Muncie Endurathon - Triathlon1/2 Ironman

This was the roughest OW swim I have done. Navigation was tough, especially having the sun in my face for the last 400-600y, everyone was bobbing and looking for the beach on that leg. I ran into 5-6 guys while they were doing that. Personnally, I swam fast, the last 200y I felt calf cramps but they subsided quickly, I was probably starting to get overheated in the wetsuit.

My navigation was best for what I had to deal with, not much different regardless. I think I didn't stray too far from the buoys.

Good transiton, I was middle of the pack on this but I deliberately took my time, I was planning to zip through T2. I wanted to get a good start on the bike, I put my gloves on as I rode and then settled in to a good first half pace.

Nothing. This was going according to plan

I got a decent start out of transition, pace was too hard the first 10 miles but with a strong tailwind I wanted a good headstart. Coming south was ok, the wind was not a huge factor at this point, I avg'd 19.5 going down. The headwind to the turn was strong, I was glad to get out of that. Heading back was fast, but I started to cramp in the last 4 miles. I maintained the aero position 90-95% of the time, that was good too.

More salt/sodium than I usually have. The cramps surpised me, especially quad cramps - never had those before.

I smoked this transition, I went so fast I did a double check since it seemed too good. My wife couldn't even catch me to get a picture as I came out. It felt good to get the transitions perfected.

Nada.

I started out per plan, 7:30-7:40 to the turn then I was going to "try" and pick it up. Nope. I made the turn and felt ok, but around mile 10 I started to crash. I walked through the last two aide stations and the cramping was crazy. I fought through those and then the evil course designer left a hill to climb for the finish. I saw my father-in-law at the bottom and screamed "Get me up this hill!" he whooped me into a frenzy and I took the hill and finished my first 1/2 IM! (then crashed again)

SALT TABLETS. I thought I had the sodium thing figured out through training. This was a big lesson. My mistake is that my Infinit drink had a load, but I did not take it on the run - ouch. All I used was on-course Gatorade, water and Gu's - not enough. I will not make that mistake again.

Walked slowly, chugged gatorade, hung out in the waterspray tent, and ate bananas, many many bananas.


Electrolytes and sodium intake in the last 6 miles. I probably biked harder than I should have.


I don't have much to go on, but I will say this race was very well organized, had a load of great volunteers all over, and was a fantastic first 1/2 IM for me. I will highly recommend this to anyone. All the other athletes agreed it was a very challenging course, especially the run and was very well ran.