Ironman 70.3 Santa Cruz - Triathlon1/2 Ironman

Rolling start based on estimated time.
I did a similar open water race a month earlier without buoys which was very helpful. Therefore, I was very comfortable with the course. However, that race lacked buoys and everyone cut the course short. Therefore, I was unsure where to pace myself.and put my self in the 35-37 min category. So I was supper excited coming in just under 33 minutes.

I passed a lot of people on the swim out but I guess it was because I underestimated my speed. The buoys were easy to see and there were lot of paddle boards to make sure you don't swim off.

The tide was going out so my first half was faster than my second half. When I did the Santa Cruz open water, I kicked hard going in but I didn't this time.

Nothing.

Ended up jogging 1/2 a mile to the bike start. 0.3 was to my bike from the exit of the swim. Lots of people left shoes but I didn't. I didn't go all out since I was expecting to ride for 3 hours anyways.

Age group athletes were also not allowed to have their shoes pre clipped onto their bikes. It wasn't a problem because transition was on a turf field so I only had to "run" with my bike shoes about 50 feet.

Leave shoes and run harder.

I drove the course so I knew the hills were coming. It was a beautiful course and I was ready for it. I had done a few rides where I road up the S.F. Bay bridge into the head wind then back down so I was ready for the head wind.

Adductors got tight on the way back so I got out of the saddle on some of the hills on the return.

The head wind miles 14-28 was very hard. I think I averaged around 13-15 MPH The person at the turn around was telling everyone "Half way there and now you have a tail wind" and boy was it a strong tail wind. I hit 30 on the downhills and 20 on the uphills.

3 transitions. First and third I grabbed gels, opened, ate, and dropped before the "trash" area ended. Second I grabbed a gator aide bottle and emptied it in my top water bottle. I also took two gels

Because I took gels at the aid stations (About 1 per hour) I didn't eat my gels. I relied on the gator aide for the rest of the ride.

More practice in Aero position. More bridge repeats. I think my largest hill change was only 1200 feet of elevation change. My chain jumped off twice going from small to high. I need to be more patient switching up or be in the right gear on the back. The jumping chains cost me at least 4 minutes.

I did well sliding my shoes off and dismounting. I ran about 15 feet and then my legs said no more. I felt bad for the woman right behind me (who I had been leap frogging with for 40 miles). I was able to pick it up once on the turf.

More hard bricks off long rides. All my bricks were hour or so rides.

I planned about a 10 minute mile. I ran a 10 minute mile perfectly. However, my watch wasn't running when I made a pit stop at a port-o-potty so my official time was slower.

Lots of aid stations about every 2 KM. Lots of volunteers with at most of them (except wilder which only had water). Ice was always first and went down my shirt and I splashed water. Only "complaint" was the coke and sports drink selection were warm but beggars cannot be choosers. (The aid stations were awesome'!) Best of any race I have ever done.

Again, maybe more bricks off of long rides instead of short. Lose 50 pounds. I planned on a 10 min mile so I was happy.

Ate pizza. Got bike ready to go.


I hit my times perfectly. Maybe getting T1 and T2 better and more runs after long bricks. However, I hit all my times perfectly with in 1 or 2 minutes and my overall time goal


Awesome race. Beautiful course. Lots and lots and lots of volunteers. Very organized. No surprises (don't tell that the the person who should have been first and made a wrong turn). Everyone was friendly. Great race.