Great Buckeye Challenge - Half Ironman - Triathlon1/2 Ironman

Lined up left side, back of the pack because I didn't want to mess with the melee of the swim start.

Beginning of the first lap was just trying to get used to sighting again. I did not train as much as I should have nor did I do much OWS training. After the second left hand turn I started running into some of the slower Oly women, then slower Oly men. I was not able to find some good legs to hold on to during the swim. I started to find my stroke and just muddle my way through.

Second lap I was alone for most of the course. I tried to find legs when possible, but I would either get off course, or they would. On the last turn in to finish I found some legs and got to relax a little. Out of the water and up the beach I finally looked at my watch... 43 and change... not good for me at all.

The swim time also includes a tenth of a mile run up the levee from the beach to the parking lot.

Train more regularly. I just did not get in the pool as much as I probably should have.

I am getting much more organized with my transitions. I just took a little more time to just double check that I had everything I needed for the ride

Not much... maybe move faster

I say the road surface was smooth... a majority was... but some was just horrible.

The first lap I felt pretty good. I kept the RPM up around the 90s. I drank my first bottle of GU20 by the time for the bottle hand off. I should have drank more. I just did not stay on top of my hydration during this loop and it came to bite me on the run. I felt okay at the end of the first loop (1:25:xx) and was on pace.

I started to feel it, it being dehyrdation, on the second loop, mostly on the hills leading up to the next aide station. I went easier but was out of water, and running very low on sports drink. At the aide station I picked up two fresh bottles but it didn't last me. I really started to fade. Avg speed started to drop, HR started to creep up... no cramping though... but I did start to get a head-ache. This loop I was basically by myself. I would see people on the turn around points, but we were all basically on the same pace and would have minutes inbetween us. For a couple of the hills I dropped it into my lowest/3rd front chain ring. My legs were just running out of juice and I needed to do as much as I could to conserve.

By the end of the second loop my average had dropped into the 18mph range from the 19+mph from the first loop. I was out of fluids and not feeling that good. The last temp I saw from my bike coming into transition was 96. The wind had picked up as well.

It was great seeing DavidTri's out there and giving each other support. It was an awesome motivator.

Bring more fluids. I grabbed as much as I could carry on the course... but it just was not enough.

I was beat... I knew that the run was going to suck. I was very deliberate again. Checking to make sure I had everything that I would need.

Nothing...

It was hot. My wife looked happy to see me... I put on a happy face so she wouldn't know that I was hurting. Legs were okay... but I knew that I was dehydrated and needed fluids badly.

I hit the first aid station for 4 cups of water and stopped to pee. That was the only time for the entire race. I came out and then went off running. I could already tell that it was bad. My HR was sky high and no matter what it would not come down. Walking it was still too high. I knew the next aid station was about a mile away so I just kept at it. Next aid station was another 4 cups of water, cup of ice into my back pocket (My gels had been sitting in the sun all day and were hot. I knew it was not going to be pleasant to eat hot gel) and another cup of ice for the road. The ice really started to help, and so did the water. I just kept doing the same thing at each aid station. 3-4cups of water, ice in back pocket.

Ran into a guy in my age group. I could tell that he was hurting... asked if he wanted company for the run since we were in the same age group. He agreed. We spent the rest of the first out and back together... walking the aid stations. Keeping pace with one another, talking, trying to keep each other going. Thank you Jessie. At mile 5, my HR was coming back into normal range and I knew that I could finsh the last loop a little stronger.

Before the turn around at transition I stopped to clean out the rocks in my shoes and in my socks. My wife came over to me and I could tell she was worried. I did the first loop in 1:15/1:20, training runs would have put me at mile 8/9 not mile 6. I told her I was okay and not to worry and that I was going to finish the race on my pace and all time expectations were out the window. She seemed to brighten up immediately. Off I went for the next loop.

I left Jessie at about mile 8. I just wanted to finish this race on my terms. I kept with the hydrating plan and just kept going. I was avg'ing 8:50/9:00 miles. I was at my limit. I was pushing to just finish. I walked most of mile 11 because my legs did not want to cooperate with the uphills...Starting to run again for mile 12 took a lot of effort and digging deep.

Rounding the corner to come back into transition was a rush. My wife saw me and came running across to me. It was one of the most amazing moments of my short racing history. I gave her a high five. She said something to me but I don't know what she said.

All kinds of emotions came to me... All of her sacrifices to make time for me to train, all the hours training these last 7 months, all the support from family and people on this site. It culminated at the finish of this race... and the finish of my 2008 racing season. I crossed the line at 6:14:56 to the annoucer calling out my name. Amazming is the only way to explain it.

Hydrate properly on the bike. Keep up pace for the entire run. Not walk as much

Limp around... eat some... walk to the car... change... limp back to transition... eat somemore... pack up the car... Drive home...


Dealing with the heat. I just could not deal with the high 90s and sun all afternoon.


HFP puts on a good race for the price. Things were delayed horribly. They had a lot of support on the run course.