MightyMan Montauk - Triathlon1/2 Ironman

Only MAJOR problem was my wetsuit coming unzipped (all the way) about 1/2 way through the race. Someone zipped me up right before the race and apparently didn't do it right. I tried twice to flip on my back and zip it myself but it was just too hard so I struggled throught the last 1/2 of the course with water surging in and out of the back of my suit. I do think it effected my swim time, but despite this I had none of the usual panic attacks or apprehension at the start. I was calm, my stroke was smooth and felt confident. I know after this race my first IM must be in a lake or still water. I do so much better w/ woorying about waves and jellyfish!Breathing and sighting best ever! My extra swimming training and OWS really made the difference this race. i can only see my swimmimg imrpoving as I continue to train. I had the most improvement in this sport on this race.

Make sure my wetsuit is properly closed and latched shut tight! Other than that one think it was my best swim ever!

Overall not bad transition. I forgot my PAM spray so my wetsuit was struggling w/ me a bit, but overall not bad. No problem w/ neck rash as I had my new rash guard shirt underneath the suit and slapped on tons of goop.I was suprised at how many people had already got their bikes even though I was the 2nd wave out. There were lots of fast folks at this race!

Nothing -but I do feel ready to transition to clipless next season!

The unexpected suprise was the torrential rains that started about 1/4 of the way into the bike course. Looked like it would be a drizzle but became full downpour that pierced your face like needles when going fast downhill. Was shivering for about the first mile from being wet and cold. Probably rode a bit more cautiously due to the rain. I really had only ever riden once before on my bike in this kind of down pour and people were slipping and sliding like crazy, so I didn't want to be one of them and slowed to an average pace of 15 mph. Saw so many flat tires along the way, I was so greatful not to have that bad luck come my way. Overall the bike was OK considering the weather and while I felt my performance for my training and condition was solid, I still have alot to improve on with my bike training.

Nothing much unless I could have stopped the rain :)

Nothing much here - just happy to be of the wet bike seat and ready to run. I was running strong off the bike until some race official yelled at me to slow down till my legs came back...WTF lady my legs were back! Anyway got the bike in the rack quick change and because I was already in running shoes (although they were soaking wet)I was off in a flash and felt very strong!

Nothing

The first loop it was still pouring so my shoes and socks got even more soaked cause you couldn't avoid the puddles in certain areas and just had to wade through them. I kept my long sleeve bike top on the first loop cause I was still cold and didn't think stripping it off made much sense. By the second loop the rain subsided and I took of the top down to my tri top, when circling transition (which worked out well) cause at that point it was so wet it was like extra weight. I felt exceptionally strong at the start of the run and decided to attempt running Murder Hill which I did without too much struggle, i was careful to lean forward take small steps and take my time. by the second loop I was a little more tired (legs not cardio) but I knew by that point I was within my goal of a sub 7 hour race so that motivated me to run it the second loop too. I never walked any portioi of this half marathon! I was very proud of that!I was concerned due to my lingering PF from last season and lack of training this season i would suffer on this run -I was so surprised by my performance here. My foot did start to give me problems at mile 10 but not bad enough to really effect anything. At mile 6 I looped the transition ares and saw my husband who looked at me with such suprise he said "You look great honey! You got this!" I answered "Yep, I got this" I knew at that point there was no way I wasn't going to finish, it was just a matter of whether I hit my goal time or not. I declaired a goal time of 6:52 here on BT Friday but said I'd be thrilled with anything under 7 hours, so as I approached the end of the race I was feverishly doing the math and at 1.5 miles out I knew I was within a few minutes of making it under 7 hours so I pushed,HARD and made that dream my reality, it was simply amazing. The best part was my hsband running up to me saying "oh you missed by 1 minute (because the (clock read 7:01)and explaining to him that that clock started with the first wave and I was in the second wave so that meant I was in the 6:50's somewhere. We both started jumping up and down and crying like idiots.

Nothing really -I am still not 100% on this foot and know it will be a while before I can really push my running pace, so for now this will have to be and I'm OK with that.

Walked from transition to the car rode back to the hotel room took an ice bath then a hot bath and had a beautiful long awaited glass of wine! Hubby gave me a full massage fed me post race snacks and I took a nap before going out to celebrate with a lobster dinner -YUMMY!


Duh -how bout the weather -thank you mr. weatherman (partly cloudy and sunny -right!), perhaps a 1/2 open wetsuit for 1/2 the swim and as always my fussy PF injury that I may always have to deal with. But even with all of these issues I felt very proud of my race!


Overall this race was very well managed and directed. The volunteers were organized helpful and friendly. It's a small little town but they really come together for this event. Road support was solid, couldn't believe all the locals out helping bikers on the route. Aid stations were great stocked with water, heed, coke and gels and the course is simply beautiful. I hope eventually they do a full IM here -if they did I would definetly go back! I had a ball!