PrairieMan Half Triathlon - Triathlon1/2 Ironman

Was not nervous for the swim at all. My goal was only 42minutes so not overally ambitious. I just wanted to make it out of the water. The gun went off and I hit the button on my garmin and was off. The start was a little bumpy with people swimming all over the place. I had problems sighting since I had on my tinted goggle since the sun was not out much at the start. Had a hard time staying on line since I could not see the buoys but nothing really bad. Started catching the prior wave before the half way point and started getting passed by the wave after me also. Rounding the final buoy I felt great. At this point the sun is up and I am swimming straight into it so I am glad for the tinted goggles. Exited the water and looked at my watch but apparently I did not start it so I had no idea of my swim time at that point

Nothing. I went great. Maybe sight alittle better but if I would have tried to swim harding I would have been wore out.

Not bad really. I put socks on since the distance was longer than previous races or I could have cut some time off.

Practice transitions but overall a minute would not have helped

Goal was 20.0mph. Since I had ridden this area in prior races I though 20.0 was definately doable. I started out slower than I thought I would have so from beginning I new 20.0mph was probably not going to happen though. My goal was around 300cal per hour using a "feed bottle" of basically concentrated gatorade which would be approx 250 cal per hour, 1 drink every 12 minutes at 50 cal per sip and water every 3 minutes to dilute "feed bottle". This is what I have trained using so I thought I was golden.

The ride started out great other than a little windy and slower than I would have like. I did not want to work too hard since I new a few minutes would not matter in the end so I just kept at a steady pace, drinking as required. At about mile 15 I hear a noise coming from behind me that I figured was a disc and it certainly was, I was getting lapped by the 2 pros at the race (Chris Leigh and ?Poulsten). Crap, I knew I would get lapped but dang are the moving. They ended up averaging 27mph to my 19.3mph. Those guys are just crazy. Went back to my plan after this and kept going. Well around mile 40 it happened and I have no explanations. My legs started to cramp really bad. Plus my feet are feeling like they are getting blistered on the bottom right by my pedal. It was a hot day but I usually train in the heat because I knew today would be bad. I was hoping this would pass so I grabbed a bottle of gatorade ("gutorade") on the last lap for extra electrolytes. My kepte getting worse and now stomach starting too feel bloated. At one point I tried to stand to climb a hill and my legs complete locked straight, this was going to be really bad. Anyways, I entered the park to head to transition contemplating stopping. I then thought of all the hours training and potential time lost with family while training and figured I could always walk 13.1mile. Right before transition I see the bike of the guy I was talking to early on his car rack which is strange but I head to transition. I know at this point there will be no jumping off of my bike so I slow to a stop and straddle my bike to dismount. I can barely swim my leg over my frame but manage.

As bad as this sounds I would do everything the same but if I had to pick something I would not drink the gatorade.

I was at a snails pace to my spote and put on my running attire and head out. Realize I forgot my garmin on my bike I walk back 50 yards to get it. I figured at this point a little extra walking is not going to hurt and I new I was in for a long run/walk and wanted to make sure my time did not suck. I was really hoping my legs would start to work.

Remember my Garmin

As I am heading out I see Chris Leigh coming to the finish barely sweating with noone in his sight. I figured at this point running was pointless so I just walked as fast as I could. The first 2 miles was a little shaded so that helped someone but stomach was so full when I tried to run it just was not happening. Heading out to the main part of the course I was Aaron (jeepfleeb) who was volunteering and I managed to run about 3 steps for a picture so I at least looked like I was running. Immediately starte to walk. I would try to run a few steps but my hamstrings would just seize up immediately so kept on walking. I had decide prerace to run with a water bottle and NUUN which came in handing with about 15minute between aide stations. There was plenty of stations, at least 13, but I was moving so slow they took forever to get too. At mile 3 I was David (dgillen) walking to the park. The race was closed to traffice so he had to make the 1.5 mile walk in. Stop and talked for a minute since I figured it would not hurt at this point. Continue to walk towards the damn. At this point I get on the dam which is extremely hot. Not trees for shade and right by the water. My feet are killing me but there is no way I am stopping. Plus it looks like most people at this point are walking also so I figured I came off the bike in a decent position so I should not finish that badly even though my time will suck. I drink as much as possible and try to stay cool. At about mile 5 it looks like it might rain and I keep feeling small rain drops but that was just a tease. Hit the end of the dam and decide to count people going the other way to see how bad I am position wise. I end up getting to about 40 when the people stop. I knew I was bad but did not think that bad. Well about mile 10 it starts to pour, thunder and small lightning. I decide to try and run since I had about 2.5hrs of walking. For some reason my legs wanted to cooperate all of a sudden and I was running about 8:30/mile pace for about 3/4 of a mile. Decided at this poin to run walk to the finish since weather was getting bad. About 1.5miles from the end a loud crack of thunder scared the crap out of me so I pick up the pace. At this point I was actually passing people so I felt good. I could see the finish and it looked like it was closed. I though maybe they were stoping the race but actually you had to enter the shoot from the other direction but I was beat at this point since I was running hard thinking I was done. I walked for a few seconds the last .5 miles or so so that I could run hard to the finish. Crossed the line and was never so happy to finish a race in my life.

Not much I could really do other than stop.

Ate a few pieces of pizza and drank some. Talked to a few people and drove David to his car so he would not have to walk back. Found the guy I was talking to before the race and apparently his tubular rolled off his front rim and he crashed and busted his aero bars so he could not finish.


I have no idea. I trained like I planned on racing. I drank the same things and tried to train in the heat as much as possible. I really have no idea what happened and am at the point I reall need to stop thinking about it.


The race was organized great but the RD need to calm down. I knew I was there early and did it on purpose. I know this is his personally though.

Not sure what my next step is from here. I would like to do another HIM but the training was getting to be alot so next year will probably just be sprints. I will try and do more though and work on speed, this year was about endurance.