Patriot's Half 2007 - Triathlon1/2 Ironman

decent swim for me, the race started about 5 min late but that was no big deal, the beginning of the swim was very shallow and a bit hard to swim so I walked a bit, I had trouble with my goggles leaking the whole swim and probably lost about 2 minutes continually readjusting them, due to the goggle issue I never got into a really good swim groove, but I still flet fairly good, sighting back into shore was quite challenging with the sun directly in our face

get my goggles adjusted better, I'm not sure why I couldn't get them right, that was a bit frustrating because I know I can swim faster

a very, very long run up from the beach to T1, a rocky path up to a grassy field which didn't feel great on the feet, wetsuit came off fairly easily, once I got to my bike I was pretty efficient

not much, it was a long way to transition area

I felt good on the bike, this is a fun course, but a bit challenging, there is a metal drawbridge which is scary to ride over, 2 very rough train track crossings and lots of rolling hills with a couple of tricky climbs, I did well on the course but started to tire at the end as the day was getting hotter, they only gave water out on the course, no sports drink, so I started getting a bit electrolyte depleted

not much, I was pleased with my pace on the ride, I'm not the strongest biker out there, I ate everything I was supposed to eat on the bike, maybe could have taken in a bit more fluid

did what I needed to do and got out on the run

nothing

this was a tough run for me, I left transition area and ran less than 1/2 mile and knew it was going to be a long day, the temp had gone up over 90 degrees and there was very little shade on the run course, I started the run off feeling very dizzy and I never got over it, everytime I tried to push my run speed I felt like I was going to pass out. The surface on the parkway is hard and pebbly, very hard on the feet and legs. Luckily the aid stations every mile had water, cytomax, enduralytes, oranges etc. I took a ton (probably 10 to 12) enduralytes during the course of the race trying to get my electrolytes back, also poured alot of ice down my tri suit. It was a long hot struggle and I just tried to get to the next mile marker/aid station. talked to a few folk out on the course. Kept passing and being passed by a 60 yo man. Saw Steven (LSU2003) up ahead with some friends. It took me forever to catch them, but I fianlly did and then later went ahead. I started getting bad calf cramps at mile 8 which just added to the torture of the run

maybe take more electrolytes on the bike, learn to deal with the hear better, it was a stuggle out there

practically collapsed at the finish line and probably should have gone to the med tent, saw Karen (newadventures) and her friend Glenda cheering me on into the finish chute, I found my tri club tent and they gave me a seat and some endurox, eventually I recovered enough to pack up my stuff and get back to my hotel room


my running is really bad right now, the rest of my race was pretty decent, all of the athenas who beat me were in their 30's, I missed 3rd place by less than 2 minutes, my goal for the race was 7 hours or less, so I didn't quite get there, I didn't plan for such a slow, hard run


this was a first year event and I thought the race organizers did a great job, there were pleanty of volunteers, on the busiest road of the bike course we had a lane coned off, it was a tough day for racing due to the heat, but a great event anyway