Delaware Diamondman Triathlon - Triathlon1/2 Ironman

Swim started badly. Didn't get to the start line 50 or so yards in the lake before the gun went off for our wave. As I only know how to breath to my right, my sighting is horrible for a counterclockwise swim. I found myself too far to the right and was doing a lot of zig-zagging. My breathing was off this time as well. I normally breath every fourth stroke, but I was breathing every stroke. I don't know what my problem was. I never got into a rythm. I came out of the water pissed at my performance with my heartrate way too high. I wasn't expecting a fast time, I just wanted a fun swim. It wasn't.

Need to learn how to breath bilaterally. Should help to swim in a straight line and to navigate regardless of whether the course is clockwise or counterclockwise.

It took me six minutes to run from the pond to the transition area. Spent only 3.28 at T-1. Had some trouble getting my wetsuit off, but overall, T-1 went well.

Nothing.

I had a relatively good time. Didn't push my pace. As long as I was averaging 16 mph, I was satisfied. My lower back and crotch started hurting about halfway through the ride. Every few miles, I had to stand on the pedals and push my pelvis forward to relieve the pain. My hydration was good as I had approximately 3 bottles of gatorade and 1 bottle of water on the ride. Nutrition was okay as I averaged about 230 calories and 413 mg of sodium an hour.

Need more time in the saddle.

I was exhausted coming into T-2, so I took my time.

Nothing.

I had never started a run in such an exhausted state. In the last ten years, I had never excercised longer than four hours (e.g., 1998 NYC marathon), and here I was starting a half marathon after 4.5 hours of swimming and biking - in 90 degree weather to boot. My plan was to average a 10 minute mile for the entire run course. I was on plan for only 3 miles, and then I started slowing down. It took me 55 minutes to get through the first 5 miles, and it got worse from there. At mile 8, my calves and quads started twitching, pulling, and locking up. Not only was I exhausted and overheated, I no longer had full control over my legs. I walked, shuffled, and jogged intermittenly for the balance of the course. It was torture, and I kept asking myself what the f#$k was I thinking doing an HIM.

Looking back, my downfall was my lack of nutrition and inadequate electrolyte consumption. I didn't bring my own gels for the run as there was supposed to be gels at every water station (every mile). Unfortunately, by the time I needed some gels, the water stations had run out. I ended up consuming only 1 gel packet during my first 2 hours on the run course, and only drank a few ounces of gatorade every other mile. I had four salt pills (50 mg each), but this wasn't nearly enough to replace what I was losing via sweat. I was in such bad shape that at mile 10 or so, I asked a fellow BOP'er if I could bum a couple gel packets from him. I think those extra 200 calories allowed me to finish.

I was never so happy to finish a race. Regardless of my lackluster (understatement to the extreme) performance, my family greeted me at the finish line, and my daughter was so proud to run over the finish line with me.

Train longer (distance & time). Don't rely on water/aid stations for nutrition. Buy a large bottle of salt pills/endurolytes.

My brother found a chair I could sit on as my calves and quads were spasming and locking up. I had hoped to get a leg massage, but the massage therapists had been gone some two or three hours earlier. Poured cold water on my head, drank some gatorade, and ate a sandwhich. Took some pictures. Celebrated that I finished and didn't die.

As an aside, in stark contrast to my performance, my brother, who hasn't trained in over a month, is only a couple weeks post surgery for kidney stones, has scar tissue for an achilles tendon, and suffers from knee pain (likely meniscus tear), decides to do the Sprint distance on a whim. He ends up taking 3rd place in his age group! Ignoring the fact that I'm tremondously proud of him, where is the justice?!


Not in HIM shape. There's a big difference between an Olympic and a HIM - and I under-estimated the difficulty of completing a HIM and over-estimated my conditioning and ability. Also having only one gel packet in two hours of running was a performance limiter.


Well organized. Highly recommend this HIM for those in proper shape.