Memorial Hermann Ironman Texas - Triathlon

No idea what the hell is going on out there in the Woodlands. I just can't seem to get the swim going. Hated the way the speed suit felt, started getting pushed around, started swimming to avoid contact, thought I was pushing it. Slowest swim for me ever. I said the same thing last year and somehow I got even slower.

Next year I'm going to start out up front and to the left and just go. You have to push here because if you're a 1:10-1:20 swimmer the wetsuit optional folks are gonna catch you and the front pack of the wetsuit swimmers don't give a crap. So once you get over the initial scrum of the swim, you get a second wave somewhere in the middle of the swim.

Still in awe over the horrible swim, I have no recollection of T1.

nothing

Good bike. Knowing how poorly the swim went and what the weather was going to be like I decided to chill on the bike. I wanted to be able to run. I had not done a century ride since last year's IMNYC, I had not ridden my new bike outside longer than 20 miles and only outside 4 times. My long trainer rides ended at 4 hours. To say I was undertrained for the bike is an understatement. My choice to chill was one of necessity.

Since my swim was so poor, I spent the day catching and passing anyone who had a decent to sub-par swim. It was a long day of passing. It is still surprising how many people have no care as to their actions while riding. Too many people give no consideration to those around them.

Anyway. the new P3 was awesome. The new Flo front was super sweet and way less twitchy in the wind than the old Hed 3. The new Giro Air Attack helmet with shield was so much more comfortable than my old Advantage 2. I had a fun bike. WIth a bit more training, I would have pushed it more, but my only goal was to beat last year's sub-par finish. With my sucky swim I still had a shot as long as I executed the final two legs. Just chill and ride. Never uncomfortable, maybe a bit hot, but I had a decent ride.

Another awesome part of today's ride....I nailed my nutrition. Mint Chocolate Gu, saltstick pill, and one bottle of perform every hour then water. Nothing more, nothing less.

train more?

THE GROUND IS HOT! Like many others, I burned my feet on the ground running through the maze of T2. With a bunch of other weather related factors to deal with and the swim and bike behind us, we really didn't need fresh burns on our feet before the marathon start.

Got off the bike feeling great, and ready for the run, even with the new burn blisters.

More sunscreen, belt on, and go.

not burn my feet, but i'm not gonna ride with socks so I'll figure something out.

Felt great, kept at my nutrition with the gel and salt tab every hour, cup of perform and water at aid stations. Walked long enough to drink then got to running. Saw Row twice a lap and it was awesome to see her, I stopped and gave her a kiss everytime. Sitting out in the sun all day waiting for my slow ass deserves at least a kiss right?

1st lap was smooth as butter. It was hot but we knew it was going to be hot.

2nd lap I started tossing ice in my shorts right on my hammies. I know how this goes down, they're gonna cramp because my training has been a bit ....a lot suspect, especially after the move.

Anyway, mile 15.5, bam first cramp. walked it off and kept on running. more ice and more running.

It was hot, damn hot. Lap 3, the pain was setting in, stupid T2 blisters hurt the most. Nutrition was still good but by the end of the day you're just tired of everything. Found some pickle slices at an aid station and I almost turned back to grab more but there is no backtracking for me. Saw Row one more time, told her the last two miles were going to be bad. They really weren't that bad, just long. The heat and the wind, the pain. Man I love this crap....I LOVE IT!

I had so much fun today. Finally make it to the finish line turn off and right as I head into the shoot, BAM! cramp. Luckily I still had ice in my shorts. In between some choice words and moving the ice around, I got my crap together and started trotting. Well my left leg was trotting and I was hip whipping my right leg around. Awesomely enough, most of the crowd saw me cramp then recover and they went bat shit crazy as I headed down towards the finish.

My plan was to find Row and plant a big 'ol smooch on her, but we both thought last year's finish was 12:33 and I was running out of time so I whipped my leg across the line.

Find my wife and plant that smooch.

Found Row, grabbed some food, grabbed the bike, grabbed the car and went back to the hotel.

Row helped me shower, that's right. My wife is so freaking awesome and loves watching me do these that she helps me shower afterwards. She also loves listening to many other wives bitch about their husbands wasting time doing these things, or how they "let" their husbands do them.

I couldn't imagine life like that. We have each other's back, we root for each other, and we want each other to be happy. I've got a great wife.

Finished cleaning up, jumped in the car and went to Taco Cabana


You actually have to train if you want to go fast. I did not train enough. However, I knew what I was doing and I enjoyed all the extra time I didn't spend training with my kids. Not that I will do this every time but training to race decent is much less stressful than training for PRs


Already signed up for next year. If I get this swim right I could easily go sub 12. If I train, sub 11:30.

I still continue to search for a sub 11 IM, I knew it wouldn't be today. November?