Ironman 70.3 Austin - Triathlon1/2 Ironman

It was an in-water wave start with perhaps 115 in my wave (M40-44 was split into 2 waves). I never heard what the official water temps were, but heard guesses of 71-73. I was in the water for 3+ minutes before the start, which helped. Water was calm. I started up front far right to avoid a crowd. Swim went well, I never had any issues with sighting or contact. Buoys were very visible. Might have zig-zagged a bit but overall I felt I went fairly straight. Saw the clock when I got out and calculated 36:xx which I was fine with, given the swim is my weakness.

Maybe push harder.

Uphill run to T1, maybe 75 yards. Used a wetsuit stripper along the way. I carried my bike out of T1 because of the grass stickers which have caused flats. I felt T1 was a bit slow but it was my first time dealing with gear bags and I tried to slow down and remember everything.

Nothing.

I had focused on bike fitness since Buffalo Springs, hoping it would benefit my run. Bike started ok though my HR was higher than I wanted (I don’t have a power meter). Then around mile 10 the inexplicable happened.

Coming off a gradual left turn and going ~23mph, something caused my front wheel to veer slightly to the right and I couldn’t correct it. Next thing I know I am off the road into the wet grass, and then I’m on the ground, hard. I haven’t crashed a bike since I last raced them in 2002. Fortunately I fell on the grass, but I felt sharp pain in my left shoulder and left hand. Bike seemed ok, so I collected all my bottles, and then fought to get my chain back on. I got going again only to hear my front brake rubbing. Stopped to fix that, and then heard my chain rubbing. Stopped again to try and fix that but never did, so I just kept going. I quickly realized my left hand was broken (x-rays later confirmed a clean break in the 5th metacarpal). Shoulder hurt but I didn’t think anything was broken (x-rays negative, but did something to the AC joint, don't yet know how serious). Overall it probably cost me 3-4 minutes.

So I rode on adrenaline and anger for a while, thinking things over. The pain was bearable, so I decided to press on, I had not trained all summer to quit. The rough roads didn’t help, but I rode steady and kept all pressure off the outside of my left hand. It was a loooong last 46 miles.

Bike nutrition was one honey Stinger waffle, most of an EFS Liquid Shot flask, ~44oz of Perform and 3 salt stick tabs.

Stay upright. What an embarrassing idiotic mistake. Beyond that, I was happy with my pace although concerned I might have gone too strong due to the adrenaline push.

T2 was a bit slow for obvious reasons, but uneventful. I put my bike gear in the bag, then I threw on the sunglasses, race belt and Garmin. I could have peed but didn’t stop, I told myself I would just stop on the course if absolutely necessary (never did).

Nothing.

My goal coming in was a 1:40, to replace the bad memories of the 1:53 at Buffalo Springs. I felt good the 1st lap. The shoulder bothered me more than the hand, but it was bearable. The 2nd lap was a bit slower but still steady in the 7:40-7:50 range. The crowds around the convention center were great. The 3rd lap was very crowded, especially where both running lanes were sharing the single lane of the road. I had to do lots of weaving around people. The hills on that last lap really gassed me but I was happy with how I responded, and I finished strong. I saw the clock and knew I had raced a 5:02:xx.

I'm told the run course might was short, and in fact my Garmin had 12.85. Too bad because the run was my strongest event on the day and my splits show me gaining spots consistently throughout the run.

Run nutrition was 2 hits of EFS Liquid Shot, 1 salt stick tab, and water at most aid stations before switching to Coke on the last lap.

Nothing, was happy with the run. It reinforced my belief that bike fitness is critical for the run.

Visited the med tent for Tylenol and ice for my hand. Ate a bit, but it takes a while for my appetite to return. I left as soon as I could to get home and tend to my hand.


Um...bike crash? Outside of that, I had a good race. One stupid mistake cost me my sub-5:00, and will have me in a cast for a while. But it was a PR and I guess I have a story.


Volunteers were great. I felt the race was well organized for the most part. Getting to the venue race morning took much longer than expected. I'm not a big fan of split transitions but it went smoothly. Bike course has some rough roads but it was not as bad as some suggested, or maybe I am just used to TX roads. Run course and indoor finish are spectator friendly.