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 Swim
Comments: I seeded myself about 1/2 way in the pack (about 10 people back). Lots of bumping at the start and had to weed my way around a few slower swimmers but not as nuts as I thought it might be. I tended not to sight as often as perhaps I should have - seemed like if I swam in the general direction of the pack we'd get to each bouy. I tried to swim on some peoples heals but the water churn made it hard to keep with any one person. At the end of the first lap you got to run around the 3rd buoy and as I did so I hit my lap button on my Timex Ironman watch and saw that I had swum it in 19:01. Decent pace (for me) considering finding myself on the outside of the pack for the 3rd side of the triangle. 2nd lap was as bumpy as the first - I guess a lot of the racers swim at close to my pace. My sighting was slightly better on my second lap. What would you do differently?: Think about which button I am pressing on my watch (more later).  Transition 1
Comments: Not much to say about T1. I was happy to have the swim behind me as I was nervous about such a mass start. I saw Dwayne in T1 and passed on a Way to Go! I took my time in T1 as I didn't want to forget anything. I even took the time to put on some sunscreen on my shoulders and neck.  Bike
Comments: Started my Forerunner and then realized I hadn't pressed my lap button on my watch so no T1 time. Oh well - I decided then to ignore keeping track of my lap splits. Crowded on the course at first. Had to watch that I backed off from anyone that passed me as I didn't want to be slapped with a drafting penalty. The race marshals were out and I saw them glance over in my direction once near the beginning of the race. Saw my family as I rounded the last corner and started the climb to T2. What would you do differently?: Nothing. This was my first Half Ironman so while I could have pushed it slightly faster I kept it in my mind that I had a run to contend with next. Transition 2
Comments: I didn't make any attempt to remove my feet from my shoes prior to T2 as I hadn't practiced this move in training. Again in T2 like in T1 I took my time so as not to forget anything.  Run
Comments: My first km split was 4:26 and I knew before looking at my time that it had been fast so slowed it down for the 2nd km which I split at 5:23. Better but my breathing was still quicker than normal. I had to stop at this point to remove a small pebble from my right shoe and it was then that I felt I was mentally fatigued. The next lap I split at 4:57 and then began my run/walk. (These splits I was getting from my Forerunner not my watch). At 7 km's my right calf seized up so I stopped to try to stretch it out. Walking seemed to loosen it up a bit so I walked for about 1/2 a km and then played mind games with myself - I'm going to run to this next telephone pole, and then when I get to it I'm going to convince myself to run to the next telephone pole, and.... I'd walk uphills to spare my calf, and I'd walk aid stations. I played leap frog with a few other runners who I'd pass when running and then they'd pass me when I walked. But I kept at it. I had to - today was all about finishing. Nearing 15 km I looked at my watch and realized if I didn't walk too much more then I could possibly break 6 hours. I hadn't set any goals for myself other than finishing but breaking 6 hours sounded good. The last climb up before the turn to the finish I thought I could see my kids half way up the hill - I got slightly emotional and found I could only breath in short breaths. I then got closer and realized it wasn't my kids but someone elses! :) Oh well - they had motivated me to push harder up the hill. I rounded the corner and saw the finish clock at 6:13 - (I had messed up by pressing Stop on my watch after my first swim lap so my 2nd lap of my swim was missing from my total time...). I didn't have much time to be concerned about it as I was about to complete a Half Ironman regardless of the time. There were my kids - they ran out to join me and we ran into the finish together. Toughest run I have ever had to finish. What would you do differently?: # 1 - Not wear my Fuel Belt - the aid stations were spaced 1 mile apart and carried everything I needed (water, coke, gatorade, oranges). I always took 2 cups of water - one to drink and one to pour over my head. # 2 - Build up a bigger running base but in this case my calf injury prevented me from doing enough running. Post race
Warm down: Some stretching and walking around town. What limited your ability to perform faster: My run was my weak link this time around. I'll now go see a doctor about my right calf. I didn't want to see him prior to my race in case he advised against racing. Event comments: The Great White North Triathlon is a great race that many excellent triathletes take part in. I would do this one again however my next half Ironman will likely be closer to home. Profile Album Last updated: 2007-03-30 12:00 AM
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Canada
The Great White North Triathlon
20C / 68F
Sunny
Overall Rank = 451/622
Age Group = M4049
Age Group Rank = 103/125
Arrived in Edmonton on Friday afternoon. Drove to Stoney Plain, picked up my race package, and figured out where T2 was to be located. Had dinner back in Edmonton with my family and then drove back by myself to Stoney Plain to take in the Race Instructions. The carbo dinner only started at 7:00 pm but as I had already eaten I sat down by myself and slowly became quite nervous as I noted that the room was packed with very fit athletes. I overheard an older couple behind me say "Doesn't this guy look nervous" (honestly) and they were nice enough to sit down with me. I got to talking with them and they learned that this was to be my first Half Ironman. I asked them if they'd ever done this distance before - oh ya, this was their 7th time doing Stony Plain. Great.
Steve King was the announcer during the carbo load dinner (and the race). He read off various statistics, most athletes ever (836) - great...my previous biggest swim start might have had 75 athletes...not helping with the nervousness here... And then he asked everyone who had ever completed this distance in a Half Ironman to stand up... seemed like 2/3 of the hall stood up. Then he asked all those who had done Stoney Plain to stay standing... Still 1/2 of the hall was still standing... Hmmm and I thought by coming to this pre race instruction my nervousness would subside! I drove back to Edmonton that night not feeling I had picked up too much new information and still feeling a bit overwelmed.
Saturday afternoon I took in the pre race bike ride tour of the marathon course. This helped ease my fears slightly as I met up with some other first timers. I as well met up with Dwayne (BT - Mcawber) - known him for a year through BT but this was the first time we've met in person. This tour was great in that it eased my mind to know that there were not any major hills on the run course. (I've been having problems with my right calf tightening up during my runs and hills only make it worse).
Race morning - woke up at 4:00 a.m. Showered and had my usual peanut butter on bagel, banana, and orange juice. Woke the kids up and my wife and their help we moved my stuff out to the van.
Got to the race course just after 6:00 a.m. Set up my bike in T1, loaded my T2 run gear onto a truck for transport to T2. Gorgeous morning. Not a cloud in the sky. Temperature was about 10 degrees and the water was smooth like a mirror.
Waited till about 7:15, got suited up and went for a warm up swim around 7:40.