Orangeman Triathlon - Triathlon1/2 Ironman

I wish the timing company would give age group rankings for the 3 sports. I've surfed at Doheny hundreds of times. Really enjoyed the swim. Once we got past the creek area the water was very clear. I was relaxed ... probably too much

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I already was feeling my calfs on the run up from the beach to T1. Walked on the sand until we got to cement

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Ahh ... to bike up Ortega (and down) is awesome. Impossible to do unless the course is closed. I think I stayed within myself. Met (actually re-met... too long of a story for here) an IronMan Priest. Father Tom Baker who will be competing in Kona with a Legacy ticket. Stud!. By biking skills downhill have improved ... not that this will help on IMAZ, but should help next year at Orangeman. Nutrition went well. Approximately 900 calories for the ride with Perpetuem and Cliff bar. 5 minutes faster than last year with less effort.

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I should have mentioned this on the bike .... Julia my BT coach said to not get "married" to the HR monitor, but ride by feel as well. Well Coach, I wasn't married to the monitor at all because I forgot to put it on before the swim or bike. At T2 my intent was to put it on for the run, but could not find it in my bag and just said screw it.

I did a training run a week before the race on the exact same sand part of the course. Right after I got off the sand my calf tightened and I stopped the run. The very next day I was able to easily run a easy 10 miler. This is why I'm convinced the sand did me in. After the sand part I got my HR down (I think ... no monitor remember) and ran 2 more miles before it tightened. From that point on I was trying to not injure it badly so I would run 100 steps and walk 200. Slow, but averaging about 12mph. Once I got to the sand for the last .7 the calf "popped" and I limped in. Brutal 3 hours.

Train more in the sand ... or DNF (if I had a crystal ball). I'm not sure why they set up the course with the soft sand. I was told it was a State vs City thing and giving up $$. Doesn't make sense. I can't blame the race on the injury ... but I think many people were not happy with the set up.

Calf


I'm 0 for 2 at Orangeman ... and I'm not one to complain ... but this is largely due to course set up. The bike is phenomenal and I appreciate the chance to ride Ortega. But last year the run was 14 miles and this year the soft sand??? This still has the potential to be a GREAT H.I.M. and I will always support this local race. Maybe just growing pains. Hope they get it all together next year.