Beach2Battleship Half Iron Distance Triathlon - Triathlon

would have been good for 9th in M35-39 AG. I started to far left, deepest in the channel to avoid the traffic and fighting, it was also the strongest current. It was hard to stay behind the dock start line due to the current, it took full backstroke and kicking to maintain behind the start position. we got no warning for the horn start and then it blew and we were off. I normally try to start slow and have very controlled breathing because I have blown up early in the swim in the past, but this swim was different the current was very strong and there was nobody in my way so I went for it. I was stuck left side breathing only because the morning sun was coming up on the right and was blinding. I rounded the 3rd buoy and made the left turn into the channel and found the current still pushing strong, high tide was supposed to be at 9:08 and our start time was 8:45 so I knew I needed to keep the hammer down. I stayed in the center and swam angles that would assist with the current, being in the navy and knowing how to navigate inter-coastal waterways has its advantages. My wife gave me some great advice about emptying my bladder before I exit the swim, I sighted the red flag for swim exit and about 100 yards from out I stopped kicking and emptied the bladder into my wetsuit. I got to the ladders and only had to wait for 2 people ahead of me to climb out the I got my shot. I knew my swim was pretty strong because I caught 2 waves worth of people due to their swim caps.

nothing best swim I have ever put down. probably could have used a touch more body glide on the side of my neck because I chaffed a small amount.

T1 is about 400 meters away so you have to run a considerable distance. The good thing is that there are plenty of strippers to get your suit off. next on the way to transition was the showers, the water was warm and felt great. I had been told to take my time and get all the salt water off or the chaffing would hurt later on the bike and run. as I made my way across the road I spotted my wife and kisd and that was a huge boost. i almost dropped my bike as I ran out of transition and the bike dropped from the curb to the road. I took a gu roctane in transition. I had glove and armsleeves in TA but chose not to wear them because it was warm enough with the sun out. I did wear thick socks and the toes of my shoes were taped with duct tape to my feet warm as it was low 50's at race start time but was to come up to 60's by noon.

be more careful with the bike. overall T1 was good for 108th.

would have been good for 3rd in M35-39 AG. My plan was to drink water bottle in my from profile design hc water system, the have 3 bottles on the bike with scratch and carbpro mix and grab a water bottle at the 21 mile aid station. however, i launched a bottle off the tail of my bike and had to grab a water/heed mix at the final aid station that was gross and might have messed me up on the run but maybe not. I also took gu roctance at 10, 20, 40, and 50 mile marks. I ate a larabar and a second surge at mile 30. I took anti fatigue caps at 20, 40, and 55 miles. Pace was amazing throughout the course. I took the first mile very slow because there was so much traffic coming out of T1 and there was a lot of turns and led to the bridge. Taking it slow on the medal grates is mandatory even at 14mph my wheels had a little wobble and I felt like I might crash. on the ride there was only mild head wind on the military highway and the last few miles on 421. the entire way back had tailwind and was able to mash out 23-26mph. the highway was a bit sketchy at times due to bad riders and limited spaces, we had 80% of the lane because the orange safety cones took up 20% of the lane (I saw one bike crash when he hit a cone at 20mph). also it was tough to navigate through the full and half ironman bikers at this point in the race because everyone was still trying to spread out.

hold onto my bottle better.

I got off the bike and ran it into the convention center, coolest ever to have a volunteer take and rack my bike. I ran through the convention center and they called out my number on the PA but I ran down the wrong aisle. Nobody grabbed my bag so I double back to the right aisle but a volunteer had now passed my bag back to where I was at and me met in the middle and she flipped my bag to me. I ran into the dressing area for a full change (i wear a pearl izumi octane race suit with sleeves because it saves 10 watts over any other non sleeved suit, but it's not great for running with). next I ran into the bathroom and emptied the bladder and intestines, before finally making it out and dropping my bad at the door.

better knowledge of where my bag is.

would have been good for 20th in M35-39 AG. plan was to take gu roctane at mile 2 and 5 and second surges at 7.5 and 10.5. I knew that I would need to take water and heed at every aid station and supplement coke and salt tabs throughout the run. I tried for 2 cups every aid station but the liquids weren't settling very good and i was spitting up about half of what i was drinking. i tried to slowly walk the aid stations but it didn't help. i kept a relatively strong pace sub 8 until mile 7.5 but felt it starting to slip away a bit as I realized I wasn't sweating anymore. tried to get salt tabs at miles 7.5 and 10.5 to help with the impending dehydration and cramping. I also tried to take 3 cups of liquid and walk a bit longer at each aid station. at mile 11 there is a transition back from the sidewalk to the road and I felt my left hamstring twinge so I walked 100 feet and rubbed it out. I was able to get back to running but every time we had a hill to climb my hamstring would completely cramp and I would walk the hill. I finally got back to the street on the river and was just trying to coast in as I hit the finisher shoot the hamstring went again and I had to hobble through and cross the mat but got a great announcement and cheer from the crowd for being a military member. I volunteer grabbed me and helped me walk to the get my medal from triathlon legend Michellie Jones.

try to keep the liquids down better and drink more liquids at each aid station.

Got a rub and some water at the medical aid station Walked back to the hotel that was 4 blocks away from finish. Took a shower, layed on the bed and ate leftover mellow mushroom pizza. After shower went to convention center, 1 block away and picked up my bike and bags then made it back for awards and claimed 2nd place in military division.


Swim best ever, bike best ever, run below average due to cramping and dehydration.


Absolutely great event and a must do for anyone looking for a 1st half ironman. The volunteers were absolutely incredible! The locals fully support the race and were friendly as can be. the swim is blazing fast and is set to have a strong current every year. The bike course has <250 feet of total climbing and is marked well and controlled by police well. The run is desolate most of the way and can beat you up mentally if you arent careful. The finish line energy is like nothing else! Finishers get a beautiful medal and a pair of pajama pants.