Cancun Ironman 70.3 - Triathlon1/2 Ironman

Yet another mediocre swim. I spent a lot of time navigating and making sure I was on track. It was even hot in the water as I began getting very thirsty after loop 1. I focused on swimming long and comfortable and I felt I posted a good 1st loop split just to get smack in the face when I saw my watch showing 16 min. I didn’t worry much on drafting cuz I figured I should focus on my race. I had more than a few gulps of sea water and that was making me sick but I focused and kept going. Eventually I came around the 2nd loop and I was out of the water…

I am at lost here – I really can’t figure out what I am doing wrong. I did notice that at some points I was swimming and I was feeling like I was dragging something. IOW I was “swimming” but I wasn’t moving as I do in the pool. I focused on my reach, catch and pull, I focused on my kick and even remember focusing on my breathing and trying my best to be relax and efficient. I obviously wasn’t…

run from beach to Transition a bit far away. I did a good job getting out and getting ready for the ride

I began the bike feeling good and ready to push the pace a bit more than I am use to. The plan was top stay at 210-220 watts and shoot for a 2:20 to 2:25 hrs split. Even with my awful swim split I didn’t came out of the water THAT far from the leaders which made me feel good. I saw them and they were probably 10 min ahead, which after a quick calculation I figured Simon Lessing (IMO he was going to be the winner for sure) would add another 15 min advantage between the bike or run. If I could hold on to that I would be able to finish within 20-25 min of the winner time and place around top 20. Well we headed into the 14 mile 3 loop sections and I was still felling good, at that point my avg speed was around 23.5 mph and I was able to see the leaders every lap. NO ONE was passing, which was nice, but then I noticed some riders behind me and realized that around 10 were drafting me, WTF!!! We turned to complete the 1st loop and we hit a head wind bringing the speed from 24-25 mph to 19-20mph. At that point I began to get very frustrated cuz I was the one working for these cheaters so I pushed hard to lose them. I *think* this ws the trigger and began bugging my mind and distracted me from my usual "machine like" way of keeping and eye on nutrition. Originally my plan was to drink 24+ oz of perpetuem plus a gel each hour and ½ salt and potassium tablets. I sort of followed the plan but with the constant fight with the drafting cheaters and the CRAZY heat and humidity I wasnt drinking enough and even missed a BIG signal that my body was sending me. My legs began feeling sort of weak (now I know it was more of a depleted feeling) and my HR was through the roof (avg for the entire ride was 171, when my LTHR is 178!!!) But I was focusing so much on keeping my power (watts) at 200-210 avg that I ignored that vital sign. My frustration continued to grow and I began exchanging words with a few of the cheaters. One guy got the message and he pass me, I dropped back, stayed in my rhythm, then gained momentum and re passed him again and he dropped back. We were moving at a great pace AND legally. We continue to circle on the 14 mile loop and each turn the drafting packs keep growing until it was totally out of control. There were a lot of marshals but I am not sure if the problem was so big they couldn’t handle it or just began to ignore it. During my last loop I began to get very uncomfortable on the bike (a big bonking sign that I missed yet AGAIN) and my balls of both feet were getting warm and even hurting with each pedal stroke. I continue to drink and eat based on my plan but the nutrition deficit was growing as it wanst enough. NOW it is clear to me I didn’t adapt to the conditions and failed big time to adjust my fluid intake. I was standing up and getting of the aero position constantly and cursing at the drafing guys which I named "the leeches" as they kept cheating ridiculously. At that point I had enough and since the name calling and bad words didn’t work I began spitting BIG slurps of saliva over my shoulder so I could hit the guy behind me on the face! ;) after several spits I guess it work because I ended up dropping them and riding sort of alone back to the T2. The last 10 miles were though! At that point I began having negative thoughts about: “what if” I dropped out the race. I was out of fluids so I just kept my face down and spinning as much as possible On my power file you can notice an important drop in power during this last portion and my avg went to 170-180 watts. I was now on surviving mode and the worst was yet to come: Both legs began cramping while riding and my quads were super tight and hurting, but I managed to spin easy and get to T2 but still I failed to get into damage control mode (I can’t believe I missed it and made such a big mistake earlier)

