Memorial Hermann Ironman 70.3 Texas - Triathlon

We found out early that morning that the water temp had drastically increased overnight and we were not wetsuit legal. We were wetsuit optional but if you chose to wear the wetsuit, you would start in the last wave. I was already starting late and I didn't want to start any later. I left my wetsuit in the hotel room and planned the swim with my tri kit.

Push a little harder. I thought I was on pace to swim 2:00/100 but apparently I was going much slower than I thought.

Not sure exactly where the timing mats were as they were small cable covered with black tape. I guesstimated where I thought it was so my transition times are from my garmin while the overall times are the official times posted on the website. Went fairly well. slow jog from the water exit and up the carpet, under the shower to rinse the salt off my face and found my bike. Threw my shoes on, helmet on and ran out bike exit. Crossed mount line and hopped on.

Maybe learn flying mount....maybe not. For me that sounds like a recipe for disaster.

I knew we had a slight tailwind at the very beginning but then it felt as if the wind shifted and we had a headwind going out to the turn around. About 12 miles in, the rain started. It was light to moderate. No real puddles on the road which was good. I thought that was going to be great and then we would have a tailwind on the way back in....NOPE. Headwind coming back in big time. On the bridge coming back in, the wind really picked up. We had a head/crosswind that really tested my bike handling. My front tire was wobbling all over the place and I was only riding 404s. Rear tire felt fine. Once i got off the bridge and the cross wind died down, bike handling was much better. About mile 40, the chafing started. I realized that I forgot to reapply lube in T1. By the time I hit mile 50, I was ready to be off the bike. Nutrition went according to plan, 200cal/hour. finished 3 bottles of water on the bike.

Knowing now about the headwind coming back in, I would have pushed harder for the first half of the bike. Still, I kept to the game plan for the watts for the first half. I did fall a few watts short on the return trip at the very end.

screwed up my garmin somewhere in T2. I pressed the lap button too many times and had to stop the workout so I could restart with just a run workout so I could see pace, etc. I miscounted racks and turned in one rack early. Luckily, I caught myself when I was only a few feet down the aisle. Quickly backed out and turned down the next aisle. Racked bike, threw socks and shoes on. Put hat and race belt on as I trotted out.

Pay better attention to bike racks.

Once I got onto the run course, the rain stopped and the sun came out to bake us. I had a little stiffness when I first got off the bike, but that cleared within a half mile or so. Felt decent. Then after mile 3 or so, my breathing went to hell and I had no energy. Came up on a teammate of mine and we made it the final 2 1/2 loops with run/walk. That was definitely not in the plan for the race, but we survived. This was almost an exact duplicate of my first 70.3. I was hoping for a much better run with my training leading into this race.

Not sure. Nutrition on the bike was spot on and I stuck to the game plan for my power. Fell a bit short on the bike and bombed the run. Had planned on taking a GU every 30 minutes but only one aid station had them. So I supplemented with bananas. Stomach felt fine. Not sloshing or nauseous. I just didn't have the energy

not much. walked from the finish to the team tent. collected my bags and grabbed my bike and gear from transition. Walked back to the hotel and took a shower. Found more chafing. First salt water swim...learned that reapplication of lube is a must. Grabbed dinner in the hotel restaurant.


It definitely wasn't my training as my coach and I had prepared well. Not sure what happened when it all fell apart.


Since I was in one of the last waves, a lot of the post-race activities were being taken down as I finished. Tents were coming down, etc. Lots of volunteers on the course. They did a great job of handing off at the bike aid stations. The only negative comment I have is that there were too many spectators walking across the run course with no regards to approaching runners. I had to avoid several people who didn't even realize that they were in the way. Didn't enjoy the multi-loop run course, although it did allow for me to see teammates and friends along the way. Overall, I enjoyed this race but I don't plan on doing it again next year.