LongHorn Triathlon Festival - Half Iron - Triathlon1/2 Ironman

Started at an easy pace and felt really good. there were a lot of people everywhere and I was passing people at a pretty good clip, so I would draft a little then move on, draft a little and move on. Focused on my form and pull and tried to stay relaxed. This was the easiest effort (feeling wise) I have had in a swim. I've heard a lot of people saying the course was 100-200M short, but I think it was more than that. Maybe 1600M tops. My goal was 34 min., when I got out and saw 25 on my watch, I though my watch was messed up. I heard bird yelling to me that I had a great swim and I felt good as I ran up, so I just forgot about it and focused on the bike.

Nothing.

Ran into transition and stripped off the wetsuit. Threw on helmet, stuck sunglasses in my mouth, and grabbed my bike. Started running and saw Teecris getting finishing up with his T1, thought about yelling for him to pick it up, but being the positive, friendly racer I am, I didn't want to ruin any positive swim vibe he had going. Ran out, jumped on bike and took off.

nothing

Out of T1, I could not get into my shoes, it took me about a mile before I had them on. Finally got feet in and took off. My goal for the ride was 2:30:00 and I felt with the course and conditions, this was doable. The first 10 miles was fast, I felt good and was passing everybody. At about mile 4 a guy passed me and he was moving at a pretty good speed, so I paced off him until we hit the hills, where he would drop back. Took a GU 15 min in and an enduroshark at the hour mark. Sipped on water and Gu2O (had 400 calories mixed in each bottle, total of 2 bottles) throughout the ride. As I began to sip on water and Gu2O, I felt like I couldn't take that much and it was sitting in my belly, I think this was the start of the problems I would have later. I was keeping my watts between 230 and 250, except on the hills where I tried to keep them below 400 on short climbs and below 350 on longer climbs. I managed this well and felt as though I was on track to hit my goal. By mile 50, I had consumed a total of 2 enduroshark tabs, 3 GU, only 32 ozs. of water and 3/4 of a 400 calorie bottle of Gu2O. I went through the water station and picked up a water, dumped it in the aero drink and stood up to stretch. AH OOOOH, both quads cramped a little. I sat back down and increased my cadence, but was nervous about what this was going to mean. I had 6 miles left and a couple of climbs, so I decided to take it easy and spin and not push it up those hills to the end. I made it to the dismount and quads were cramping. I didn't fly off for fear I seize up and wreck, so I came to a complete stopped and took it easy getting off the bike.

hydrate, fuel, prerace fuel??? I'm kinda guessing right now, but the bike fueling plan didn't work so well.

T2 I took it easy, sat down and tried to stretch a little as I put on socks. I knew I was in trouble, but was hoping that I would just run it out.

nothing

Mentally this was the toughest run I have ever done. I was on the verge of DNF, my quads were seizing up on me and it looked like I had tumors bulging from my quads. Coming out of T2, bird started her relay run and she ran next to me. She was super positive and tells me I did great on the swim and bike and I'm going to kill my goal. I just grimace and I tell her I am cramping up bad. We get out of the park and on the pavement and I have to stop, sit down, and try and stretch. I get up and walk about 200 yards and start running again. As soon as I hit the hill, massive cramp in quads. I stop and walk 200 yards, start running again... you get the picture. I was hoping this would eventually work it's way out, but no such luck. mile 3.5 to 4.5, I was able to run just about the whole thing, and my pace was good when I was running, I just couldn't stop cramping. At quadzilla bird went on and I took it easy going up. This was pretty much the end for me. My lower back, (kidneys) started aching and I knew I was dehydrated. each water station I would drink as much as I could and move on. I got over to the last turnaround and saw Jenny, she was looking good and she went by me at about mile 7, I told her to finish strong and she would break 5. I got back to the park and heard fitz yelling my name. I retooled my goal in my head and accepted a 5:15 as the mark. I had 3 miles to go and needed to do it in 35 min to get there. My last 3 were 11, 12, and 11. I was never more glad to be done. I walked out of the finish, saw bird and Jenny, waved and went straight to the med tent. They did vitals and gave me an IV. After the bag of fluid, I felt much better. I had a ton of salt all over my face. Shortly after I arrive, in comes Teecris, with a very similar run story. Pretty funny.

I have to figure out the hydration thing. I lose 4-6 lbs of water weight during 2 hour workouts. I took salt tabs, (which I am not sure those are the right thing for me) but clearly I did not hydrate correctly. I've never had this happen to me, so I have a little work to do. Longhorn 70.3 2009 redemption.

Med tent, IV, Fluids, Food.


dehydration


I loved the event. The parking CF was bad but the event was great. Love the course and will do this again for sure.