Delaware DIAMONDMAN® TRIATHLON - Triathlon1/2 Ironman

I felt good about this swim. I wanted to make sure that I got in under 45 minutes. I navigated really well for the first 3/4, and then somehow got way to the outside and off course between the second to last and last buoys. Probably added 1 to 2 minutes. So knowing that it could (should) have been sub 40 is good for me. Especially since I know that I'm not a good swimmer.

Be faster. The navigation problem is mostly due to the fact that on the way back, we were swimming into the sun. So finding a buoy was tough. I could see everyone in front of me, and follow them, but I didn't know if I was following someone on the inside or outside of the course.

Okay, so the 3:59 is deceiving. Because there was the long, uphill, gravel and mud trail run from the lake to T1, I split my T1 into 2 splits. It took me 2:48 to get from the water, into my "transition shoes" (dripping wet into shoes when slightly dizzy and disoriented is interesting), then up the trail to T1. From there I was 1:11 to get out of shoes and suit, and out across the timing matt out of T1.

Nothing really. Shoes were already clipped in, I didn't wear socks, everything went smoothly.

I took two premixed bottles of Accelerade, which I was planning to drink 1 per hour, and then I would take a gatorade endurance from a bottle exchange and use that for the last 15 miles. Did it this way because I knew that if I took a third bottle of Accelerade it was going to be really really warm by the time I got to it, and really really warm Accelerade makes me want to gag. I was also eating a Gu about every 45-50 minutes.

This was a pretty nice course. There was a lot of headwind from about 32-40miles, which was along the Delaware River, and then parts of the last 15 miles, anywhere that the road headed N/NE, you'd get that same headwind. I had me a nice pee on the bike, at the Reedy Point Bridge, coming down the downside. The volunteer at the intersection shortly thereafter was probably wondering why I was pouring a water bottle on my crotch as I rolled by.

Not too much. This would be a great course for a tri bike and aero wheels, which, hopefully, I will have for racing next year.

Pretty fast through here. I put socks on, so it took me slightly longer than usual, but nothing held me up at all. Just socks and shoes on. Helmet off, grabbed my hat and left. I had put my race belt on during T1, so it was already there.

Smile for the cameras. Maybe do that thing where I point and do a leg kick, or the Heisman pose, while farting.

Okay, so I didn't know what to expect. Anyone who has seen my logs during the last 4 weeks knows that I suffered a rather traumatic leg injury four weeks prior to this race. I had to take 2 full weeks off from running, and 1 full week off from everything. I probably lost somewhere around 45-50 mile of run training. So, the plan was to go out, see how I felt, and just do it. (is that still Nike slogan?) The first mile was 7:30, then I consciously tried to slow down and ran 8:00, and the third was right around 8:00 as well. My leg was fine in terms of the injury, but my legs weren't fine in terms of "Uh, seriously dude, not being able to run as you approach your race, yeah thats gonna suck." The trail that runs along the C&D canal also sucks. There is ZERO shade, and its kind of a dirt/gravel/pot hole/What the F*** are we running on surface. Not "roll your ankles" bad, but definintely make your feet and legs work overtime to support your weight. So that definitely aided in taking a toll. Still didn't feel too terribly bad at the turnaround. Heading back, the first mile marker that I came across said "8." I am thinking to myself, that can't be right, what happened to 7? Well, then next one said "9" so I was thinking to myself maybe you are an idiot and you just don't remember seeing 7. So of course at this point I am happy that there are only 4 miles left. I started singing a song out loud to make myself feel better. I wasn't singing LOUD, just out loud. Out loud enough that some people probably thought I was crazy. It went something like "Run, run run. I love to run. Running makes me happy even though I'm feeling crappy." I continued to sing until the next mile marker.... WHICH ALSO SAID "9." Yeah, they mismarked them. So I went from happy to tragic. I felt like crap. it was hot. My legs were killing me. It hurt to stop, so I didn't. It hurt to slow down, so I didn't. It hurt to speed up, and I couldn't. I just kept dumping water on my head at aid stations, and taking down some gatorade. I also went through 3 gels on the course. You get to mile 11, and then have to go straight up a hill to get off the canal trail and back onto the road. I told myself if was okay to walk, and so I walked 2/3 of the way up. There were a bunch of people at the top of the hill yelling... clapping.... cheering. They didn't have to be there. Come on 104! You got it! Looking good! They were standing in the sun to cheer and see me fight it out, why am I walking??? So I started to run again. Reaching the pavement was AWESOME. It never felt so good to run again on a smooth surface. Once I got back into the campground I saw my parents (that's the pic in my album). There were people scattered about for the last half mile which was cool. Helped get me to the line.

Um, duh. Stop playing soccer. (of course, I am most likely NOT going to stop playing)

Some food, some drinking, trying to carry on a conversation with my parents (who, by the way, are the coolest f*cking parents in the world because the drove 7 hours both ways to surprise me. Yeah, I said it. My parents are cooler than yours)


Getting hurt. Bottom line. It definitely is a motivator to do another HIM though and see what I can do without having screwed up training.


The splits are off my watch. Final results, age group rankings, etc aren't posted yet on the website so I'm not sure. Also I met CubeFarmGopher just before the race and Shelly123 on the run course. Great job guys!