Beach2Battleship Half Iron Distance Triathlon - Triathlon

The tide was pushing so much you had to wade backwards to stay at the start-NICE! I started near the front, Im not a FOP swimmer and Im not big on being laundry. I felt GREAT to the first buoy, I felt FAST. The sun was bugging me alittle bit but nothing game changing. Once I truned I felt like I was swimming sideways till the exit and the water was colder-odd. Friends said they felt the same thing.

More off season swimmiing

So last year I was real slow-COLD weather, new to the 300+ yards to T1 and path, and leaving my stuff in the bag. This year was to be much quicker-ok quicker. Wetsuit stripper was a guru, it was half of by the time I got to the stripper thanks to the volunteer pulling the zipper on my way OUT! Ran the path through the showers (I rinsed my face), up the hill *** and into T1. Got dressed quickly (only a shirt, socks and shoes) helmet on and go-WAIT STOP QUAD CRAMPS-WTF?!!? Ok so I took a "second" then said Eff it and run it out. They were gone by the time I mounted.

Yeah just be quicker, I ran but next time I should RUN!

The bike I was expecting to crush because of good weather, good training, and consistent results from tried and true fueling. The bike has a couple components to it: back road navigation, a grated bridge, bridge climb, grated bridge. I FORGOT that the back road area was CRAP; potholes, speed bumps, and congested turns. I was concerned about a flat and was trying to be cautions but I hit a bump and was focused on the road and didn’t notice my bottle fly out. My main, 32 oz, amino acid supplement bottle was airborne and my first thought was brake and stop and grab it. That thought quickly disintegrated when I saw it hit the ground, the top snap off, and the blue elixir splash across the pavement. Well there goes that plan. I had just trained my brother for his amazing (and first) marathon and the last advice I gave him was: “Something WILL go wrong, it’ll be out of your control and all you can do is acknowledge it and accept it and then adapt and move on.” Sigh, this was my moment. The first aid station on the bike was at mile 19. I had a 20 oz half scoop of HEED bottle on board and this was going to get me there, consider the aminos gone. I navigated the newly grated bridge just fine, my butt swerved al little (and more than last year) but nothing to worry about. Game on for the next 55 miles. What I didn’t realize until mile 12 was that not only did I lose my main hydration, my chain jumped into the small ring. Not a problem I had been averaging over 20 mph and listening to others talk post race we had a headwind for the first 18miles or so. I was working the back cassette like a pro I guess. Once I switched back into the big ring I didn’t notice much of a change. I was working the other end of the back cassette now and thought maybe I had just been spinning more than usual-good or bad thing I don’t know. Mile 19 I went with a water bottle. My aminos are calorie free so why not stick with that, I was due for my Justin’s PB packet in 5 miles anyway. I learned quickly that the problem with the water choice was there really is no cap or lid so I had to tilt the bottle up to prevent it from spilling everywhere. I managed fine, I was in an aero position anyway, and using a finger I could plug the opening. Then I encountered a group that would distract me from zoning out during a 56 mile 2+ hour ride. Zoning out or sleeping happens a lot on rides like this and races like this, Ive ben warned by fellow racers and experienced it myself. This day provided me an alternative; 4 drafting (CHEATING) riders. I am no official, but what bothered me was that once the peloton of 4 cheaters passed me they proceeded to DROP their speed in front of me! Ok were they trying to fold me into their cult? I did not succumb and did not find it amusing. I for the next 3-5 miles proceeded to get upset and made many attempt to break the train by maneuvering between them, slowing to drink in front of the train, and verbal comments. Once the situation became verbal I decided to have a better sportsman ship attitude, I did a self-check and remembered that I was racing for me and my goal not against them, and there was still a run to be had. I then proceeded to take my PB packet and let them go. Other staples on my ride are gum and halls cough drops. I had finished my first set and after the PB I was moving onto the second set. No problems here and I was about 40 miles into the ride. The bike garmin was lapping every 5 miles and each time I was over 21 mph. I was more focused on total time and started the mental math around mile 40 to see if I was up or not. I also knew what average I needed to keep and wondered what I could pace for this distance but it was still all about total time. I switched to average at mile 46 and saw 22 and wondered if I could post a 22+ average. I did the math and figured I had created a 3 minute cushion. Now all I had to do was keep it. The second bridge climb was beautiful and not too painful, I had trained on MUCH worse but on this course the bridge climb is the “worst moment” that it can offer. Mile 46 has another aid station, last year I took a bottle and felt like it paid off so I took one again this year. That and my water was gone along with my 20oz backup HEED bottle. I took HEED this year as well-orange…ok that’s new. The second grate bridge is longer and that had about 2 butt swerves and a little sphincter tightening mainly because I was near another rider who butt/rear wheel swerved towards me. Final stretch before heading into the convention center and BOOM I’ve got a 22 average.

Rubber band a loose bottle, not use a loose bottle, secure bottle during bumps-UGH. Gear check after rough terrain that ejects a BTA bottle. and 4 days later I think I could have pushed harder, maybe that's what we all think but maybe just maybe.

Last year volunteer couldn't find my bag, this year with duck tape I turned my bag GREEN. As I entered the volunteer took my bike and I ran to the bags-the MC checked my number and I yelled it and said ITS GREEN, before I turned the corner the volunteer already had it and we moved towards the chairs together-much faster!

Nothing-great T2.

Family was before the first turnaround so that was nice, I got to high 5 my duaghter early. Quads were being a PITA for sure so once I got near the convention center again I dipped into the porta john to pee, but mainly stand still for seconds and let them release. I'm definitely paying for dropping my aminos now. I knew I was going to run sub 7:20s. Missing the first 3 mile markers and not having satellite on the garmin till mile .67 made me pace off feel till mile 5. Mental math 3 hours in...bad. Mile 7 I had flashbacks to my cramping stint in augusta-smile and chew gum harder, check pace. I have this WEIRD physiological response-if I start running to slowly >7:20s I START to cramp WORSE-solution: run faster. Guy in the med tent says nice problem to have, yeah until you CAN'T do that pace and your stuck cramping on a curb. yeah med tent coming soon. The run back was good until the last 4 miles. I was in damage control, maintain sub720 and hurry up you trained 364 days for a sub 5!

Not lose hydration on bike.

Flat on my back for 20 with a bottle of water. Waited on the wife, wehn I was handed a Coke by a volunteer and proceeded to drop it because I couldn't hold things-I was escorted tot he med tent. Nausea, headache, cold. 20 minutes later I was on my way to get a massage by Stacy-OMG freaking amazing.

*** In room my heel hurts still-bruised? Im about to get in the shower and I pull a rock from my heel after I see a bloody sock. sigh, problem solved. WVU over OKST made for a GREAT AFTERNOON Too!


Hydration-ROFLMAO. It is NEVER about hydration with me, NEVER! I take 32 oz on a 56 mile ride all the time! I run half with NO hydration ALL THE TIME. UNREAL. Guess it was just practice, fate-who knew.


THANK YOU TO THE VOLUNTEERS AND POLICE CREWS!!!

I missed BASE salts at mile 3-they said theyd be the only ones there, not so much :-(

Finisher pants, again-BOOO! Gear still overpriced, and limited stock this year.

Post events/area seemed smaller this year.

Waiting for over an hour at the start-BOOO.

Loved the shirts, loved the support, GREAT race!

Results up QUICKLY, pics not so much.