High Cliff Triathlon - Half Ironman - Triathlon1/2 Ironman

Strange start. Water was too shallow first bouy (.25 miles) so most waves ran/walked it (yes, that is all the way to the sprint turn around)!

Then I got into a groove, but hanged on the inside towards the bouyes. Lots of traffic as other waves passed me, but everyone was polite! Got kicked in the mask about 5 times, only once did the mask seal brake. Also swallowed water twice.

I did get into a rhythm thanks to the mantra---"rock the hips" (breathe), "rock the hips" (breathe)...and then Destiny's Childs altered---"glide sister, glide sister, glide..."

Overall, pretty good swim! Looking forward to the next one (first time in 2 years!!!)

Swim more to the outside so I have less traffic.

Oh yeah- first time in the new Nineteen Tsanami wetsiut. It was great---no issue with "arms being pulled/tired" near end of race. No Body glide needed either.

Best swim to date...I think

Caroline and I finished swim at the same time. I was faster in transition...no socks in bike shoes (good to dry); no nutrition during T1; remembered to put on sunscreen. But maybe that was it, I was thinking--what am I missing.....(Midol apparently)

Need to shave 20-30 seconds....but still faster than Longhorn!

(No water at last station (mile 45; stations also at 15 and 30); confusing race marshall near end.)

Tough day for me...one of toughest bike days in either race or training....could not figure out why legs were so fatigued and heavy, then diarhea cramps, then....menstral cramps. The kind where you need to constintly shift positions. Yep, whenever I started feeling good, another wave hit. Why, why, why!!!!

Then I ran out of liquids at mile 40, thinking it will be ok. Get some water, do a Gel at mile 45 and we will rock the run even though the bike sucked---positive thinking that running is a different position, so perhaps the cramps will go away.....and then there was no water. Only orange sugareee, kid-hoppin gatorade. No sireee--that stuff is not going in this body. So no liquids after mile 40.

Saw that I was within 20 minutes of beating Austin's bike time with what I thought 4 miles to go. So I pushed it, pushed it, pushed it. When everyone was slowing to get legs ready for run, I was pushing it.

Then the race course marshall told me to stop. I yelled,..what? why. Slammed on my brakes and skidded a bit. Then he yelled---no, I mean stay to the left here....so, according to my watch, I missed beating Longhorn's bike time by 24 seconds. That sucks. But onto the run....it will be better!

Nutrition: 2 uncrustables at 15 min & 1:45 min; Powerbar Gels at 45, 1:15, 2:30. Endurolyte caps at 1 hr, 2:30; drank 3 bottles--2 with Powerbar Berry flavored electrolytes

I don't know---no way to resolve the pms issue.

Need to do some more interval sessions to deal better with constant pace changes caused by headwinds,etc.

Don't rely on course for even plain simple water! EVER
This overall comment below should read: HORRIBLE

Sprinted across the line to try to beat Longhorn time...nope.

Groin muscles were extremely tight. Sticked with game plan to walk at least first 0.5 mile...

I forgot to hit my watch! and the real results did not show the t time...probably off by 30 seconds, if that...

Be more confident that my race belt is all set up in transition and just grab and go.

Still faster than Austin---but there I was really dehydrated and cramping up.

Took usual 1.5 miles to get legs back. Did a good job of keeping pace 9:15-9:45; when I hit slower than that, I would walk for 0.1 mile or a minute or so until HR down.

Hit a root at mile 3 and flew in the air. Remembered to tuck and roll...so I landed on my head/left shoulder. All seemed to be ok (a few scraps), but left knee felt off...read on:)

Even with walking the first mile, I was on target for a 10 min/mile pace at 6 miles done; same at 9 miles, felling good; feeling strong. Wow--I really do belong in the 9 min pace for the marathon if I can do this after 56 miles on the bike and a 1 mile swim......then it began.

I looked at my watch. At 1:38, and what I thought to be 4 miles left aka 40mins, I figured I could finish at 2:20 a PR even for a half mary race! So I decided to push it while I was in the shaded woods and not to walk until I hit the prairie...esp cause it kept on seeming like I was about to hit it. I think I did that too long without taking another gel. By the time I hit the prairie, I had burnt off my nutrition, my stomach cramped real bad and my left knee (IT Band insert on outside and also back of calf) started to hurt. I watched my run pace decline from 9:30 to 13mins. Step by step. The walk pace declined from 17min to 22 mins. Needless to say, I did not meet the goal of 2:20.

But I did beat Longhorn! Ha ha ha ha

I did not sprint to the finish; I did not shout with excitement. But I lifted my fist showing my pride when the announced my name....and shuffled past the finish line. Exhausted.

Attempt to run the first 0.3 mile until I hit the High Cliff road.

Don't fall.:)

Maybe a gel every 30-45 mins instead of 1 hr?

More long runs before the race.

Stretched for quite a while. Few minute massage on the calves. Drank recovery drink by Hammer; 1/4 banana, few cubes of cheese; 2 breadsticks.

Then a 4 hour drive back home; hot bath sun night; massage monday at 4:30


PMS. No water at aide stations.


Great course talk; pre-game activities. Good organization of transition area by wave and bib number; pool to clean feet at T entrance. Large arrows on bike course even out day before to test out route. Swim course well marked; nice mat on exit so no issues with rocks. Grassy transition area.

THINGS TO FIX:
1) Ran out of water at last bike station.

2) Need mile markers on run...or at least volunteers at aid stations to know that mile they are at. A camper told me someone was hurt....and then we had to run to the next aid station to tell someone.

3) Please, keep up all finish line activities until all racers have finished. With more than 50 racers still on the course, the chute started coming down. The caterer packed up the hot food, the medical tent was out of ice, and the massage therapist was done for the day. Anyone who finished in the last 10 did not even get to cross the finish line balloon thing..only cross a timing mat.

Aren't these the people who deserve to see the big finish line and need the ice the most?