Whirlpool Steelhead 70.3 Triathlon - Triathlon1/2 Ironman

I was in the 14th wave out of 16. Although you would not know it by my time this was the best swim I have had to date! Including training swims! I am just a slow swimmer. I got in a good rhythm right from the start and held it till the end. I stayed as close to the buoys as I could to be able to sight. I never got kicked or climbed over at all.

Nothing, this off season though I am going to work on speed and stroke work to bring up my time.

I decided to take it slow in transition. Being my first HIM I wanted to make sure I did not forget anything. The first thing I did was to take off my wet suit in the water. With all the sand here I think it helped.

Practice transitions more. I did not work on this that much and I know I need work in this area.

About 3 weeks ago I decided to really crank up my training and take a 70 mile training ride to make up for lost time when the furthest I had done was a 56 mile when a few of us came up to Benton Harbor to check out the course. This did more harm then good. I strained my left thigh muscle and it never really healed. After about mile 40 it started hurting. My nutrition stratigy was every 15 min drink sprots drink and on the 30 min eat 1/3 of a powerbar. On the course however there were no powerbars to be seen. Only gels and bananas. I had enough for the ride but it made me start questioning my nutrition. Am I missing something? My thought was eating solid food on the bike and stick to gels on the run but they had it set up the other way around. So I need to completly rethink my nutrition. Jeff and I rode together the whole bike and I know I held him back but he never complained we both wanted someone to talk to on the run since we trained together for so long.

Quite a bit. I think sticking to the training schedule is the first thing. Checking into better nutrition is the biggest though. This really bit me hard later!

Again I took t2 slow. I changed socks shirt and took off my bike short, I had tri short under them. Had to pose for a couple of pictures for my wife! The started to run out and realized I forgot my IT Band wrap! My IT band has been bothering my for about a month now and without the wrap I would have been in misery!

Again, pratice this more and learn to set my stuff up better.

Ok, the first 6.5 miles felt good. Jeff and I decided we would run the first mile then walk up the big hill since my IT band had been acting up and his heel had been bothering him. At mile 6.5 everything fell apart for me! My knee was hurting and I started getting cramps in my legs. I was taking Gatoraid at about every aid station and Enderalites as often. I took sponges and tried cooling off with them but nothing was working. At the aid station right after mile 9 my legs cramped up all over! My left hamstring would not let go. I stretched and massaged for what seemed an eternity! It finally loosened up but my butt was kicked! I was able to start a very slow shuffle slightly faster than a walk and as long as I did not take big strides I didn't cramp up. By mile 11 I was done! My knee could not take anymore and I could not get myself to run at all. The remaining aid stations were closing up and I felt like I had to be the last person out there. Jeff had some left in him so I told him to go. The last 2 miles where the most mentally and physiclly challenging I have ever exprienced! I tried to run but could not and the finally turn to the finish seemed like it would never get there! When I did finally make that last turn my wife and kids were waiting and my kids walked accross the finish line with me which was cool.

I need help here. I know I need to do more bike run bricks, but I believe my biggest problem was nutrition. Hints and tips are most welcome!

After crossing the finish line I sat down on a bench and told my wife I was tingling all over. She took me to the medical tent and they took my temp. 94 deg! They said I had hypothermia so they covered me in blankets and hooked me to an IV. I ended up throwing up twice.


I think it was nutrition but I am not sure. I really need help in this area.


First off the volenteers were awsome!! Everyone I ran into was as helpful as they could be! The event was great but the location was bad. Too much sand. You could not sit anywhere without looking like a powdered doughnut!