Musselman Half-Iron Triathlon - Triathlon1/2 Ironman

Overall was pretty happy with my swim. It was really windy, thus pretty big waves, at least a lot more than I am used to. Made sighting and breathing a little bit of a challenge. I also think my time would have been much better maybe even by 4 or 5 minutes had I not had to walk for several hundred yards because it was too shallow. Tried to run for a bit but was too deep for that and I coudl tell that would really be strenuous.

The 45 minute swim was the beginning of the end of me making my goal of completing the race in under 6 hours.

Noticed some people at the beginning swimming to the inside of the bouys and maybe shoudl have tried that, may have been deeper.

Ok, this was slow. Jopgged to transition, got upper body out of wetsuit while wading into shore (see above). Then could not get suit off heals despite body glide. Also, at that point it was sunny, did not want to get huge sunburn so took at least one minute applying sunscreen. Turns out that was probably big waste of time. At this point wife is outside transition cheering me on and says "Well, you need to get moving". So I did.

Practice gettign out of wetsuit. Maybe apply susncreen while on bike or before race.

Here is where I feel I should have pushed harder. I do not train in a lot of wind, have not had much time at all riding in rain, not by choice but I have not been at this a long time and in VA just has worked out that mostly have trained with little wind and no rain. First 15 or so miles into what i thought was a strong headwind, and slightly uphill. Kept trying to pickup pace but every time I looked at heartrate woudl be up around 170. Being that this was my first HIM, I was very concerned about tiring myself out on bike and realy struggling with run. I had no idea how my body would react. So seemed like i went really slow probably 13 mph, then tured to go w/ wind and probably went 25 mph, downwind I went about as fast as i could and HR dropped. Then back into wind, then rain started. At that point into the wind with pouring rain sapped my spirit a little and then I realized this was going to be more of a mental thing. Plus after about mile 20 my back started killing me. I had to situp and stretch out every few miles and for about 15 miles it was really hurting.

Should have pushed a bit harder, but was a little uneasy in the rain especially down big hill adn turns around mile 40 or so. Probably could have shaved ten minutes at least off.

Was happy with this took a little long but changed socks. Even though it was sunny when we started I still remembered the forcast and had stuck my shoes and a fresh pair of socks in a plastic bag. That was best decision I made all day. At least I started the run with dry socks and shoes. They did not stay that way very long.

Nothign

OK, so I was actually glad to be off the bike because as soon as I got off my back started to feel better. So wife and son cheering me on and I thought to myself "self, that is the toughest bike ride you have ever done, how are you possibly going to run 13 miles in the pouring rain with thunder and lighting along a lake." Well, fortunately the thunder and lighting ended after a short while and I looked at my watch and thought very littel chance I am going to break the 6 hour goal mark so lets just take it easy and see how you feel. So started good pace and felt pretty good then got side cramp, was able to get rid of it inside of first mile. Tried to run through aid station and spilled more liquid than drank. Decided from there on out woudl walk aid stations. Hill all aid stating except two taking Heed and water at each. Took one gel at mile 7 after huge hill. So after mile 4 or so looked at watch and had pretty good pace going under 10 minute miles did math in my head and though still had very outside chance of breaking 6 hours. Wanted to pick it up but again very mindful of HR, maybe too much so and I knew big hill coming at mile 7. Got up hill at mile 7 felt pretty decent but then things started to hurt, ankles, knees, hips, etc etc. Picked up pace a little but could not sustain just hurt too bad. Fought through it though and kept running but knew i woudl not break 6 hours and no need to kill myself and just use rest of race as learing experience and try to enjoy myself.

Tough run, rain helped keep cool but running though deep puddle at points nto all that fun.

Grabbed some water and sports drink. Tried to stretch a littel just wanted to get to car, sit down and get dry.


Lack of knowledge about how my body would react, not knowing how hard to push. Obviously need more time to train.


Overall a great race, volunteers were AWESOME. Standing in the pouring rain, cheerfull, supportive and ready to help. Great location.

After I finished I said to my wife "That was the first and last HIM I do." I waited awhile to write this as I wanted time to reflect. I now think I will do another because I know I can do better.