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 Swim
Comments: Started on the outside back, no problems with wave start brawl. At about 250 yds out, had the usual mild panic, 'Can I finish this? What if my leg cramps up?' Took the usual mild panic prescription: about 5 long slow glide strokes and tried to exhale as much CO2 as I could. I was fine after that. I guess my sighting could be described as 'scallop sighting.' I would site for a buoy, swim about 10 strokes and find myself swimming away from the buoys. This went on until the turnaround. A few minor bumps along the way from fellow swimmers and the fast ones from the few waves behind us, but all innocent. Water was somewhat murkier because of the wind storm the night before, so I did try and draft, but since the water wasn't very clear, I decided to swim out and behind swimmers so I didn't get a kick to the face. No problems until turnaround. Water was a little choppy, and I found I had to really turn my head up to get some good breaths. My big toe started cramping up after the turnaround. You know how hard it is to try and stretch a toe out while you're swimming? I decided to just try and ignore it. It went away after a while. Swim back was great. I was elated. I knew I was gonna finish this...my 1st half Iron swim! Form and strength were perfect for the last 1/4 mile. What would you do differently?: Not too much. I need to figure out why I swim to the right in open water swims. Nothing that a winter full of pool training can't solve. I really concentrated on the swim during training. Sometimes at the expense of the other disciplines, but it was the leg that I was most concerned about, so the training paid off.  Transition 1
Comments: Bryan cheered me in at the beach (thanks Bryan). I yelled to him 'I did it!' Like I said, I was pretty elated. Warning...TMI moment... I got to transition, but I really needed to pee. After a pretty good race to this point, I didn't want to stop at the Porta-John, and I DIDN'T want to pee on the bike and have to deal with wet shoes and socks :). I left my wetsuit on to about waist length and just peed into it. I'm sure a few folks wondered why I was just standing there :) (so Jeff, I was not NAPPING in T1 :). Pulled my wetsuit off, rinsed with a water bottle and toweled off. :) Wore socks for this HIM and slapped on 30 SPF sunscreen. Missed 2 spots on each shoulder blade (I have 2 redmarks on my back now :). Ran bike to mount line... What would you do differently?: Nothing. It was a good opportunity to get my heartrate down...:)  Bike
Comments: This was a hilly course. I just worked on keeping HR in check. Pedaled the downhills, shifted to low gears on the uphills. Stayed in aero the majority of time in the uphills. 1st loop was strong. 2nd loop, I was feeling the effects of undertraining. Had to stand at last big hill. Drank Gatorade and then Heed during the bike. Aerobottle worked out great! I would grab a refill of Heed at the aid stations, refill the aerobottle and throw out the waterbottle at the next aid station. Took a gel every hour (3) and Endurolytes a half hour after every gel (3). What would you do differently?: Train more. This was the event I was undertrained for. Got in less than half the training volume I needed...poor excuses...weather...more swim focus...tri bike not built yet. This will change Maybe an Adamo saddle (wouldn't have to wear cycling shorts for a 'long' event). More nutrition. Transition 2
Comments: Nothing special. Had to pee. Made a stop at the Porta-Johns just inside transition area. I swear I was in there for a full minute. What would you do differently?: Nothing.  Run
Comments: I did just fine out of the Porta-John. Looked down at my Garmin and was running about 9 min/mile. Ran out of transition right behind Kelly. Took Heed and gels at the aid stations. My pace came to a screeching halt a few miles into the run segment. No energy. Resorted to run/walking. At the turnaround, my body had had it! Cramps in the calves, cramps in the quads, but a cola (I never drink cola) and banana never tasted so good! Walk/ran almost the whole way back. Every time I would start running, leg cramps would start up too. Limped back to the finish (walk/run) for the next 6 miles. Mustered enough strength to run through the finish gate. BTers cheered me in. Thanks for sticking around guys! What would you do differently?: More nutrition on the bike. Train more on the bike, so that I can finish the run at a faster pace. I had planned on the run being my saving grace. Unfortunately, no energy left after the bike. Post race
Warm down: Chatted with Bryan, Kelly and Jeff. Had a burger, but by that time, all the condiments were gone. Just ate the burger and tossed the bread. Soaked my feet in Lake Independence. Stuck around for award ceremonies. Both Jim and Kelly got age/Athena awards. Went to McDonald's and had a Crispy Chicken sandwich, went to the Y to shower and dress for a grad party in Eden Prairie with my son. What limited your ability to perform faster: Undertraining on the bike. Event comments: Great 1st half iron experience. Would certainly do it again next year, with more emphasis on bike training. Profile Album Last updated: 2008-06-03 12:00 AM
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United States
Cadence Multisports
78F / 26C
Sunny
Overall Rank = 218/256
Age Group = 40-44
Age Group Rank = 30/35
WARNING! Long race report...
Was not a good night's sleep. Our internet was down and we were scrambling the night before making phone calls to figure out how and where everyone needed to be situated for Saturday's activities (my son had a soccer tournament in Rochester). To bed at midnight...up at 4am.
Decided on wearing cycling shorts instead of tri shorts for this event (more padding for an undertrained 56 miles of biking), and I'm glad I did. Also passed up black tri top in favor of yellow because of predicted sun.
Left the house later than I planned (5:20), stopped by McDonald's for my all-time favorite pre-race food (Egg McMuffin minus the Candian bacon [no offense Canadians :)] and some icewater).
Arrived on site at about 6:40. Saw Matt (MLJ) and chatted, Bryan (mndiver) came over and chatted as I was setting up at transition. Saw and chatted with Jim (birkierunner), Emily (Bikergrrrl), Kelly (lumpy) and Jeff (leapdog).
Just a quick swim warmup. Uh, water was cold...announcer said low 60s, it felt more like high 50s :). Swam out and back a 100 yds. Waited 'til the water warmed up in my wetsuit, then swam out and back another 100 yds. About perfect warmup...