PrairieMan - Triathlon1/2 Ironman

As soon as I started my right lens started leaking. Figured I could make it with just one eye, so I ignored and and kept going. Tried to keep a comfortable pace, focusing on keeping my elbows up and rotating my hips. Round the first buoy ok, then started veering to the right. Had to do lots of corrections, which slowed me down. Ran into Seb at some point after the first turn, tried to draft off of him but he was gone in an instant. This stretch seemed endless. Started passing a few people from the first wave, but then I started getting passed by even more people from the third wave. Took a nice punch to the head at the turn home. Took a minute to collect myself, backstroking while I put my goggles back on. The way home was ok, just tried to swim comfortably while letting the waves push me home.

1 leg down, 2 to go!

Make sure goggles are on tighter. Better navigation, that really slows me down.

Where to start?

I took the time to dry my feet off and get my socks and shoes on. Had trouble with my socks, and my feet weren't dry either. Maybe those two are related. Anyway, got my shoes and gloves on. Then I grabbed my helmet and sunglasses. Got my bike off the rack, then remembered I needed my race belt. Re-racked, got my belt on. Then I remembered I needed my salt pills. Ran through my backpack and found them. OK, think that's everything. Got out of my rack, out of my row, and almost to the exit. Crap, might want to take your Garmin with you, doofus. Ran back and got it. Finally, everything's ready to go (so I thought, more on that later).

Everything?

Immediately out of transition I could hear the BT jockstrappers (jcagg90, Doughboy, tri_it_cajun_style, DerekL, Comet, Chippy, Tri Take Me Away, and of course my wife swatson) hooting and hollering. John (jcagg90) had an airhorn blasting as soon as I went past. It's good to have friends at these things.

Original plan was to take the bike segment easy, maybe 17 mph. Once I got out onto Lake Ridge, that went right out the window. I felt great.

So I get out on Lake Ridge for the U-turn, and I look down to drink some water. Crap! I mistakenly put my Endurox bottle on my bike instead of water. That's not good. So much for the good Polar bottle. I dumped it after a couple of miles at the first water bottle handup. 10 bucks down the drain.

There was a decent SW wind on the ride. Not much of a factor on Lake Ridge, but it was tough going on Broad St. The section NE on 360 rocked! It was fun going 24 mph without even trying.

Passed a guy on the first lap who was also riding a 2004 Fuji Finest. Now those of you who know me know that I love to complain about having a sucky bike. If I let this guy beat me, then I can't gripe that my bike makes me slow. It would only be me that was slow. No way was I going to let that happen!

Followed my nutrition plan religiously. Did 150 cals per hour of HEED, 1 gel per hour (110 cals), and 3 salt tablets. That gave me 260 calories and 568 mg salt per hour. I did not want to repeat my mistakes and have too many calories in my stomach when I started the run. Also grabbed a fresh water bottle 3 times at the bottle handup on Lake Ridge. I couldn't figure out why so many folks were doing Camelbacks. There were 2 handups on the loop...no need to weigh yourself down with 2 liters of water on your back. To each his own I guess.

Anyway, was feeling really good at the end of lap 2, when I hear a sonic boom behind me. I look over my shoulder. Wow it's...(now looking ahead of me instead of behind me)...Chris...(now squinting to see him in the distance)...Leigh. Holy crap, I'd never seen anything like it. I was going 23 mph and he passed me like I was standing still.

Saw Tommy (zia_cyclist) and Seb coming N on Lake Ridge on my way out to the south U turn on Lake Ridge. Seb and I yelled at each other as we met.

Relaxed on the way back up Lake Ridge. Tried to pee on the bike, but I couldn't perform. Oh well, there are portajohns on the run course. I didn't really need to go, but it sounded like a good idea at the time. No such luck though.

On the way into the park and back to transition, I passed the BT clique again to roars of support. It's good to have friends at these things.

2 legs down, just 1 to go!

Nothing. I flew on this course but still felt good at the end. Nutrition was great.

Much better transition this time. Got everything off, put my cap on. Changed out of my soaked biking socks into my Brooks running socks that I use for all of my long runs. Tried to dry my feet off again, but no luck. I was severely pruned already, so I knew blisters were a formality. Oh well. Started my Garmin timer as I left.

