Desert Half Iron - Triathlon1/2 Ironman

Great swim, lots of mill foil on the bottom. And it was getting green. Overall not a bad lake for the desert.

Train with my new wetsuit.
Get some strenght in the water.

LONG TRANSITION. I mean LONG.
My suit got stuck on my heels and the strippers could not get it off. I had to do it. GREAT!

BODY GLIDE

WOW! This course started out on a hill, then went to a bigger hill followed by some huge rollers. Well just to top that off, going up richter pass there was a head wind, when I had some down hill I was still pedaling hard to make up time. And was like doing24k. Got some good speed coming down the backside of richter though. Wind was there most of the way then headed back from barcelo and was doing really well 36-42k until the rollers. It seemed that the wind turned around and was blowing the other way. I was pissed. I worked hard against the wind coming here and you have no right to change when I come back. Headed up to Nighthawk aid station and PUKED up my gel pack at the 3rd station. YES race plan is coming together. Headed up the back side of richter with a bit of a bad taste in my mouth but managed to hold down some water. SOmething is wrong with my bike. I was hearing a ping and now some sort of grinding. Came down richter at around 68k and was passing the people that passed me up the hills, not all of them though.

HIT THE GYM FOR LEG POWER!!
I HAVE NO POWER!!

Took my time, I knew I was not going to win a prize by having the fastest transition.

Nothing.

What run. Ok ok, I started out good, felt like it would be hard but nothing I could not handle. Then, the heat hit. My head felt like it was going to explode and my hands were starting to swell. My heartrate was astrinomical and I started coughing out phlem like it was going out of style. My ribs were sore from coughing so much. But I kept trying to run when I felt I was feeling better. First loop was hard but it just kept getting harder. With no wind in town and the sun was beating down on me. I was thinking I just need to keep moving. Aidstations had ice and sponges..GODSEND. A nice lady paced me for awhile and I was so thankful. It actually helped. I would have died if she did not come around. I got a big hug from her at the end. Came around the corner and started running got to the aid station and....PUKED....YEAH! Talk about your race plan going to tee! Well That got many people asking lots of questions..I AM OK. YES, I AM GOING TO FINISH. THANKS. I NEED SOME WATER. YES I AM OK.
Very concerned people. Then with the final 400 Meters I said I am going to finish running and with my chest hurting from the coughing and my nipples chaffed I mustered up all the remaining energy I had and jogged in. I was so Happy to to see the race director give me my medal. I called him some bad names and we laughed. It was good.

Train for stupid heat.

Walk around and try to get out of the sun.


TRAINING! I will say right now that you can not have a great race on 6 weeks of training. You can have a good race and a fun race but not a great one.


I HAD A GREAT TIME!
I know your thinking but you had a bad race...yeah but the volunteers and the race director and racing with my friend were great. EXPERIANCE IS THE BEST. If you ask me, I won't say that it was easy. IT was HARD and I think this has made me a stronger athlete. I know I have the BALLS to finish a race when I feel Like dropping out and even my mental state was saying it.
GREAT RACE EXPERIANCE