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 Swim
Comments: Started back and in the middle. Was a clockwise swim so I knew I would drift towards the bouys. Got a good clean start and settled into a rhythm. Worked with the guy who started next to me who was swimming my pace and just paced off him for the first leg. I was literally right on the buoys, actually bumping them. At the turn I had to dodge a slow swimmer from the previous wave and lost my partner, so I found a new group (or they found me) and I kept in the middle as we worked together) Again a swimmer fron the previous wave broke us up but I held onto one of them. I passed Dick Hoyt just before the turn for home. Again I hit 2 buoys. The turn for home revealled that then was a good chop. I got tossed around a bit and shallowed some water a few times. On this leg I ran up on a lot of folks from the previous waves, passing them and trying to find someone going my pace but no luck until the very end. I did drift inside the buoy chain but I identified it and corrected prior to the next buoy. Then I say the shore come up and saw till just about reaching the beach then stood up an was done. What would you do differently?: Not much, I should learn to draft better but the swim was the highlite of my race.  Transition 1
Comments: They had wetsui strippers so that made things much easier. Got to my bike no issues, changed, dryed and body glided my feet got everything on and got going. Did have issues clipping in and almost fell into the guy next to me but I rolled and got clipped in and going. What would you do differently?: Get rolling before clipping in.  Bike
Comments: THe bike started well. The first hill I started in a low gear and spun my way up and I did the same for the next few hills climbing out of 11a to town. I noticed my computer was not reading but that was ok. When we made the turn for the monster the problems began. I go to shift to the small ring for the climb and .....nothing happens. I'm trying to shift but it isn't working, so now i started in too big a gear and have to stand, About a minute later the chain droppen to the small ring and I almost fell. Off course now I'm in the middle of the hill and in the granny gear, but can't upshift since I had already lost my momentum so I sat down and spun to the top. Once there I find I am now stuck in the small ring and would stay there the rest of the way. I geared out on almost every downhill and could just coast as other would fly by. Same deal on the flats, I could go at a good cadence but people in bigger gears come just motor by. At that point I just decided to see if I could go a IM pace and keep my legs fresh. Did a good job going past the speedway twicecruising a fast as I could in the small ring. I came out of the bars during the last set of hills including the long hills to Leavitt road. I did well and passed people go up hill only to have them blow past on the way back down. THe most depressing part was when the 65 year old woman passed me headed to the 11B split. Good ride considering the lost speed. Ate a gel every 30 min and drank every 15 min or so. OK ride What would you do differently?: Have my bike in better mechnical shape with to the race, but I have been living out of a hotel for the last 6 weeks. Transition 2
Comments: Ok. sunscreened up changed shoes and load up some gus took my electrolytes and grabbed my hat. On the run to the mat I could feel my hamstrings not good. What would you do differently?: Nothing  Run
Comments: The run just hurt. Both Hamstrings tightened up and the left glute and hip acted up as well. It just sucked. But I shuffled along as best I could and tried to go IM pace and not much more. THe highlight of the run was about a mile in and i look up and I see a familiar looking face coming the other direction to the finish. It was Chrissy Wellington, leading the race, no bike or car escort, and barely lookng like she was working hard. I started cheering and got a smile out of her. She had the 6th fastest run split and finsihed 6th O/A. Unfortunately it was just a shufflefest from there on 1:03 the first half 1:10 on the second. I got passed by the Racing for Recovery guy on the end of the first lap and saw the Hoyts starting their first lap as I was about mile from the end. But it hurt and ached the whole way. The finish I helped encourge a guy who was struggling and really wanted to break 6 hours, so that felt good. We made it with a minute to spare. What would you do differently?: Have a pair of healthy legs Post race
Warm down: Got my water bottle and iced towel and hobbled to the refill area and then sat on a bench a while. Went to the transition area changed my shoes, waited in line for food (about 50 min,but it was good). Then I walk over to the tent with the results and where the awards were and there is Chrissy Wellington again, taking some pictures and signing stuff, so I got her to sign my race number. It really made my day. Didn't stay for the lobster bake dinner since I had what turned out to be an 8 hour ride home What limited your ability to perform faster: Mechanical issues and injuried legs the last two weeks. Event comments: Great pre-race events, a sprint, kid tris, diners, expo, lot of cool stuff. World class athletes, team hoyt, and a ton of great people. Yes the post race food wait was a pain but everything else was great and the course and lake was beautiful and challenging. Hopefully I'll be healty and ready go hard next year, but the effort was good and I left with a great taste in my mouth. Last updated: 2007-11-29 12:00 AM
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United States
EndorFun
84F / 29C
Sunny
Overall Rank = 819/1552
Age Group = M35-39
Age Group Rank = 169/258
Work got in the way of my plans and I didn't even leave form NH until 7:00pm on Friday, arriving in Concord at 12:30am, but I was very awake the whole ride. Slept in on Saturday and got going and headed to Gunstock for the regestration and expo. Lots of cool stuff, met Kathern Smyers and got to meet the Hoyts again (got an autographed copy of their book at Boston) got fitted for align insoles( didn't buy then, nothing new on race day) and got a Bento box. Then I headed down to the beach and checked in my bike and walked the transition area and waeded in the water. Then it was time to drive the bike course and check how just how hilly the bike was and then drove the run and headed back to Gunstock for the carbo load. Got some food then went otside to find a spot to seat and found myself in the tent and watching a ESPN piece on the Founder of Racing for Recovery an addict turned Ironman, and then he gets up and speaks very cool and inspirational person. After the dinner, I listen to the racers meeting and then headed back to Concord. Called Tammy, made up some Gu20 bottles and went to bed.
Got up at 4:30ish, then drove to Gunstock and got on the shuttle to the park getting there at about 6:00am. Set up transition, found both bottles of sunscreen were out, but they had a sunscreen station so I went there and sprayed myself down. Then I got my wetsuit on found a pump to borrow and pumped up my bike tires and headed to the start on the far end of the beach. Got in line for the porta potties as the skydivers jumped out and brought the American flag for the national anthem. Got to the front just as the pros went off and in plenty of time before wave 5. Then got in line and headed over the mat with my wave and wadded in. Did dunk myself and make sure my new goggles were leak tight. Then we were off.