Spirit of Racine Half Ironman Triathlon - Triathlon1/2 Ironman

Started off to the left (outside) which works pretty well instead of getting trapped inside. Turned the first buoy and sighted pretty well to the next one. Then, and this was inevitable, I couldn't really find the next bouy in the fog. Several time I would have to stop, lift up my goggles and look just to be able to see where I should be going. I can't imagine the actual path I was taking. I felt pretty good swimming though. Never got overally tired but due to the sighting issues I just really wanted to be done. Finally got to the last bouy and made my turn in. It seemed like this was taking forever but my watch said 28 minutes coming out of the water. Long run op the beach which is fun though since a lot of people are lining the chute with lots of cheering.

Better goggles would probably help. Certainly more bouys would help too but I guess that's not under my control

I think I had a prime transition spot since it was very close to the exit to start the bike. I didn't have to run with my bike very far at all. Rinsed feet quick, suit came off OK - not great.

I think I should practice standing and taking wetsuit off. I always feel like I have to sit down.

My plan due to last year was work real hard to slow down at least for the first 15 miles. That means probably going 18-18.5 mph and trying to get HR down in the 140s for an extended period. Well, got going and I seriously felt like I was not working hard at all to maintain 20+. HR was coming down so I just went with it especially since there was no wind and lots of cloud cover so real cool and comfy.

I took salt tabs every 30 mins except the last hour I think I took quite a bit more due to the sun coming out. Had three bottles of gatorade with me which I drank all of. Plan was to fill aero-bottle at every station and drink that too but a couple of times I didn't get through the whole thing. Took two aspirin in case my back got sore. Ate a cliff bar - 1/2 at 20 minutes. Other half I think at 50. Gel every 45 minutes starting 15 minutes into the bike including blocks during one of these 45 minutes.

I felt like I had to pee which is rare for me during a race but I took that as a good sign although I held it without too much trouble during the bike.

I got passed by enough people and I passed enough people. I tried to ignore all that though and just focus on what I needed to do to feel good on the run. I was maintaing lots of periods where I was 20+ so I knew I was ahead of schedule and my unrealistic goal of coming in under 6 hours was starting to creep into my head. Hmmm.

Lots of people changing tubes, I saw the ambulance out on the course but not sure what happened there although I did see one woman down on a corner and getting help. One bike I came up on the side of the road didn't have a person with it. As I got closer I was somebody deep in the weeds and looked like some vomitation was going on or possibly a #2 - couldn't quite tell.

Time seemed like it was going by quicker than last year. I could tell my legs were getting tired in the 30-40 mile range and then I started to fear I was going too fast. There are several long didtance training rides on my plan that I just couldn't get in on the weekends and I was starting to think here is where I was going to pay.

Finally came on to Main street and the last turn to go downhill to tranisition. Good ride but I am sure glad that was over. Now we are getting to the moment of truth.

I felt I might have left a little on the course, especially if the cloud cover would have stayed but all things considered I am happing with nutrition and hydration which is huge for me. I probably could have had more water and taken advantage of a bananna which were offerend on the course. Nice that they were handing out 16 ounce bottles of water on the course.

I actually went in on the wrong side of my row but there was room once I threw my bike on the bar to duck under and get to where my stuff was. I think I wasted a few seconds just making sure I have what I wanted. My fuel belt stocked with 6 bottles of gatorade was staying nicely chilled in a Little Playmate cooler I kept in transition. I pulled that out, put it on and saw I had a huge amount of ice in the cooler. Put a bunch of that ice in my running hat which felt great. Dumped other water on my head which was nice too.

I guess move quicker but I don't know really

Well, here it is. Was I going to crash and burn re-living the horrors from last year or actually benefit from better decisions and planning. I ran out of transition, saw my jock-strappers which was a big pick me up and started looking to the porta. Last year I remember there being several right there. This year, 1. And there was a line!! I'm not going to wait in line to take a leak in the middle of a race so my quick reaction was to just keep running. Well, first couple hundred yards, legs feel good, stomach no problem, any cramps? Nope. So far so good.

I walk up the first two hills. I figure at this point there is no reason for me at least to struggle and hammer up it. Got to the top and really looked now to see if I can get into a good rythym.

