Beach2Battleship Half Iron Distance Triathlon - Triathlon

The local gave me some good pointers about where to be, so did paddleboards that morning. The object was to get deep and catch the "mid-current." So I aimed for a paddleboarder (mind you standing still) about 3/4 way across the inlet. My nav skills were on point for that and it seemed like I didnt really go forward much but instead out to him, oh well, now down the course. I was pretty much alone out there so no drafting or laundry effect. I actually felt like I was moving along pretty well. I had to breathe alot to the left due to the rising sun. This kept me out of the loop though as to how I was progressing or not through the group. Made the turn and what little tidal push we had, was gone. Nothing eventful from the turn to the exit. COOLEST part by far was while running from the ladder to the wetsuit strippers a volunteer grabs me MID STRIDE and opens my neck flap and rips my zipper down! Made for an easy transition to the strippers, I'd never had that happen, and was very thankful for an experienced volunteer to do this seeing as I really couldnt feel my fingers, hands and most of my arms. Getting that strap was going to be difficult. THANK YOU
Oh, no mary lee great white sighting, no bull sharks, no jely fish (except the dead one on the beach), no cabbage heads.

Nothing really, I pushed hard and had my breathing just about redlining.

LOL, for those that have read my reports I shoot for a <60 second transition...NOT GOING TO HAPPEN HERE FOLKS.
You have the docks, the ramp, the path, the showers, the street, the sidewalk the cross street, the sidewalk, then the outside wall of transition, and finally the rows of racks. I was 3 racks from Bike Start. Oh and carrying your wetsuit the whole time. Im now glad the air was 37 because it made my feet NUMB. Empty bag, DRY OFF, long sleeve BLACK shirt on, hlemet on, gloves on, socks on, shoes on, and RUN.

Had bag unpacked like a usual transition, not sure why I didnt.

Mount and navigate the first 5 miles. I didnt flat or lose nutrition (bottle was continually working its way out and I saw multiple bottles scattered about.) Got rolling and before I knew it there was a 10 mile marker, nice! I was flying past the full stragglers. I trained hard in the wind so it wasn't a mental factor for me. Locals and other racers said it was 35-40 miles of a mild headwind. Weather "yesterday" selection had it at 12mph with 17mph gusts. I never came out of big ring, and pushed nearly redline. Made the turn to break from the full course and it got LONELY. I must have been in a gap becuase it took a long time to catch a group and be caught. Last stretch in was nice, you knew you were almost done. I was still nearly redlining and the markers were going by nicely. Seemed like there were markers every 10 miles. The GO RANDOM STRANGER SIGN WAS NICE. Aid station so close to the finish was nice too, kind of topped off my tank. I also had 2 gels and a applesauce pouch in addition to 1/2 the AID station HEED bottle, and 1 bottle of water.

Stick with riders more, not draft but just try to hang on longer.

Again <60 NOT GOING TO HAPPEN. This was the EPIC FAIL portion of the race IMO. YOu get your bike taken from you, ok I like that. and then you run the length of the convention center while 2 volunteers call uot your number to a GROUP of volunteers retrieving bags. Your T2 bag. I LOVE VOLUNTEERS and if not for them it would be just another trainign day for us racers but... With no collective leader or organization as to WHICH volunteer is going to get the bag you end up calling out your number again and again while staring at volunteer after volunteer, all the while hearing number after number being called out for racers coming into T2. Once I had my bag in the tent, it was all business. Empty bag, stuff bag with helmet, gloves, shirt. Shoes on belt in hand and visor on-GONE!

This is totally out of your control. Nothing once I got my stuff.

Once out of transition I finally got to see my watch. It had been covered by my L/S. I started the mental math and fought with what I could handle.
FLASHBACK: Augusta GA half; started run too fast, maybe on cooked legs, and maybe improper nutrition and had cramps at mile 7 that had me FROZEN on the course. Anderson SC half; injured DNF no run.
So now its on! Im behind, by alot from the sub 5 I wanted, and I have to pee. First mile I run a 9 and change because I used the rent-a-John at the aid station. Mile 2: 7 and change-TOO FAST, slow down!, Mile 3: 7 and change-TOO FAST, slow down. Mile 4; twitching with a 7 and change, UGH. a 44 year old guy passes me and I I think this...embrace the part of the race that is going to hurt, SMILING distracts from cramping, focus on that "rabbit" and just go. We chat from mile 4 to mile 7 and Im feeling better, and we're clipping along at 7:10-7:25 each mile. This is so a bad idea is all I keep thinking. I hit mile 7. The infamous mile 7. I had left 44yo guy and just let her fly, if the wheels were going to come off then so be it. I had a great race going no regrets so FINISH it. 7, 8, 9 no problem. Then a relay guy passes me, then stops, and says he can't feel his foot. Um ok and I say now you know how we feel coming off the bike. He cathes up and says he didnt even do the ride-um duh. Whatever it helped me focus on something else and gave me a little push. Mile 10! 5K to go. I keep doing the math and I know itll be close. I started my watch early, so I wouldnt forget, but how early? Do I have anything more to give ugh!!! Pretty sure mile 11 was a late 6 mile-OMG! Im almost waiting to EXPLODE, but I push on. Heres another "strategy" I was using: I wasnt taking anything on the run, no gels, salt, water HEED, no nothing! I didnt want to slow down, or change what I had going. Mile 12, the downhill (ouch) Mile 13 WHOA twitchy cramp, hobble, stop take ONE breath, RUN!

Nothing I gave it my all today

I found a set of steps that I put my feet up on for about 10 minutes. Then staggered into the med tent for 30 minutes. thanks Tristan, thank you chicken broth, and thank you heater.


No current, cold, and wind.


Can't change the weather. Would be nice to have consistency between athlete guide and actual day, and meeting. Minor differences, but one cost me over an hour. Athlete meeting...sigh, mostly PR, pat on the back garbage. Other parts very helpful and inspiring. Each one I heard was a different length in time. Ive heard good and bd on post race festivities however I had NO PROBLEMS. Expo merch was EXPENSIVE, and was charged for a finishers sticker. Computer systems also went down, but its now Tuesday and ALL results are up including A/G so kudos to them. This is a great race, If it werent 7 hours from home and often cold Id do it again. Great swim course even without a current, great bike course, and FANTASTIC run course. AMAZING VOLUNTEERS. CONGRATS to ALL!