login
 Swim
Comments: I am not a swimmer but feel like I could be 'average'. Definitely failed on this part. Never will be a pro so just getting out of the water is my motto. Water was nice temperature making this wetsuit legal which helped. Our age group wave was split into 2 groups and before I hit the first turn the guys in our second wave were already passing me. Crazy good swimmers. I struggled to hold a steady line as my Garmin 310XT showed I swam 1.4 miles (I put the watch under my swim cap so it will not lose connection to the satellites). That didn't help. Also had a hard time picking out the yellow guide buoys against the sky. Sighting was an issue so follow those around me. Turn 2 was interesting as the water was shallow enough to walk. Didn't expect that. Last leg began to cramp in both calves, Not sure how that happened but the last 200 yards I walked to stretch them out prior to hitting land. What would you do differently?: Pee before getting in the water. Do a better job understanding the lines to take to each buoy in the swim so as to swim the 1.2 miles vs. 1.4. Just keep working on form to improve swim.  Transition 1
Comments: The transition areas were like running in quicksand due to the rain the day before. It was a pure mud pit. Had to carry bike through portions of the transition area it was so bad. Took my time getting all of my items changed. Happy with a 4 minute transition time. No doubt could have been faster but didn't want to miss anything. Accomplished this goal. Was able to run w/ bike and shoes attached (thank god again b/c of the mud) Was able to get to the bike mount, right foot in to shoe, peddle and load left foot while rolling. What would you do differently?: Nothing except be a bit faster. Experience will help in future!  Bike
Comments: Bike was solid. Wasn't expecting to roll this fast (had calculated running at 18mph for the race) I think this might have made the run a bit harder but nothing wrong with a challenge. Very flat course, some good headwinds at times. Continuous pedaling. Gear changing was more due to wind. Saw one ambulance on the route. Aid stations were awesome. These folks are rock stars. Always prepared and ready to hand off the appropriate drink. I brought 2 bottles (1 water, 1 Hammer Perpetuam) and had a cage b/w the tri bars for the stations. Also took 2 powergels and 5 honey stinger waffles for hydration/nutrition. Also had 8 salt stick tablets. Would take the tablets and waffles every half hour and worked to drink throughout the ride. Around mile 40 stomach wasn't happy. Not sure what was going on. Didn't have these issues during training and lack experience to read the situation. Probably didn't eat enough and drink enough even though I felt like I stuck to plan What would you do differently?: Work more on hydration/nutrition on bike. Look at eating more. Be a bit more consistent on eating/drinking. Transition 2
Comments: I took my time going through T2 since the last 6 miles on the bike were a struggle. I also hate to mention this again, b/c it is not anyone's fault, but the mud pit in transition was challenging. Carried the bike back to clean grass before running with bike wheels on ground. Glad shoes were on the pedals still! Not as much work to change from bike gear to run but took my time to calm down and get the legs together. Also had to wipe off tons of mud from legs and feet.. Made sure to have race number and nutrition (4 powergels and 2 water bottles and 3 salt stick pills) Also put on sunscreen again (missed some spots!) Headed out on run. (saw one guy a good .2 miles out of transition and had to turn back b/c he forgot his number, felt bad for him) What would you do differently?: Speed up but not overly upset about this. Just wanted to make sure I did everything right.  Run
Comments: This was a bit hard. Took almost 6miles to find a some rythme Wanted to be around 2 hours or below but worked a bit to much on the bike and this hit here. Sun and humidity made it difficult at times. Definitely challenged the mental aspect of this race. Was able to run the entire time minus slow jogs at every water/ice station. Loaded up w/ ice in hat/shirt/pants every opportunity given. Always took 2 waters, 1 to drink, one to dump on head. Great fans out with hoses!! That was a tremendous help (at least mentally) What would you do differently?: Ease off on bike a bit to have some legs for run but ran negative split so not bad overall. Post race
Warm down: Got a bit chaotic since I couldn't find my family. Went to transition and turned on phone to find out my 4 yr old son went to ER due to heat exhaustion and dehydration. So needless to say I didn't get a chance to chill and come down from finishing my first half ironman. Packed up transition and rode bike back to the school to get car and get to hospital. What limited your ability to perform faster: Lack of race experience. Great learning experience and had a fantastic time. Gave me items to work on for IM Louiseville in August! Go Slower!! Event comments: Amazing job by TriColumbia. These people had their act together. Really well done race from check in to finish and everything in-between! SWAG was amazing (even the pros commented on it) The Tri-bag is awesome. For a weekend warrior, this was a great course. I feel lucky to have participated in this event. On course staff was amazing, great volunteers, awesome locals cheering people on. Police handling traffic were great. Other athletes were kind and friendly. I would love to do this race again. Had an amazing time. First class all the way. Thanks TriColumbia for an amazing first experience! Last updated: 2013-04-11 12:00 AM
|
|
||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
View profile
Add to friends
Go to training log
Go to race log
Send a message
View album
CONNECT WITH FACEBOOK
United States
Columbia Triathlon Association
86F / 30C
Sunny
Overall Rank = 1035/2600
Age Group = M 35-39
Age Group Rank = 141/275
Was my first half ironman. Drove to check-in Saturday with my 8 year old daughter. Let her soak in how awesome this stuff is. Really nice giveaways including a sweet Eagleman tri-bag. After eating a crab cake sandwich for lunch, went and racked the bike. Dinner reservations at a local spot in Oxford, MD. Menu was not what they had posted on the web so ended up eating a meal I wasn't pleased with. Put gear together and triple checked I had everything in order. In bed by 9pm. Slept great till 2am then my brain kicked in. Tried to go back to sleep till my alarm at 4am but didn't happen so got up at 3am, showered and loaded the car. Ate Bagel with PB, Banana, 1 Powergel and 1 small dove chocolate prior to race. Drank water and gatorade.
Since this was the first half ironman, I had no idea or expectations. Did a lot of pacing waiting for my swim group. I was in swim group 11 so went off 55 minutes after the pro men. Fun atmosphere but the wait was killer. Wetsuit legal made me happy since I am a terrible swimmer. Just get outta the water is my motto. Finally had our call into the water. Peed big time. Sorry folks around me. Then the horn sounded. Of we go.......