Patriots Half - Triathlon1/2 Ironman


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Williamsburg, Virginia
United States
Set Up Events
81F / 27C
Overcast
Total Time = 6h 11m 15s
Overall Rank = 150/304
Age Group = 35-39
Age Group Rank = 30/52
Pre-race routine:

Had a nice vacation condo in Williamsburg for the weekend and headed up on Friday afternoon. It was nice to actually be able to pick up my race packet on the day before for a change to avoid that particular . Wanted to eat dinner by 5pm but didn't end up actually eating until around 8pm. A nice Mexican dinner seemed to hit the spot with a good combination of carbs etc. Then a nice soak in the pool and hot tub then in bed by 10pm. Not too bad. It was a nice evening before a race. Was awake by 4am, and out the door by 4:30. Hit up a Wawa for a Breakfast sandwich, but they didn't have any yet, so just went with a cinnamon roll and a water. Got to the race site and got set up without any difficulties. Was ready to go by about 6am or so, then spent the remainder of the hour checking and rechecking my gear and set up.
Event warmup:

Not much in the way of warm up. I drank a mountain dew, ate a power bar, and got a quick stretch in just prior to my wave's start.
Swim
  • 51m 18s
  • 2112 yards
  • 02m 26s / 100 yards
Comments:

The swim was nice overall. It was my fastest non-wetsuit legal swim in an HIM, so not unhappy at all. I was only 5 minutes slower than by time back in May and I was wearing a wet suit for that one. I didn't think that the current played a roll much for me throughout the course, and I think my sighting was pretty good overall. The beginning was a little tough as I fought my way through a lot of bodies, but its to be expected. I also got a toe cramp about half way through which was really annoying as it wouldn't resolve on its own very easily. I even think I felt a little pannicky for a moment when I thought it wouldn't go away. I just started kicking like mad, and eventually it went away not to return. The trip back to the beach was a little tough as I thought I was taking the straightest line from the last turn around and kept my eye on the wiggly man, but it seemed everyone was swimming a straight line far to my right down stream and I felt a bit alone out there for a bit, but I think I was the one in the right here but who knows.
What would you do differently?:

Train harder on the swim.
Transition 1
  • 04m 36s
Comments:

T2 felt slow as it took a minute to get into the compression socks I wanted to wear for this race, but didn't struggle with anything and didn't have anything cramping up on me, so I was able to take right off. I was moving quickly with the bike, but stuck behind someone moving really slowly and had to be content to walk behind her as there was not place to pass on the way to the mount line. Oh well, ultimately I got on and moving without any hiccups.
What would you do differently?:

I think I could have been moving a bit faster in general, but am happy with it overall.
Bike
  • 2h 54m 12s
  • 58 miles
  • 19.98 mile/hr
Comments:

I really enjoyed the bike course in this race. It was shaded, not too flat, but not too hilly either. The roads were smooth for the most part and the scenery was pretty as well. I am really pleased with my bike effort. I often have trouble pulling a 20 mile ride at better than 20 mph, but maintained almost 21mph pace for the first 30 miles or so. It started to fall off in the second half, but slowly. I noticed at about mile 15 or so that my bike number was rubbing my leg a bit, but it was starting to hurt some. I actually was getting papercuts by the darn think for most of the race and have an messed up patch on my lower inner thigh.I stayed at a 20.10 or so average mph through mile 55. It was in the final mile that I dropped down to 20mph for an average. The last half mile was on a beat up access road to the park. I was pleased with the drinking and nutrition on this ride. I packed only one bottle holder and put ice water in it with a hammer electrolyte tab it it, and set up the front bottle with water and a calorie mix. I did well drinking from the front bottle, and refilling it as I went along from the frame bottle. I had a small bottle of 2 packs of sports beans in my shirt pocket, 2 stinger waffles, a shot blox, in the bento box. I ate a stinger waffle at mile 12, and another around mile 40. I ate the beans throughout just to keep entertained, and drank from the front bottle regularly. I picked up a bottle at the first aid station and thought I was getting water, but it was Heed. yuck, not fond of heed at all and was really looking forward to having a bottle of just plain cold water. Oh well I be more ready next time. I did pick up plain water at the second stop, and didn't need anything from the third stop. By the time I was getting off the bike, I didn't have to pee as in previous races. Overall, I was really happy with the bike ride and my hydration and nutrition strategy.
What would you do differently?:

Nothing
Transition 2
  • 02m 40s
Comments:

Upon landing in T2 and just about to put on my shoes I realized that I had grabbed one old shoe for the right foot, and the new left shoe of the same style pair. This got me worrying a bit, but just dealt with it. Otherwise, i probably could have done t2 much faster.
What would you do differently?:

Practice t2 a bit.
Run
  • 2h 18m 31s
  • 13.1 miles
  • 10m 34s  min/mile
Comments:

I was so hoping that this run would go faster. I was going great for the first loop and maintained a sub 10 min/per mile for the first 6 miles or so. I was walking the aid stations but committed to only walk at aid stations and was able to maintain that commitment throughout. I think I drank too much water along the way as my stomach started to get heavy. I resorted to chewing ice from my cup and carrying it for a good bit of the course. It did get pretty hot as 1pm neared. I knew I wouldn't make the 6 hour marker, so I focused on simply beating the times from the Spring race.
What would you do differently?:

Train the bike harder.
Post race
Warm down:

Wife and kids were waiting for me at the finish line. Quickly laid down in the shade and just laid there for a bit. Wife brought some food over, and I enjoyed a couple of pieces of pizza, and then enjoyed a cuople of beers before heading off.

Event comments:

Loved the race, and turned in my fastest HIM to date.




Last updated: 2012-09-02 12:00 AM
Swimming
00:51:18 | 2112 yards | 02m 26s / 100yards
Age Group: 41/52
Overall: 239/304
Performance: Average
Suit: Pearl Izumi Select shorts, and LG pro shirt
Course: out about 100 yards, then against the current for 3 or 400 yards, then across current for another couple of hundred yards, then down stream for 800 yards maybe, then back to the beach for the remainder.
Start type: Wade Plus: Waves
Water temp: 81F / 27C Current: Medium
200M Perf. Below average Remainder: Below average
Breathing: Average Drafting: Below average
Waves: Average Navigation: Average
Rounding: Average
T1
Time: 04:36
Performance: Average
Cap removal: Good Helmet on/
Suit off:
No
Wetsuit stuck? No Run with bike: Yes
Jump on bike: No
Getting up to speed: Average
Biking
02:54:12 | 58 miles | 19.98 mile/hr
Age Group: 25/52
Overall: 116/304
Performance: Good
Wind: Little
Course: Single large look
Road: Smooth Dry Cadence: 81
Turns: Good Cornering: Good
Gear changes: Good Hills: Good
Race pace: Hard Drinks: Just right
T2
Time: 02:40
Overall:
Riding w/ feet on shoes Below average
Jumping off bike Bad
Running with bike Good
Racking bike Good
Shoe and helmet removal Below average
Running
02:18:31 | 13.1 miles | 10m 34s  min/mile
Age Group: 32/52
Overall: 159/304
Performance: Average
Course: Nice combination of trail running and road running. I love it.
Keeping cool Good Drinking Too much
Post race
Weight change: %
Overall: Good
Mental exertion [1-5] 4
Physical exertion [1-5] 5
Good race? Yes
Evaluation
Course challenge Just right
Organized? Yes
Events on-time? Yes
Lots of volunteers? Yes
Plenty of drinks? Yes
Post race activities: Good
Race evaluation [1-5] 5