HITS Triathlon Series: Marble Falls - Half Iron Course - Triathlon

Mass start swim of 170 athletes both IM and HIM. This is the most people I've ever been swimming with at once. Managed to not get kicked and not kick anyone else. Wore Garmin to inside of wrist (nothing new on race day) and bumped it during the swim which shut it off. So no data. I drafted several times and I never really stopped swimming to sight or rest like I've done in the past. I was very surprised when I saw the swim finish coming up because it really didn't seem like a long enough time.

Swim more, it's working.

Took more time here than I wanted, but no wetsuit strippers.

Speed up my transition.

I was really enjoying this race. About mile 35 I felt a little twinge just above the front of my left knee. I sort of ignored it and it sort of went away. Nutrition was 2 scoops Battery and 2 scoops Glycodurance every hour for the 5 hours. Each had 280 calories, 590 sodium and 240 potassium. Total calories consumed 1400. Had a flat about mile 48 and another one at about mile 50. Rode the second one in. Also dropped the chain to the inside and later found out that a wire had come off the rear derailleur.

Another ride gave me her CO2 setup so I didn't have to use my pump. But it didn't have enough air in it. The SAG wagon came by and pumped it up with a floor pump, but he said I needed a valve extender. After I fixed the chain, a guy came by and had hand cleaner and a rag. The ride was full of angels!

Carry valve extenders, an a CO2 cartridge. Flat tires are very unusual for me, so hopefully I won't have this issue again for a few years.

After my experience on the bike, I needed longer to regroup. I was concerned about the cutoff time, but the guy working transition told me I didn't need to worry about it.

Speed up my transitions.

I had intended to do a 3 min run/1 min walk Galloway program before I had bike issues. When I started running, I felt great, so I ran for about 15 minutes. I was drinking my same Battery/Glycodurance mix that I use on the bike. About then, I suddenly felt like someone was stabbing my intestines. It wouldn't come out either end, but I was certainly miserable. I wasn't sure what to do, but I was pretty sure I didn't need to keep drinking my mix. I stopped at the aid stations and drank water and ate oranges, potato chips and pretzels and eventually some flat coke. I finally was able to burp and started back to walk run again. By this time it was pretty hot. I did ice down the tri top and sponges on the shoulders and used my cooling towel. I appeared to be one of the few people even running on the course. Most were walking. I had no leg cramping at all, which is a positive sign.

I think I may need to take in more calories on the bike and then only water and electrolytes on the run. Still trying to figure it all out.

Walked around and drank water. Had a donut and some chips.


Intestinal issues, and possibly the Texas heat.


I loved this race. It was my first experience with HITS and I would definitely do another of their races. It's very low key and low pressure.

The only two recommendations that I would make is to somehow find a run course that has some shade and to have more aid stations on the run.