login
 Swim
Comments: Lined up near the front to the right, didn't want to get pounded like at Laguna Phuket last year. Wanted to go out fast to the first buoy at 150m I got a good line and stuck to it. Excellent. My plan was then to get into a steady rhythm until the end which turned out to be really difficult to do. The waves that had gone off before us suddenly appeared towards the half way point of the first loop. Ok no probs, easy enough to get around..... not when half the people are doing breaststroke. I've never been kicked so much in my life. One really connected with my jaw, thought I'd been hit by Mike Tyson. Enough of this!! I found a guy in my age group and got on his tail and let him pick his way through the sea of swimmers and took it easy to the end. There were way too many people (1400 total race) for a two loop swim course. What would you do differently?: Not get kicked in the head!  Transition 1
Comments: An ok transition. What would you do differently?: Nothing  Bike
Comments: This is where my lack of bike fitness started to show. I was hoping for a 2:30, and felt like I went out conservatively. The temperature had started to climb and there was no shade apart from the first 1km or so per loop. First lap 52 minutes. Not many other people around passed a few people told some guy drafting me to get off my wheel only for him to come past with about 5 or 6 other riders later on. Second loop 52 minute again, however I had put a bit more into this one. Hmmmm. Doesn't look like I'll be hitting 2:30. Missed a bottle at the only aid station at the beginning of the second loop so the last 25 minutes of the 2nd loop I was a little thirsty as I'd gone with my aerodrink and only one bottle on the frame. Third loop got a bit tougher 56 minutes, started fading slightly. I wonder how this will affect my run. There were a few people drafting which disappoints me as I always make it a point not to. I even let one 10 bike train go past and sat up for a gel as others were working hard to stay with them. What would you do differently?: Make sure I get enough fluids. Cut my powerbar in half. Man, that thing was fiddly to open while riding. Transition 2
Comments: Felt good, though the bottom of my right foot felt slightly bruised while running with my bike on the concrete. What would you do differently?: Nothing  Run
Comments: I thought I would be able to run around 1:40 before the race which might have been a bit optimistic looking back. I have a PR of 1:21 in a standalone, but am not in that shape now after the 2 month layoff with the stress fracture. Oh well, let's give it a go. I went out and thought take it easy first lap. Stick to 5 minute KMs. First lap ok, time to ramp it up a bit. It was kind of like the noise you get when the Millenium Flacon goes to hyperspace but actully there's something wrong. Whhhoowhhhaowhoohwaaaa............. Ok I'll stay at 5 min /KM Easier said then done. My pace start to slow the next two laps and a massive blister was forming on my right big toe, which made me alter my stride somewhat. It got worse and worse as I went on, but I refused to walk. I should have worn socks. Rookie mistake. That last 2 km were tough. What would you do differently?: Wear socks. Actually train for race. Post race
Warm down: Didn't warm down, the weather was too hot!!! What limited your ability to perform faster: lack of training. Lack of socks. Event comments: I will go next year, but hope they change the swim to a single loop. 4:xx:xx next year!!!!!!! Last updated: 2008-09-12 12:00 AM
|
|
||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
View profile
Add to friends
Go to training log
Go to race log
Send a message
View album
CONNECT WITH FACEBOOK
Singapore
34C / 93F
Sunny
Overall Rank = 119/1127
Age Group = M 30-34
Age Group Rank = 22/204
Not exactly the best prep for a race! I signed up for this race at the last minute (3 weeks before) as I had missed out on going to Laguna Phuket which sold out in record time this year. I really wanted to get in a race this year as they are so hard to come by in this part of the world (Thailand). I only got my new bike at the beginning of August, so had minimal bike time going into the race. I had also had a stress fracture of the foot from too much running on hard surfaces and that had only just healed when I signed up for the race, so only 3 weeks of training there. When I actully write it down like this, it was probably not the best move to do the race, but at least my swimming had been going well.
I had spent the two days before the event trapsing around Singapore and was actually quite tired I started coming down with a cold- blocked nose sore throat- Excellent! . Again, not the best prep for my first Half Ironman!!!!
I had some Oatmeal and toast for breakfast, and headed to the race site. Everything went smoothly, except they wouldn't let us in the transition area until they had marked us. There was a massive queue. No forward planning there.
I was actually a bit rushed after the race number fiasco, so I got in 5 minutes of swimming before my 30-34 wave went off.