Nothing

Started out great the first mile and a half. HR was pretty high though. The BT crew was awesome. Shannon handed me a cold towel as soon as a left. Put it inside my hat and squeezed it every now and then to keep cool. Once I did the 2 mini loops it was off to the dam. Saw Seb as I was turning on that stretch. He asked how I was doing. Pretty good so far.

Passed the BT canopy and saw lots of BT sidewalk art. I was definitely "Focused" thanks to some of the pics on the ground. Got a fresh towel from Laurie as I went past to some jeers about being a 30 year old. The signs were great -"Hurry up! We're bored." Next sign- "And we're out of beer." It's good to have friends at these things.

Stopped to walk every aid station. Did 2 cups of water at each of them. One and a half to drink, the other half to resoak my towel and pour over my head. Did gels at 4 miles and 8 miles. Tried to drink Gatorade at one of them, but I could just manage one sip of it. Not in the mood for it. Probably should have had it anyway. Maybe I wouldn't have run out of gas later.

Hit the portajohn at about 2 1/2 miles in, right before the dam. It was some kind of hot in there. Glad I didn't have to pee very long, because I couldn't have run very far after being in there much longer. It was stifling hot.

Break time over. Off to the gut check. Saw David (dgillen) doing a short brick run after his Aquabike. About mile 4 I saw Aaron's flag in the distance. He told me I had another 2 miles to the turnaround. Gulp.

Started slowing down and running out of gas miles 5 and 6. Saw Tommy somewhere in there. Finally hit the turnaround. The good news, there was a bit of breeze in my face, which helped cool me down a little bit. The bad news, there was a bit of breeze in my face, which made me slow down even more.

Miles 7-11 was super duper slow. Didn't help that I needed to go to the bathroom again (#2 this time), so rather than mess my pants, I slowed down some more until it subsided. Also stopped in mile 9 to fix my timing strap. It was under my sock and was rubbing me raw. Took it off and put it over my sock. I figured 4 blisters were plenty for a single race.

Finally made it off The Dam, down the hill and to the portajohn. Gut check was over. I had survived The Dam. Was smart and took in a cup of ice water to pour over my head while I was sitting in the portajohn. Kept me from getting too hot.

OK, 2 1/2 more miles, let's go. Mile 11 was great - got splashed by 4 cups of water at the aid station, which gave me a nice boost, but I think I pushed it too hard. By the time I reached the BT canopy, I was dogging it. What sucked was that when you are about to hit the BT canopy, you can see the finish line, but you still have 1.5 to go. Still have to do 2 mini-loops again. Ug.

Got a fresh towel from Shannon with some ice. Passed the last water station and tried to convince myself to run some more. Just one mini loop to go. Shannon started to run alongside me trying to get me to speed up. I was doing good to trot. She knew I was close to breaking six hours, she just didn't want to tell me.

Finally made it to the finish line and crossed it at 6:05 and change. Then remembered that they started it with the first swim wave, which was 5+ minutes ahead of me.

I had broken 6 hours in my first Half Ironman. Rock on! The end! 3 legs down, none to go! Where's my cheeseburger?

I didn't fuel enough on the run. I only took in 2 gels and 4 salt tablets. That's 220 calories and 780 mg sodium. I should have had 2 more gels. That would have given me 440 calories and 1180 mg salt. Right on target with what I had on the bike. Maybe that would have prevented me from running out of gas on the run. I didn't bonk, I just didn't have any juice left at the end. Or is that the very definition of bonking? Regardles, I left it all out there on The Dam somewhere.

Sat down with my finisher's mug, finisher's shirt, and a bottle of Gatorade endurance. Got up after a minute or so, changed into my sandals, then headed over to the BT frathouse. Drank a couple of bottles of water since nobody offered me a beer (sigh) and ate 2 stacked slices of pizza. Not the cheeseburger I was craving (that would come later on), but it sure was good.


Underfueled on the run.

Also had lots of stupid mistakes with my transition area that could have saved me 2 minutes easy.

Didn't really start training for it until mid-July after completing my first Oly.


I set no goals for this race but to finish. I had only trained weeks or so after doing my first Oly, so I knew I could complete it. Sub 6 hours and top half of the finishers is way better than I expected. Better management of my run nutrition and transition area and who knows what I could have done.

All of my milestone races (1st tri, 1st Oly, and now 1st HIM) have all been Jack's races. They're all very well run and very safe. Some people gripe about his rules and dictator-ish personality, but it works for me.

Next stop - Ironman...