I falied miseraby to adjust my nutrutional plan and I spent too much time wasting my energy worrying too much about those cheaters. I am not sure why but my rpms avg was way lower of my regular 95 plus. (maybe due to the bonking??

as soon as I tried to put my running shoes on my right qud cramped BAD. i had ro stop for like a 1 min at least. eventually with my sisters encouragment :) I was able to head out jogging

not much

ok this was the TOUGHEST part of a race I’ve ever done! Exiting T2 I began to jog and build up speed to get into HIM pace (my goals was 6:20 per mile) but fairly quickly realized that was not going to be possible. I was badly dehydrated and there was no way in hell I could run my normal pace. At kilometer 1 (yeah that’s right KM1) both quads sized again and the spasms on both quads were painful. I HAD to stop cuz I could even walk one more step. Luckily that was an aid station and EMS guys were there. They rush to help me and asked me if I could continue. My voice replied yes but my mind and body was screaming “NOOOO”. I couldn’t seat, I couldn’t stretch, I just couldn’t move! They gave me water to cool down, LOTS of Gatorade and bananas. I HATE bananas but I ate 2 like and chug them down with more Gatorade. I grab salt tablets and ate them. I saw my watch (I hit the lap bottom when I stopped) and saw I already lost 5 min, fuck!) I wanted to cry, literally and the nice EMS guys were so supportive but I that point I felt hopeless and I figured I was done. I was feeling so disappointed because it was the 1st time ever my WHOLE family was there to cheer for me, and I was getting all nervous about how I was going to explain them that my hopes went from a top 20 finish to a DNF. I turned around slowly to head back to T2 and I saw leeches boys joggin passed me. And saw the guy I spitted on the bike passed me with a smile on his face… OH NO, you mother fucker, you are not going to get away with it. I took a deep breath and convince my already defeated mind to hang and let me chase those fuckers at least for another Kilometer. I press the lap bottom again (I lost almost 9 min already standing there) and began walking) A few min later I was jogging and eventually I was running although I had to keep my pace at 8:00 or more because as soon as I increase the pace both quads began screaming. I made it to aid station 2 (KM2) and ate yet another banana and Gatorade while walking. I took another breath and kept going. I made it to KM3, 4, 5 and every time it was a BIG debate between my mind and body versus my will. While mind & body kept telling me that the more I run the more it was going to hurt and more distance I was going to have to walk back to T2 defeated for a DNF, my will kept ignoring them and asking me to keep going and at least complete 1 loop.At the turn around (mile 3.5ish) I began to feel a bit better although my pace was still very slow. My quads didn’t feel like cramping anymore but I was feeling miserable still. I good sign was that I began joking with racers and volunteers asking for piggy rides and even phone numbers of cutes girls ;) I made it through the 1 loop and just before I got to the turn around I made my mind to stop and quit as soon as had my parents/family on sight. I began seeking for my folks and I couldn’t see them, and that pissed me off. I was at my lowest point and they weren’t even at the right place to support me :) But you know what, thank god they screw up cuz I keto going (they thought the turn around was near the finish line so they camped there) After starting the 2nd loop I saw the girl who eventually finished 2nd overall and tag along with her. I couldnt keep the pace for long but that made me realize I was coming back to my normal self slowly. I kept eating/drinking and pouring water through all my body at EVERY aid station and saw how my pace began to improve from mile to mile. 1st 7:50, then 7:20 and eventually 7:00 :)!!! I began to pass a lot of people and then at the last turn around saw that the leeches group weren’t THAT far ahead. I put my face down and focused on passing those losers! At mile 10 my pace was now at 6:45 and I passed one of the leeches and kept going, I got to T2 and they told me 1KM to the finish line: "SHIT, I HAVE to catch leech leader!" I kept running and picking up the pace more and more I saw 3 guys ahead of me and one was leech boy, I sprinted my heart out and literally caught him with AND passed him 200 mts to go. My family was all there screaming and cheering… Oh my, oh my, I finished!

the lack of nutriton during the bike

just cool down with water >>> final mistake cuz it took me over 5 days to recover!!!


my inability to recognize the dehydration signs and adjust my nutrtional plan.
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my horrible swim (what gives!) any advice: Kurt, Mike R
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on the positive side I stuck to it and beat the negative thoughts in my mind


if they fix the drafting problem this will be a GREAT race and a CHALLENGING course to conquer :)