Musselman Half-Iron Triathlon - Triathlon1/2 Ironman

The start is in about three feet of water. I started dead front center. After the gun went off I start swimming and go hard right cutting into the right side starters. Straighten out and head out with a couple others. Got deep pretty quick the chop wasn't that bad this way. Turn the first buoy after passing a few of the wave ahead. I didn;t bother looking for Mike and ken they started in that wave.
Next leg is a little more side chop sucks but I get a drink or too. It is more crowded now and have to pick my way through bodies. Turn the next and got a little relieve, finally the leg to canal and get a good pace going with the waves. Someone is drafting off me well once and while I feel a touch or two.

Half way into the canal I'm swimming well, head down and THUMP goes my head. I'm like what the hell. It stopped me dead. The guy drafting plows into me. I may have given him a little nutshot. I look and its red and long. A friggin kayak is stopped in the middle of the fray helping someone out. They are just sitting there. Back up a little. Give it a little shive and go around. I'm like give me a break.
Head to the canal. Yuck! First hard to get a quick bearing on it, buoy is set inside it. Follow the crowd. Once in the canal it is narrow and stinks. First like a porta potty being emptied then gas and oil. Try not to drink any of this water in. Two left turn and a bout 1/4 mile swim and into the boat lunch. One launch open for us. Very crowded, guys not moving fast trying to get footing and get there feet under them. If I passed Mike and Ken, which I'm sure I did, I didn't see then. I was able to pass four or five people running to Transition. Too bad my balance didn't hold for the run.

Not hit a kayak.

Skipped the socks. Little nervous on that as had 56 miles. Couldn't do wet feet thing. Little sunscreen, shoes and helmet. off I went. Mike catches on the bike most the time so didn't to waste bike time.

Decide sock thing ahead of time.

Hit mount line, Jamie wishes me luck and I get up to peed well. Maybe to well. There is a turn out across part of a field. Sharp right turn that I almost missed down in aero. May have scared to volunteer a little. Bounce over the carpet and onto road. Bike is feeling sweet and responsive. Needed to tighten straps a little. No probs doing that. Closed raod for the first few miles and I get ot pass people. Sweet. Get passed also my disc wheel and skinny guys going up hill. 6-7 miles out launching a snot rocket and drive off the side in to gravel. Oh great, I still have to do the other nostril. No place to get back on for awhile. Then start thinking gotta do it or stop before I get a flat. Looks behind and got some time. Lean and point hard, got it. Wait a mile or two for the flat. Lucky me no prob. I should have got water on first rest but figured I could wait.

Keep picking people to pick off and do fairly well staying aero. I stand every 20-30 minute for 30 seconds or so. Do some back extension when there is a slight downhill grade. Love the downhills and pass a bunch to have them pass on the uphill. Wind is taking a little off time but not bad. Water at next stop and then gels and cliff bar here and there. Take one bottle of HEED to help with electrolytes. Love the ride through Willard. 30mph not a pedal stroke for a mile or so. Figure Mike has to be making gains on me.
Got back to the home stretch. Then it is a free for all. Passing left and right. Hit the turn in well and cruise to T2. There is a annoying female that passed and sucked up a lot of realestate. She is standing on the corner. My turn to say get the hell out of the way your blocking the chute.


Would be nice to here on the left a little more for yours and mines safety.
Take water at first stop and add some more Gatorade to mix.

Changed into run shorts. Trouble coordinating shoes, short and calf compression putting on. So ended up with one compression sleeve on both socks on the right feet, you know left right one each. Same with sneakers. Grab amphpod to give me some back support and throw the other sleeve in it.

Think like a brain surgeon.

started out of chute, high 5 from r-stock. Nice. Running feels OK. Glad I have right sleeve on. Can feel the left calf tighten. Stop and figure it is just an extended transition. First mile 8:38 well that ain't right for sure. First rest stopped and got a little was and cold sponge. Asked if I'm OK I say I always run this slow. Off we go again. Legs are stiff and having hard time getting into it. Waiting for Mike to catch up. Second mile 12 minutes OK starting to move. Second rest stop and there is Teresa from work. She throws me a bag of chips. Sweet salt. Finish half the bag then drop it off at next rest stop. They helped a little. Get a little water and gel. Meet up with a young lass from Ottawa Canada. We match pace fairly well and enjoyed running the next 5 miles ticking off one by one. I gain some on the downhill, she is afraid to push down hill. She catches me on the up hills.
We hit the top portion of of one hill still little to go. I say I need to walk. Ok the then to the next mail box she says. I figure that one up one no the one 20 feet away she says. Oh great I'm running with Mike again. Talking of Mike where is he.
We hit the gravel road and she has given her self permission to walk the hill part. We walk for about 1/4 mile or so. Then at the top we hit pavement and it feels good. We have hit the return back downhill. SHe tells me to go if I want. She probably doesn't know how much she helped me trough this. Thanks Tina. I looked for her after but didn't find her after I cheered her in.
Running up to the rest spot at mile 9 or so. Feeling good yell to Cindy ready for my dog. Then hit the side of the road and fall down. not to bad as I wasn;t really going that fast and a steep hill and fellup it. Wow what grace. Grab my dog and water and sponge. Little hard to eat a 4 hour old dog. Get half of it down. Helped a little. Start picking up speed downhill. Even run one mile at 9:59. Downhill to flat and pick up more chips.
Just after mile 11 I feel myself heating up. Everyone is encouraging everyone to tough it out. Take a couple cold sponges and water at last rest stop. Feel good and cool down well. Now a mile and quarter home. Where's Mike?

Push to run to mile 12. Walk about 1/4 mile and push it home. Good sheering crowd coming in.
Where is Mike or Ken?

Run with Tina a little more, cuter then Mike.
Not fall down. Besides that it was good run after a 1900m swim and 90km bike.

Flopped myself in the ice pool. What a picture. grown men and women sitting in kiddy pools. I'm glad then had them. Walked back to cheer Tina in and others. Looking for Mike and Ken. Drank water and Strawberry Heed. Finally Mike showed up. Bent over waiting for him to puke. He didn't so that is an improvement.
Ken was in a little bit later. Loaded them in the kiddy pool. Forgot to take my cell phone out of my pack so that is probably toast.
Ken found Connie who was sad she didn't get a picture of me. Mike said it was because I was to far out front. Nice to hear. Anthony came in. He twisted his ankle on the bike so not as good as he wanted.



You know, so do I weight.


Well I did it. Second win over M-daddy. This was good race. Cool finishing metal. It was a sprocket off a cassette on a lanyard. Now to rest up got and Oly in two weeks. I'll get my ranking when they post them. Good time.

Great job Anthony, Ken and Mike. Thanks for the ride Mike and burger.