Morden Triathlon - Half Iron Distance - Triathlon1/2 Ironman

Really pleased with swim...Could have pushed to go faster, but was just there to finish comfortably. Breathing was never an issue, except at one point when I had to get a way from a "messy swimmer" who kept groping me. Alternated my stroke length and got stronger with time. A little bit of daydreaming - and that took me off course. Sighting was good, about every 10-15 strokes - no current, so didn't need more than that. Drafting was better in first lap, couldn't find anyone fast enough, or who wasn't going off course to draft behind after that. Rounded buoys very well. Suit was excellent, lots of room, not constricted. "bathing" cap came a little loose during second lap and that was a little distracting - my fault for having so much hair. New goggles were great.
Very happy, just could have been faster - but that is next year country.

Try to draft a little better. Start off a little faster - I lost contact with the bulk of swimmers and never caught up. Work on technique to get faster. Other than than, it was great!

Transition felt a little slow, but the time doesn't seem too bad...I'm using my own time, I can't figure out the race results. Took the time to dry off my feet. Unzipped, took goggles and cap off while running up hill from lake to transition. Nutrition was all ready on bike, road shoes (tri shoes broken) went on well, started a little slowly, but got comfortable pretty quickly. Started on Cliff bar as soon as I was comfortable on bike (200 m).

Other than go a little quicker, the transition was flawless. I sat down to put shoes on - Road shoes are tricky, but all else was good. Felt comfortable, confident. Smiled.

If I go by cyclocomputer and add in the transition time that I have I'm 14th in my age group and about 35th overall, but that is just voodoo, and I'll never know without chip timing and what "errors" they made on others giving them non-favourable times as well. I'm happy with 55 out of 80, many of whom were the Regina contingent most of whom were Ironguys and gals!

Now my issues...I had to pee 4 times!!!!! on the ride. In hindsight, I should have just peed on myself. But I must have lost a good 10 minutes slowing down, stopping, peeing and then speeding up again...it was unbelievable. I would pass a puddle and need to pee. it became so frustrating after a while...I was very efficient and peed on the side of the road without even getting off the bike (shoes are already black!) but oh! the pee! Oh the humanity...And this wasn't just a trickle...it was major torrents...I drank enough while on the bike - not too much and mixed eLoad with water...It was very humid. But I was sweating lots. I had very little liquid before the ride. Very little liquid after 9 pm. I was up the night before and peed 3 or 4 times...I think I over hydrated and maybe had a little too much coffee the few days before. That's the only way I could explain it...either that, or I was just being a sucky baby who can't hold in his pee!
Apart from that I had a kick-ass ride. Suffered a bit (a lot) on the hills and in the wind, but recovered well and never bonked or lost energy/power as I had done while training in Lumsden/Silton. Good ride...no great ride, give or take a few gallons of pee!

The dirty girl was incredible...she went over the terrible roads without any problems, although at times, The carbon fork sounded like it was shattering...Except for the few breakneck descents, I was in the aerobars for the whole ride, including the climbs. Very comfortable. Neck got a little stiff near the end, but back was fine. Crotch a little sore and numb a couple of times - still not used to wearing tri-shorts and not bike shorts over such a distance. Didn't ride standing as much as I should have, but did every 15 minutes or so stood and pedaled. I was reluctant to because of the wind.
Feet felt good road shoes were perfect and never needed tightening, like my tri shoes would have.
Very challenging course. Very happy with my performance...I know I rode too hard, considering I still had 21.1km to run DOH!

I think I drank enough on the bike ride, but I'm still curious if I could have done better - by maybe taking salt that would have helped me on the run.

Hydrated less in the days before. Taken salt on board during the ride. Get more long distance training...I only had about 4 90k training rides. Do more hills...lots more hills.
Nutrition, was good...I didn't eat all my food, but I didn't need it...maybe I did...Mix between gels (clif, power and enervite) and 2 clif bars.

Save a little bit (a lot) of the effort for the run...I lost at least 30 minutes on the run, because I was exhausted...slowing down a bit, may have helped...it may have not...It is all experience. Great bike ride overall. I'm ecstatic about it.

