HITS Triathlon Series: Ocala - Half Iron Course - Triathlon1/2 Ironman

Got a quick warmup and the water felt good. However, quickly realized my dumb butt forgot to bring clear goggles. I couldn't see the first buoy, even after being shown it by other people. The RD called everyone back to shore and talked about course. Luckily this delayed the start by 12minutes, so it lightened up. However, really had trouble spotting the first buoy and swam a touch wide. Once rounding the first buoy, I swam w crowd and upon picking up 2nd buoy had no problems, same w last buoy. Overall not a bad swim, some contact. Actually one guy I believed pushed me after a few hundred yards out. WHY?? And it rained during this.

Bring clear goggles for the weather, time, etc.

I knew better than to have the wet suit strippers try to get my suit off. I was slipping and sliding on that tarp they had laid down. The lady couldn't get my suit off, so after a brief delay she got help from a guy.

Strip my own suit and maybe even throw MORE lube on. Run to bike where I emptied out my rain soaked shoes. Didn't attach them to peddles, since my rack was two rows away from bike exit. Most people did this.

It rained on and off, but not hard during my first 40 miles. The first part of the course had quite a few puddles. The middle had the chip seal road that was a bit rough for my liking. Drank my efs (1 aero bottle and 1 bike bottle), plus water w half power bar and 3 gels. Had to pee about half way through. Finally went as we came into final stretch. Not fully though (sorry for being descriptive). Pace good, probably could have pushed a lot more, but was really concentrating on being steady and comfortable. Thinking I still have 5 tough weeks ahead of me for IM Texas.

I jumped off on bike and put away bike. I did have my running shoes (Zoots TT 3.0) under my rain soaked towel so they weren't that bad. Decided since I knew rain was coming I would run in the Zoots, instead of newer shoes and ones I used with socks.

Use the porta potty on the way out to empty out (see run segment on why)

Started out through trail. I had decent footing, but a couple portions were a little sloppy. The sun was out and the heat picked up after a bunch of rain (Florida Humidity at its best, well minus 90+ degrees). About 1 mile out I realized my bladder needed emptying and the pressure was now getting to my bowels (again sorry, TMI?) I couldn't locate a porta potty until we exited the woods and there she was the park bathrooms. Ran in and 2.5++ minutes later was back in business. Took some water in at the aid stations. I had a 24 disposable water bottle of EFS that I took w me out of transition and sipped on that through whole race. Took in two Powerbar gels that I took w me and used water from the aid stations to wash down. Perfect timing (mile 5 and 9'ish). Dumped some ice water over my head a couple times. Was really concentrating on HR (Z2). My pace was real good. I had the course about .25m long and w the b'room stop included in my time, my pace was about 7:57. Again, big training weeks coming up and I accomplished what I wanted, well except 1 thing --- To Go Sub 5hours.

If I didn't have big training and IM Texas coming up, I would have pushed the last 4-5 miles more to achieve sub 5 hour goal.

Drank a cup of Coke, water and a yogurt. Hit the Taco Bell once I was on the road :)


Overall a nice race. I can't complain I paid $75for the Half for the early registration. I knew costs had to be cut somewhere. Besides the rain, it was nice. Some real good competition and plenty of people out there.