Big Kahuna 1/2 Ironman - Triathlon1/2 Ironman

Well, the water was cold. I was kind nervous as this was my first 1/2. My right goggle kept getting salt water in it, so i had to keep stopping and adjusting. It was annoying as it kept throwing my rhythm. I'm not used to salt water, so it was an ajustment... the taste and the salt on my skin, not to mention the seaweed in my face. I used a long sleeve wetsuit Jessi got for me. It was good, not claustrophobic at all, probably b/c it was men's and little big, which is a good thing. By the end of the swim, i felt like it was taking me forever b/c i kept adjusting my goggles.

tighten goggles!

much longer than I'm used to. it was a distance to transition area, I'd say about 1/4 mile. I put on a bike top, so it took longer. and i was cold, so that didn't help. and i have to use one water bottle to get the sand off my feet and body and the salt off my face.

I donno. it was cold. I don't know how i would have sped up. at least put an extra water bottle specifically for washing off at my transition.

Well, it was cold and overcast on the bike. I didn't dry off the entire bike ride b/c of the humidity. But it was cold. I didn't feel my toes for most of the ride, and after 2 hours, i started moving my fingers to get them warm. I was so focused on my toes and fingers that i hardly noticed the hills! Not once was I gasping for breath like i do here in Dallas! I'm positive the weather had much to do with that. wa hoo! and my nutrition was right on! Gu ever 40 minutes (and one right when i got on the bike). bottle of endorux and water every hour

arm warmers and toe covers!!!

my toes were cold so i took extra card getting my socks and shoes on!

It was awesome! Sun came out right when I started my run! my nutrition was right on. Gu every 30 minutes. Water every aid station. Got a piece of banana at two of them. I was kinda worried I would crash near the end b/c I felt so good. I didn't really start to ache until about mile 9. I forgot my endorlytes the bike, so i took them then and i think again about 40 min later? The last 3 miles were very sore. my legs started really hurting at this point (calves and quads... lil achillies). so I walked a little more. The last bit on the beach was just cruel.

endorlytes?

Jessi met me at the finish line w/ a huge hug, a smile and a bottle of recovery drink. She also made me get back in the COLD ocean from the waste down for 5 minutes. I think that helped my legs a lot, even though i still had to limp to transition to get my bike, and will probably limp for a few days. After my cold dip, i got a snack of 1/2 bagle, and cup of trail mix. That night, Jessi gave my legs a rub down. But on the airplane home (red eye), my knees swelled up.


Great race. Hope to do it again next year and break 6 hours