Black Bear Triathlon - Triathlon1/2 Ironman

I was feeling really good on the swim, despite the cold temps. It took a bit to get comfy and get into a rhythm, but I got there eventually. The good news is that I was in the middle of the pack this time (instead of the back of the pack), but the bad news is that I had to deal with a bit more contact than normal, but nothing too bad. I think I dished out just as much as I took. :)

I tried to focus on keeping my stroke smooth, high elbows, etc. I usually do two breaths, four breaths, two breaths, etc, but I think I only did one four breath stroke during this race. I didn't wear a watch for the swim, so I was going off perceived effort, which was the plan. I felt like I was at HIM effort the whole time.

I felt pretty good about navigation, except for the sun. It was really bright on the return trip, and I was wishing I had worn those tinted goggles I bought at the expo. I had one point toward the end where the sun was making it difficult to navigate, so got a little off course, but not too bad.

Not too much - this was a better swim by five minutes than my HIM last fall. I was really happy with it. If I had to pick one thing, I would have been a bit more aggressive.

Long run up to transition from the beach exit. I wanted to get my HR down a bit and CALM DOWN so I didn't go into the bike all freaked out, and I was fine sacrificing a few seconds in transition to do that. I'm sure I could have been more efficient in there, but I felt comfortable, and that was my main goal.

I need to specifically practice this routine, because I don't have one yet. It needs to become second nature.

Yep...this course was H..I..L..L..Y. I was scared sh*tless going into this course after driving it the day before, but I had a plan, which I think will be similar to my LP plan. Take it easy on the first lap, and easier the second. :) J/K! I did want to take it easy on the first lap, but then see what I had left for the second. Overall, the course was a really good exercise in patience and gearing for IMLP.

I tried something new this race - I didn't display my HR and went on perceived effort. I was wearing my HRM and have the data, but I didn't want to get freaked out by it. Especially since this course was so hilly, it would have.

I wavered between a few groups and caught two girls in my AG on the first lap. I was actually really happy with my performance on this course, even though my speed sucked. The people I passed I did so on the hills, and I only got re-passed by a handful.

Disaster struck around mile 9.5. I took a slug out of my gel flask and went to put it back into, what I thought, was my pocket. Notsomuch. I was trying to put it between my race belt and my shirt, which didn't work. So...out go my gels, bouncing around the Poconos. No emergency gel stash, either (a lesson I have learned and will NOT repeat). I had enough Infinit for three hours of riding (thanks to my two-hour return trip to Delaware the day before), but I was going to be playing it very thin in nutrition. I tried to replace an empty bottle with HEED, but it made me want to throw-up, so that didn't work well.

I could tell the lack of nutrition was starting to hurt a bit on the second lap, but it wasn't too bad (or, as bad as I've experienced, I should say). I finished the second lap very upset about a monster hill at the very end (seriously...I thought I would start rolling backwards) and glad to be off my bike.

Not lose my gel flask sounds like something I would not repeat. I still feel good about my hill climbing ability, even though I wish I were faster. For the people I was around, I was doing ok.

Same type of scenario - I wanted to calm down a bit and get focused on the run, so I took a little longer than I wanted to. I did a gel in transition when I first got in, too.

Not take as long - get a better routine.

I knew the lack of nutrition on the bike was going to effect me, but I was trying to ignore it. I am acutely aware of the challenge I'm going to face during the marathon of the IM, and it was the main thing I thought about during this race. My legs were pretty shot from the tough bike, but I think that bike is much harder than LP will be, so I tried to keep it in perspective.

I was having some problems with allergies - I felt like I couldn't take a deep breathe. Every time I would try, I would go into a coughing fit. It was ok until about mile 11, then I got a cramp that wouldn't go away.

It was hot and sunny out, but I didn't feel too hot, which I think is because it was windy. I took water at every water stop, and Coke if they had it. I did four gels - every half hour. If they would have had Gatorade at the water stops, I would have taken that too, but it was HEED. I wanted to keep plugging myself with nutrition to make up for the bike, so if they had it, I was buying.

Not too much to elaborate on...it was your basic aid station to aid station run/walk. I do think I ran more than I walked, so that was a plus! I was hurting, but not nearly as bad as I did last fall at Diamondman, so regardless of how tough this bike course was and the dropped gel flask, I felt good about where I was. I would have liked to be a bit faster, but such is life.

I can't wait to see the finish picture...I think I was just so glad for it to be over that I just said "THANK YOU" as I crossed the finish line!

I think I need to be more mentally tough. My HR was not out of control, so I think I maybe could have pressed it a bit harder. The breathing thing was kind of freaking me out, so I need to get that looked at.

Walked to the nearest spot in the shade and crashed!! :) The post-race spread was bbq, which made me want to throw up, so no food post race. I got myself together and listened to the awards before making my way to transition to pack up. I had to pick up my dog by 6 p.m., so not too much time to dawdle.


I think I need a lot of work on my mental toughness in the next month. I need to prepare myself for the fact that it will hurt and I need to keep going through it. It's not going to be a comfortable experience.


Best things - volunteers were awesome, organization was incredible! It was a great weekend.

needs improvement - get rid of HEED!!!