Ironman 70.3 Steelhead - Triathlon

Well, I was mighty pissed when I saw my time exiting the swim. I had hoped for a little pr, not a PW! The water was rolling and it was hard to get into a groove. I got pushed around off course a bit from the waves as well. Not horrible, but not a smooth swim by any means. We really didn't get any current push that this race is known for. I started getting passed by waves behind me (bummed me out...I've never started as the first wave and am used to catching waves, not being caught!) and just tried to be focused. I knew I was swimming slower because of the chop, but I had no idea I was THAT much slower!

Sight more and try and go with the flow of the waves more?

After looking at the data of the others in my age group, talking with fellow racers and hearing my fishy friend Steve was off 5' from his usual swim, I didn't feel TOO bad about being off by 6' from my usual time. But still. That swim got in my head darn it!

it was a LONG run in the sand to get to the transition area, and a LONG run in transition to get to my rack spot. I walked a bit in there to let my heart rate drop, then started hustling again. Suit got a tad stuck on my heels

Not walk, body glide ankles

Well, I was ranked #1 in my division,but was the 4th fastest on the bike. Meh. I had a hard time letting go of the shitty swim time, my new toy (garmin 500) that was to be my taskmaster didn't show my watts, and my legs wern't feeling fab like they usually do. My mindset was just off. I was not geeked to race like I usually am once I actually get racing and the nerves settle down. I told myself out loud to let the swim go and FOCUS, and that helped a lot.

I usually get to pass a lot of folks, but again, being in the first wave, not so much. It was kind of lonely actually. I saw one friend in the early part of the bike and that was about it. I did get a tiny pr, but it sure wasn't the best feeling day in the saddle I've had in a race, by a long shot.

Get my technology straight BEFORE racing! I threw a bottle with water in it that I should have emptied first into my speedfill. I had no fluid the last 25' on the bike.
Taken more salt tabs or use nuun. Still figuring out the best way to use UCAN. Got a sloshy belly on the run.

Took the shoes off a tad early. You ride the path once you get in the park going into transition for about .75 mile, and I took my feet out early. Then I had to get the sand off my feet before starting the run. Pretty good otherwise.

Just keep the shoes on a bit longer, and if I take the time to wipe my feet, get all of the sand darn it!

Again ranked #2, but 5th by time.

I had soooo thought I could pr and finally beat my half run time today. Nope. I did as prescribed, and ran a slower pace for my first 3 miles. But I knew it woudl be tough to pick up the pace about 2.5 miles in. Especially with the hill looming. My belly was sloshy, I had to pee, and my legs were not feeling it. I tried to stick to my plan,but walked more than I planned to through aid stations, and had to take a potty break. Wish I'd done that in transition as I felt better in the belly a bit afterwards. I really just didn't have the mental umpf I needed to stay pushing today. :( After passing the last aid station where I knew some of the volunteers , who cheered their head off for me, I knew there was only 1.6 left, but it was the LONGEST 1.6 miles I've run in a LONG TIME! :) I just wanted to be done! I tried to run hard in the shoot, and I did effort wise, just , ahem, not speed wise lol.

On the upside, I saw all my peeps on the run. Got splashed by the birthday boy Steve as he flew past, got to cheer Nell, Sara and Joe in their first 70.3 run, smacked Robert as I passed by and saw both the Ely's and Potter just flying! Love racing with my peeps!

Take more salt on the bike to help with the sloshy belly, and just try to stay more focused. I tapered properly, was well fueled...just hard to stay mentally tough today!

Saw Simon in the finish shoot and chatted him up bemoaning my not fab race, and congratulating him on a great one!

Had the athsma I get sometimes after the finish shoot. Not fun. But at least it wasn't horrible this time, and disappated pretty quickly.


I'd have to say this race it was mostly mental. The swim was rough, yes, but the weather was ideal for the rest of the race and I should have been able to have a good bike and run. Hopefully more salt will help next time with belly bloat,and someday I'd like to learn to pee on the fly on the bike. That would have helped my run time skipping the porta pot break.


As always, the race experience is made for me by racing with my friends. There were 12 Fraser peeps and 2 ATCK peeps racing... that made the weekend and race. Nell, Joe and Sara all completed their first 70.3's and Sara burst into tears of joy afterwards during our hug. That was awesome to share with her!!!

I had big goals for the race: tiny pr in all disciplines and try to earn a slot to 70.3 World Championships. I'd said it outloud to my training partners. A first. So when birthday boy Steve showed me Iron Trac for my race, and it said 1st in my division I was ecstatic, and in disbelief, especially since I didn't feel like I'd raced well and was far from a PR. I was so geeked to believe ( mistakenly) that I'd earned the slot! Heaven for an hour! LOL. Then the error was corrected and I was 2nd in AG. BUT...the gal who was first did not take her slot, and I got the roll down. It's hard to be disappointed when you get what you'd hoped for and land on the podium! Steve, Jon, and first timer Nell at 29th in her AG all got slot to worlds and we are going to have a great time experiencing a World Championship and Vegas together! :)