Harvest Moon Long Course Triathlon - Triathlon

Swim was amazing with a PR! I did have to stop a few minutes in because I got kicked in the face and my left goggle filled up with water. Hey, at least I didn't get hit head-on like the YOLO a few weeks ago!

I exited the water at 30:25 but the timing mat was about 200 yards up the hill to T1. Due to my foot and ankle injury, the lower limb does not do well in cold water. Running to T1 was difficult and painful. While I know my official time was 32:20, I'm loving my 30:25, which is a PR by 3 minutes.

The swim was great. I do have difficulty in sighting because I can't see without my glasses. On the swim back the waves were choppy and while sighting I drank more than a few sips of water. I need to work on lifting my head more in choppy water.

For the first time ever I was dizzy from the swim when I got to T1. Not sure if it was the cold water, the waves, or drinking the water.

Tried to get my arm sleeves on but couldn't so I said forget it!

Forget trying to get the arm sleeves on.

This was my second race with my new NeilPryde Bayamo and was excited to put it to the 70.3 test.

The first 15 miles were strong, even the hills from the out and back to the first turn with my average speed at 17.6 At mile 15 I stopped and threw up. Not sure why. Drinking the lake water, nutrition? Next 17 miles my speed stayed at an average of 22.8 which felt comfortable. I was eating again and drinking Skratch with no real problem. However, any time I would sip Perpetum my stomach would cramp. Mile 32 we turned into the cross/headwind for the remainder if the ride. I ran out of Skratch so I only had Perpetum until the aid station. Just short of the third aid station I got sick again. I grabbed a Gatorade and water and mixed them in my hydration system and felt a little better. But with the hills and the head wind I started slowing, cramping, and really wanting off the bike. The new chip-seal pavement for a few miles made life even more uncomfortable.

I was wanting a sub 3:00 bike, which may have been possible if I hadn't of donated my nutrition to the side of the road.

Not sure what caused the nausea, but I need to figure it out so it doesn't happen again.

I had no energy when I got to the dismount line. My legs were dead and there was no running to my spot. Walking was difficult. Got my shoes on, grabbed my hat and belt but forgot my handheld water bottle.

Not forget the water!

My goal was a 2:20 for the run which was very doable because of my training.

The first mile was a 9:50 mile. Got to the first aid station and walked it while sipping Gatorade and water. After that :30 walk I started to run again but a few minutes later the nausea returned so I walked a bit. This continued throughout the run. Shortly before the turn-a-round I stepped of the side of the path and twisted my already injured ankle. I sat there for a few seconds but got up and jogged for a bit. Mile 9 I took a step and just fell when my foot hit the ground. Got mad at myself for thinking about quitting at that point and tried to run more. Last 3 miles I was freezing cold despite the temps in the 80s.

Not let the evil demon voices in my head get to me. The run became a mental challenge and I let the voices win. Twice I was asked by first aiders if I was okay and wanted to continue the race. Twice I nodded and kept going. I shouldn't have gotten to the place I was in for them to ask if I was okay.

crossed the finish line and just sat on the curb because my legs were dead.


Pretty sure I was dehydrated from getting sick on the bike and not drinking as much as I usually do on the run. My training was on target to give me a sub 6:00 hour race but my body didn't perform. I lost the mental game today.


This is the longest running Half Iron Distance in the area and incredibly well run and organized. There were times on the bike were cars and trucks let us know they were not happy we were on the roads but that was the only negative and nothing the race organizers could control.