LongHorn Triathlon Festival - Half Iron - Triathlon1/2 Ironman

Goal time: 35:00

Started in the 13th wave to the right of the bouy line and in front row. Planned to breath left, sight on other athletes for 200 m and drift to the left where I thought the lead guys would be. Then sight ahead and hopefully still be with the lead pack and catch a draft. Nice plan but it didn't work that way. Sighted and saw several of yellow caps ahead. From here I just tried to find a draft. I did hook on to a guys hip all the way to the first turn bouy. Made the turn about 15' outside the bouy missing the congestion at the turn. (Why do so many think you have to turn tight around the bouy?) Both turns were perfect and I never missed a stroke in the turn. On the long straight I started running into previous wave traffic. No problems here. Just sighted well and swam around them. Made the final turn same as the first; never missed a stroke. I did drift to the right of the bouy line coming into the finish. Swam until my hand hit the sand. Stood up and ran. Looked at my watch and saw 27:00. What? Awesome. As I ran up to T1 I thought to myself 'No way. Something is wrong. No way I swam 27:00'. As we all know now, the course was short.

Even if I add say 4' for the short course, I think I still swam under my goal time.

Be more aggressive on the swim. Try to stay with the lead pack. Sometimes I feel like I didn't swim hard enough.

Of the 15 guys who beat me overall, I beat 7 of them out of the water. I've never thought of myself as that strong of a swimmer. Guess I'm getting better.

17/124
Goal time: 3'

I had previously scoped out transition. My rack was very close to the bike out. Being in the 13th wave meant I would be getting on the bike at the same time as the slowest swimmers in the previous waves. That meant lots of congestion at the bike mount line. So, I decided to forego the flying mount/shoes on the bike thing. Wetsuit off easily. Quick wipe of my feet. Shoes/helmet/glasses on and running.

Not much. My wetsuit was stuck on my heels for a second. More Triglide on my heels.

Of the 15 guys that beat me overall, I beat 8 of them in T1.

Goal time: 2:40:00

The bike...my favorite..

I had previously ridden the course in training. Glad I did.

The passing party started. Being in the 13th wave meant lots and lots of other athletes to pass. I never stopped passing people the entire ride.

The first 10 miles my HR was high; like in the 160s. I kept telling myself to calm down, settle into a rhythm. Didn't work. Eventually I was able to settle down, but it seemed like 30 miles into the ride before I felt in control and riding comfortably.

Remember the 7 guys I beat out of the water? They passed me in the first 10 miles. And I mean came flying passed me. I didn't even try to use them in the legal draft. There was one guy who passed me and who was in my AG that I was able to hang onto. He and I leaped frogged for most of the ride.

I don't remember seeing too many BT'ers. Saw Marcy. Almost ran into to her at an add station (sorry).

The ride was going well until about mile 40. There my stomach started to rebell. I was sipping Infinite and taking a GU on the hour. That's what I had done in training and it seemed to work then. I knew the feeling. So, lowered the intensity, stopped taking in any nutrition and grabbed some plain water at an aid station. After a few miles my stomach felt better. Started back on the Infinite.

The hills and the wind didn't bother me much. I had a 12/27 cog set. Used the 27 a couple times on the hills. Stayed aero the entire ride except for the numerous turns.

A funny thing I saw...a bunch of water bottles and yellow poofy things in the road. I knew there had to be a bump in the road. I stood on the pedals and sure enough a big bump. It was shaded and you couldn't see the bump. All those behind the seat bottle holders were launching water bottle missles.

Finally came to Quadzilla. Climbed it and headed for T2.

Nutrition- 2 bottles of Infinite, 2 GU. Total 750 calories.

Not start out so hard. My HR was too high in the beginning. Settle down and build speed through out the ride.

Change up my training. I don't do enough training at or above race pace. When I think about my training rides they seem to be kind of in a moderate zone, neither hard nor easy, but still in z2. Something to work on next season. Incorporate more hill training.

Of the 15 guys who beat me overall, I beat only 2 on the bike.

18/124
Goal time: 2'

Good dismount. Ran straight to my rack. Socks and shoes on. Grabbed hat/GU/glasses and running.

Not much except move faster.

Of the 15 guys who beat me overall, I beat 7 in T2.

Goal: 1:49:00

The first mile had me really concerned. My legs didn't want to turnover and my HR again was too high. Then my quads started cramping. I've never ever had cramps of any kind. This was wierd. Popped 3 endurolytes at the next aid station (should have taken the Advil too). That helped and I settled into a pretty decent run.

I ran all of the first lap except to drink a the aid stations. At about mile 2 I started seeing BT'ers. This was cool. I saw Todd about to be chicked by his very speedy wife Jenny. Saw Brittney looking very strong. Except for the first mile, the first loop was a pretty decent run. The first loop seemed to go by very fast. I guess all the spectators and people on the course make the time and miles fly by.

The first part of the second loop wasn't too bad either. I was definitely hurting. My quads were hammered by the hills. I was trying to negative split and run the second loop faster. All was going well. Got to mile 9 and looked at my watch. 40 minutes to get to the finish line and I'll beat my 5:10 goal. So, I picked up the pace some. At mile 10 I told my self only a little 'ole 5k left. That's about when I felt like I needed the port o let bad. I started walking hoping the feeling would pass. About this time John passed and said "Stay strong". That was the inspiration I needed. Started running again. Ran to Quadzilla and did my best to run up it. Made it half way and had to walk. A little while later I saw 5:10 go by. New goal - sub 5:15. Kept on running. Passed Mike (ABQkid). I said looking good. I think he said finish strong. It's all a blur. Hit the finish chute. Held up hook'em horns and finished.

Nutrition: 2 GU and gatorade, coke, as needed from aid stations.

Need more hill training. Totally under estimated the hills.

Of the 15 guys who beat me overall, I beat only 3 on the run.

After crossing the finish line, I became really dizzy, couldn't take a deep breath and was seeing spots. I told the volunteer I needed to sit down. There was a chair there and I sat. I knew Mike would finish soon and wanted to wait for him. The volunteer kept asking me if I was OK. Saw Mike. Got my picture taken then wandered out. My wife was there. She said I didn't look good. I said 'Spots. I have spots'. They took to the med tent. I've never been in the med tent. Got an IV. My temp was 95, which seemed low to me. My HR after laying there for a half hour was 85. The doc asked 'That's not your normal HR?' Uh, no. After about 45 minutes I was released and headed to the BT tent.


Need more hill training, more race pace training. It's obvious the bike and run are where I need to concentrate my training. If you ask me, triathlon is all about the run. Everything you do should have the goal of allowing you to have the best run possible.


This was a great event. One of the best I've ever done. I'll be back next year.

Special thanks to Mike Harris and family for putting up the BT tailgate area.