Overall good transition. Legs really didn't work. Sat down to change shoes...Road shoes don't come off easily. Took the time to but astrolube on nipples. Grabbed nutrition stuff and asthma meds. Took off. Good transition, a little wobbly getting off bike, but good...BUT I FORGOT MY GARMIN ON MY BIKE DOH! I had to run blind! Probably just as well, I would have been disgusted and depressed by my run.

I did everything by the book, other than forget my Garmin (GPS-hrm) everything was smooth and comfortable. Maybe not be such a butt-head on the ride and be a little more comfortable after the ride.

Definitely do much much more brick work...I did not do enough this season.

Worst run of my life. I didn't think I was going to make it after 2 k. As soon as I started to run both quadriceps cramped. I stopped running and then my right hamstring seized...I walked it off, about a minute and started running again.
I wasn't tired...I just had nothing! I could not imagine going the full 21.1! I was beat before I even started. I was demoralized. It didn't help that I could see the first group doubling back and passing me after their first loop. I had nothing in the tanks...I walked. I ran. I shuffled. I speedwalked, I ran. etc. You get the picture.

I just put one foot in front of the other. Walked fast, but lots, took most of the gels I had...I resigned myself after about 6 or 7 k that I would take however long I would have to and I wouldn't give up. One big problem was that I had no idea what the distance was...there were markers on the cement, but they were not obvious. So up to the first turnaround point, I had no idea how far, or how little I had gone. Curse you Garmin!
On the second lap I was running mostly on fumes. I had resolved my cramping issue, but I had nothing really to push anyway. I did lots of speed walking. I decided to enjoy myself. I took in the scenery. Did that really say "dead horse creek" Saw some very nice cardinal-like birds. Mused how long it would take for someone to find me if I got beaned by a golf ball...Smiled, but laughed on the inside when aid station people said "you're doing great!" Thanked all the volunteers - especially the nice woman with the sun hat and the hose who was listening to stravinsky, delibes, beethoven and maybe scriabin? I passed her 4 times...she was good with that hose...Is it politiacally correct to get wet from a much older woman...yeah, my mind wandered lots...I stopped for a pee - just one by the golf course...and some fat golfer who was peeing with one hand and holding his beer with the other said "I bet that feels better". Peed only once...hmmmm, methinks hydration issues?

Walked about 1k with one woman, who was sick she had to duck into a restaurant just before I met up with her and she also threw up a few times. When I came up to her, she was farting like there was no tomorrow. NOT A SINGLE TOILET ON THE RUN COURSE EXCEPT AT START FINISH!!!!!
I cheered her up a bit...I was happy for the company...we parted ways about 500 m to the finish and I finished strong, happy and relieved...I made it...The run kicked my ass and I kicked back dammit...I finished!

Had a nice, painful massage afterwards. Worst run of my life...Best experience of my life...the experience I got there is priceless.

Not be a butthead on the run. Train more long distance runs.. I haven't had anything more than 17 k since RPS in April!!!! More salt...A lot more salt...work through the pain a little more. There wasn't a lot I could do, my legs were just not working, but I could have fought back a little more and not be so lazy...maybe...Sorry John... I gave it all I had...If I had more, I would have. I have to learn how to dig deeper and find what else I have in me. I'm sure there was something in there!

Massage...socialized. 20 minutes stretching. Smiled a lot. Smiled even more. Had a veggie burger. Smiled some more.Should have jumped in the lake. I was soaked from getting hozed down so many times. Walked the bike and gear back to hotel. had an ice bath at the motel. Ate lots and lots at the Bar after having a nap. Had one spicy caesar. Went to sleep around 11 Morden time (10 Regina time). Did I mention I smiled a lot.

Posed for lots of "candid" finish line pictures...I'll post once I get them...I felt like a goof, but I was having fun.


Lack of training...first ever Half? lack of salt?...overdoing the bike...I need to play the mental game a little better. Drop more weight, will help. Too many hills and too much wind...lol.

Experience was my biggest limiter...No blame, no fault...I'm ecstatic about my race.


Medal in the shape of a corn cob and an apple (cornman/appleman triathlon) looks like a penis...someone pointed this out to me. I didn't think it up all by myself.

Worst run of my life...I loved this race (just after I finished) Reg Beach had a better performance, but I learned so much more on this race, about my abilities, my limits and how I need to work on my mental game.

Today I'm a man....well half a man...A cornman to be exact...wanna see my husk!