Cincinnati One World Triathlon - TriathlonOlympic

Pace: 6:31 on both laps. I had called my coach for advise on how to run this first part. He suggested on line of thinking was to run the pace that you would for the combined run..so I figured a 6:35....VERY CLOSE. This was purely strategy, as I could have done sub 6's on this easily, but this wasn't a 2 mile race, so I used my gray matter.
As it turned out, I was 6th fastest, so that was fine.

What can you do on a change like this. Just deal with it.

Very little room for improvement here. My water bottles were still mostly frozen at the beginning of the race, so I got my aero bottle only about 1/2 full, which turned out to be no big deal. Got running shoes off and bike shoes off fast and easy. I ran in bike shoes as fast as the guy in socks ahead of me, so I saw no real advantage here...then I passed his ass and never saw him again....so bike shoes on pedals? Really?

Nuttin, except don't have frozen drink.

I felt pretty good here. Really trying to work the pedaling, staying aero and hauling ass. I didn't have too many people around me, but of the one or two in front of me, I really tried to use them to spur me on to go faster. On the second lap, I could tell my stomach was not emptying, which has been a problem in other longer races. I felt it distended and sloshy and knew this could become an issue on the run. What should I do? Slow down and loose time...hoping it would work itself out..or push on and see what happens? I pushed on...because this is just a test, and I gotta see what happens when I do One Thing or the other. I held back on my best bike effort, knowing that I still had a 10K to run......USE YOUR HEAD JIM! I did.

Zero. I did this just how I wanted. I'm glad I didn't EVER look at my HR while biking...it may have messed with my noodle.

I'll still work on this, but it will be soooooooooooooo different in the IM that practicing THIS procedure will be pointless. This was ABOUT as fast as this could be done.

Really? Nothing.

Well, this was most interesting. Lately, I've been doing very good on my runs off the bike, and really this was no exception. However, coming off the bike, I knew there was stomach problems to contend with. My stomach was full and not emptying. I KNEW the solution.....BARF O RAMA. I took off and felt my pace a bit slow, but it always FEELS slow off the bike, even though it's usually fine. I held it as we ran East, along the river. I had taken my water belt, because the course had said there was only ONE water stop at the half way point, and since it was 85% humidity, that wasn't good. As it turned out, there were several water stations. After about the first mile, I barfed up a mouth full without stopping. NO ONE was around me during most of my first lap, so that was no biggie. I felt marginally better, but knew there was no since drinking ANYTHING at the water stations, since my stomach already had plenty of unused fluids waiting to use. The water stations were used strictly for COOLING OFF, so most of it went over my head. By mile 2ish, there was a turn around, so I was able to look at anyone coming up behind me. They were over 100 yard behind me, so I didn't feel a real threat there. I came to the Purple People and climbed those stupid freaking stairs. Mary and the kids were at the top and yelling for me, which I needed SSSSOOOOOOOOOOOooooooooooooo bad at that point. I unclipped my water belt and threw it to them, not wanting the extra weight or tension around my belly. I was also pumped because I knew I'd see my family again as I came back from the bridge. As I made the turn at the end of the bridge, one of the helpers said I was in the TOP 10. I said, "REALLY"? I was moderately surprised. THAT actually pushed me a bit. I came off the bridge, saw Mary and the kids again, and kept on trucking. I tired to actually pick up my pace the last 2ish miles. On the SECOND trip up the stairs, I was reduced to walking the last portion. GAUD! Still, at the turn around on the bridge, I was easily ahead of anyone behind me, so I actually put on my game face and pushed harder, wanting anyone behind me to think I was out for an easy stroll. Really, I still had plenty of push in me, but without an person in front of me to run after, or a person behind me to run FROM, I certainly didn't take myself to THE EDGE. On I went, off the bridge and towards the finish. I finished alone, without a soul in front or behind me. I felt good. Not destroyed, but like I put in a "good" race. Could I have pushed harder...probably. But, now viewing my HR data, I was clearly at the edge, so maybe THIS is how you're SUPPOSED to race properly.

Nothing.

I don't. I grabbed food, water and such and found some shade to sit and squirt myself down as family and friends talked to me. I wasn't DESTROYED, but I clearly put in a good effort.


Me.


Because of the nature of NATURE and the ever changing water quality of the OHIO RIVER, I don't know if this event will last. Good intentions, but this river is just way to unpredictable, especially during THIS time of year.