Now, what to do about peeing. I started to think maybe I should have waited in line. I hear of people peeing on the bike but can it be done while you run without anybody noticing and no Center for Disease Control violations? What else is there to do? I can't go in somebody's yard so here goes. My first running urination. Worked fine. Worked so well I did it one more time later. BTW, those wet spots on the pavement may not always be spilled water or drinks.

My plan was to run 5 minutes and then walk 1 which I did for the first 4-5 miles. This was just to make sure I pace myself OK and build my run over time. As I'm running though I am feeling very good. My legs felt great. As I made the turn to come back at the 3.5 mile point I ran into a friend of mine from the club and we chatted a bit. I was even laughing and just having a good time. How could this be. I'm in a frickin' half ironman almost halfway through the run and I'm having a good time. All the hard work and training seemed to be paying off and nothing could have felt better. High-fived lots of donkeys and other peeps. Great stuff!

At mile five I pretty much went to a only walk a bit of the aid stations plan. Got close to the turnaround with lots of people hangin' out and a great atmosphere. Saw Maggyruth and her gain cheerin' like all get out along with my strappers which was a great pick me up too although I already felt up. That was about to change.

Mile 7 I started to feel like my heart wasn't quite right. It felt like it was working too hard and sure enough, I checked my HRM and I'm in the 180s and soon to be 190s. I keep running but now I've hit a pretty serious wall. Aw crap! I'm way ahead of pace on my dream goal and not this happens. Not only that but my heart doesn't seem right! Do I stop? Keep going and keal over?

After struggling a bit more I decide to keep going but to walk for over the next mile to see if I can get my HR down. It's not really working! Around mile 8 I dump a ton of cold water on my head with tons of ice which I had been doing all day but I figure I really have to get my temperature down. I had been drinking all along, taking a salt tab at every station but as I leave that station I'm not really doing much better.

I think I still walked at that point and got some light running in but I feel like what I dreaded was going to happen by my day slipping away and I don't know what I can do about it.

Well, I must have done enough at that last aid station because all of a sudden I start to feel better. HR is now at 156 which just shocked me! I got back into a nice running pace again on mile 9 and things start to look better. Might I still make it?

I tried not to overdue it but just maintain what my body was now giving to me it seems as a gift. Mile 11 as you can see below is actually a time that was about as good as the ones I started the run on! Yes!

Within 2 miles to go I could tell that I was creeping back into that danger zone so I did have to back off some but no way when I am this close am I going to be denied. With less than a mile to go I am in the zoo part of the course I'm spiking again so I did walk some yet but I can start to hear the crowd!

Interestingly I come up the little hill probably 30-50 yards from the finish and I start to cramp in my legs! I literaly put the cramping off for about 70.28 miles out of 70.3 but I was able to finish strong. Yes! And I am under my far out goal by about 7.5 minutes!

1 10:37 163
2 10:46 162
3 10:16 164
4-5 22:00 167
6-7 23:16 170
8 14:03 175
9 12:29 165
10 11:26 160
11 10:32 167
12 11:24 170
13.1 12:05 173

I suppose drink even more. More salt tablets even beginning at the bike. Train more in the heat?

Heat wise I was roasting so lots of water over the head and bending over. After a few minutes though I felt good. Even did a little jig which I think one of the volunteers got a bit of a kick out of. Really that whole race I had very good legs which I never really felt like I was at the point of exhausting them.


My biggest threat was the heat. I do believe that if that cloud cover would have stayed I would have breezed on the run. I know that's true for everybody but guys 6'7" and 250 lbs really get hit by that and I did but I am quite proud of myself for taking over an hour off of last year's time and feeling great for maybe about 10% of the race.


Now, official race results have data that is entirely different than what I have posted. When I check my bike in, the assigned timing chip for my number was gone. Somebody must have gotten it by mistake. They gave me a different chip and made note of it but I'm thinking they never made a change. I'm trying to work that out. Either was I was still 2nd out of the old fat guy division (225+lbs, 40+ age) but when they gave me the new chip I knew this would probably happen.

I thought the bike course seemed much more crowded than last year for some reason. With lots of DNS's I'm surprised at that but I guess they could maybe have more waves to even things out? I don't care on the run in fact it's a lot of fun but the bike it is just dangerous and almost downright impossible not to draft.

Post race food was much better than last year with a tasty pork sandwich.

The hour delay was annoying but my understanding is that it wasn't the race directors decision but the Coast Guard instead so not much you can do.