying Butt’r cream made me forget.

Suit off, watch (installed facing up instead of down, ughh) socks, shoes, glasses, Halo headband, and helmet on. Applied butt’r cream after finally finding it underneath my bag. Lost time there but there was no way I’d continue w/o it! Packed Cliff Bar packs into my tri-top rear pocket. A few dropped while running to the bike exit I had to stop and pick them up. Argh!

Secure items so they don't get temporarily lost. Apply sunscreen before race start.

Patience and save legs for the run was on my mind the entire way through the first 30 miles which was an ascent. I spent the first 10 getting into and maintaining a low-mid Z2 pace. There was a descent where a couple racers had accidents due to not heeding to the Sheriff’s advice about a couple speed bumps on the way back down that part of the bike segment. I dodged them and the bumps successfully. That was around the 8 mile mark.

Kept pace even and smooth in Z2. Couldn’t help but get into mid-Z3 on the tougher grades after mile 20 but was still able to converse with other racers. I saw my friend Patrik on his way down a several miles before I got to the turnaround. What an athlete! Wow! After the turnaround I enjoyed the super fun descent! The scenery was beautiful. =) I did have to get into standing position several times as my butt was getting sore along with slightly lower back.

Maintained a low Z3 effort and engaged easier gears and 90ish cadence last mile into T2. Did not lose any of my water bottles and used up all my own nutrition and hydration. (Ate Clif bar halves every 40-50 minutes with Clif Shot Bloks every 15, drank every 10-15). No stomach problems whatsoever!

As we left the beach going to the turnaround, I did notice it got less humid and warmer FAST and vice versa on the return so it felt nice near T2. Legs felt okay and ready to run.

Nothing. Everything went well. =)

Successfully racked bike and made sure I applied sunscreen all over. Back of my neck responded negatively due to possible slight sunburn. Thank goodness I have brown skin! Reapplied Butt’r cream and put hydration belt on. Changed socks to Wrightsocks after putting on duct tape and BodyGlide.

I held my piss from mile 40 on the bike so I had to make a pit stop at a porta potty. I did not want to pull over on the bike course but next time I may as it may ease my bike effort. Nor did I want to piss while cycling and have that mess or smell on me during the run, hehe! Holding it wasn’t so bad but I knew I had to go. Such a relief!


Piss on the bike, use spray on sunscreen.

At the start, legs felt good! No cramps, yay! I saw Elisa at the run start and she took videos and pictures, yay!!! James Nguyen (Panda Jack) from BT called out my name as well. Really happy about that. =D The aid stations had so much stuff! Bananas, oranges, water, Heed, Hammer gels, salt caplets, and ice! So happy about the ice as it felt 90something out there along with at least 50% humidity!

Ran a mile, walked about 0.1 as planned for the first half of the half marathon. The beach run at the 1 mile mark flared up my ITBS so I had to deal with that mentally. Felt pretty good until after mile 7. I saw Patrik at about mile 4 as we was about to finish. Grrrr!!! Anyway, the walk/run strategy worked to keep my heart rate down as it kept creeping up to 150 and I saw someone collapse and request medical (she was going the other direction and several racers helped her). Mile 7 to 9 got gradually worse despite my mental effort to keep going. ITBS pain and blisters were constantly bothering me. Cramps formed on my calves and thighs. Some pain in my right inner thigh area near my nutsack as well.

As I walked, I chatted with several racers and finally gave in and took some Hammer salt caplets. After 5 minutes of taking that at about 9.5 miles, the cramps didn’t stop me. I had my 2nd wind going. No cramps but the rest of the pain was still there. But despite all that, I was able to continue at a more desired pace! Thank you Rookie Pignuts! I had your spirits with me as well to power me through! Run 1, walk 0.1, yeah!!! Got back to the beach and I had to slow down again. But then I got closer to the finish, ran with all I had left to the chute and finished as strong as possible. The RD announced my name and it felt great to finish.

That was the longest, most painful half marathon in my life!!! Or should I say race, hehehe!

Train appropriately for this distance and race. But I was not going to give up on this race since it's my last race of 2012 racing season.

Walked around and stretched a bit. Took photos. While I was getting a massage, Patrik won the Cannondale CAAD8 raffle! Lucky bastard, good thing I took so long to finish. Had pizza, water, and bananas. Showered and ate Chipotle burrito near Patrik’s house.


Insufficient run training. ITBS, blisters, cramps.


I really enjoyed myself at this race despite how difficult it felt along with the barely enough training. The volunteers were great and the on course nutrition support was excellent! I plan on racing it again next year! First HIM (70.3) race ever complete! Woot!!! ^_^