Ironman Kansas 70.3 - Triathlon1/2 Ironman

The swim was actually really fun, never thought I would say that. My wave was all the men 20-24 and 25-29. Stood near the start and watched all the other waves 'calmly' start their swim. Once we were down in the water it was a blast. While we waited for the gun to go off, we were all singing along to the music that was blasting. Guys were high-fiving, shaking hands, and body-checking each other in the water, one guy even yelled, "Everybody in this wave is getting laid tonight!"
Once we finally were off it took me a while to get into my grove. I put myself in the back third of the pack to start, I didn't want to get dunked by all the super swimmers, and didn't want to get caught up with slower swimmers. After about the first 200 yards the pack thinned a little bit, and I was able to catch my groove. I told myself, just take it one buoy at a time and don't over do it. I was comfortable in the water, the only problem I had was I kept drifting away from the buoys. With the overcast, and my dark goggles I had a little trouble spotting all the buoys. I made it to the first turn and still felt really strong. The few hundred yards to the next turn was uneventful.
I made the turn for the shore and couldn't believe how good I was still feeling. By now some strong swimmers from other waves were catching me and I got bumped and kicked a few times but nothing major. The trip into shore was good, the only problem I had was with about 150 yards left, somebody swim over me and thier hand caught on the zipper of my wetsuit and it came unzipped about 6-8 inches. I started getting a bunch of water in the suit, not enought to make it hard to swim, but enough to notice. I hit the swim exit and was pumped that my first 1/2Ironman swim went as well as it did. I didn't feel tired or anything! Took off at a run for T1.

Not a whole lot. I probably could have pushed the pace a little harder overall, but I was just glad to knock out my first 1/2 Iron swim. Not having another athlete un-zip my suit for me would have been nice too, although I know it wasn't on purpose.

T1 went pretty good. I ran most of the way to my bike until the parking lot started to hurt my feet. I got my wetsuit off without much difficulty. Socks, shoes, sunglasses and helmet on. Un-racked my bike and took off at a run to get out of T1. I was ready to hit the road.

Not much, although I should practice my transitions more to get the time down. It was a big transition area from the swim exit to the bike start so that was some of the problem.

I got on my bike, got clipped in and took off. Coming out of the park I felt good. When I got to the dam, I think I was going 21-22mph. and held that the entire way across the dam. Climbing the hill and the end of the dam went well. Got my bike up to 41mph coming down the back side, that was fun and a little scary all at the same time. I kept it in an a gear that allowed me to maintain my pace but not kill my legs for most of the ride. The hills didn't seem to bother me much. I'm glad I rode the course x2 before the race. When I got to the first aid station I grabbed a bottle of water and drank about half of it then ditched it. I also took a gel. Kept going, still feeling good, legs felt strong, I was pushing but not over doing it. Made the first turn around and head back. Got to the second aid station, took another bottle of water like the time before.
The rest of the bike was pretty uneventful. I drank from the 2 bottles of sports drink I had, and kept taking in gels. Some of the hills on the last third of the course were a little tough, but I got through them. When it came time to climb the backside of the dam, the toughest hill on the entire course, I was in a big group of people. Everybody was really cool, helping each other out and shouting encouragement to everybody else. Got to the top of the hill and coasted down the back side. Crossed the dam, got back into the campground and hit T2 feeling good.

My pace was good for me. I would have taken in more fluids and a few more gels, you will understand why later. Other than that not really anything.

I ran well with the bike into T2. Got to the rack and the guys on either side of me had pretty much taken over my spot. I slid their bikes out of the way as best I could, got my bike racked by one of the brake handles. Got my shoes changed. Put my gel flask in my back pocket, or so I thought. Took off for the run course. I saw Kim and Dad just as I was leaving T2.

Nothing.

The run started out great. I was running low 9-minute miles to start. I was running between aid stations and then slowing to a jog or very brisk walk to get in full cups of gatorade and water. I took a couple endurolytes on the run also. I ran all the way up the big hill on the first loop. The spectators in the campground were great. I made to our campsites, which looked like the Wizard of Oz, yellow brick road and everything. Saw Kim, Karley, Dad, and the rest of the gang. Made the turnaround and was still feeling good. Got about 5 miles in and thought it was time for one of my gels, reached into my jersey pocket and WTF! no gels! I know i put them in, where did they go? Must have fallen out some where. I thought about taking some of the gels they had on the course, but I hadn't trained with them and thought I would be ok. Finished my first loop in just over an hour.
The second loop started out ok. I made it to the first aid station, walked it for a full cup of gatorade and water. Headed back towards the lake. I could tell I was starting to get a little tired, but told myself to just keep pushing. Made it down the big hill then all of a sudden...uh-oh. I just felt freakin wierd, felt worse than I ever have during an event. My hands and arms were numb and tingley, my head felt fuzzy, I looked down and my hands were pasty white colored. I remember thinking, oh-sh!t, I need to get to the aid station. I don't know if my glucose got low or my electrolytes were off or what, but something was wrong. I walked and walked and walked for what felt like forever until the aid station. When I got to it, I must have looked like crap, a volunteer asked me, "Dude, are you ok? you don't look so good." But he go me 2 full cups of gatorade, got me a powerbar and some water, helped me get my endurolytes out, and walked the aid station with me. I didn't get his name but he was awesome. I told him I was fine and kept going. About a 5 minutes after the aid station I felt good again, head didn't feel fuzzy, arms weren't numb or tingley, felt pretty ok. Started my cycle of running then walking the aid stations. I took the gels they had on the course after that. I ended up having to walk some between the aid stations. I made the loop through the campground, turned around and headed for the finish. Went past our campsite for the last time. Got a high five from Karley(my 21 month old daughter) and just kept pushing it. The last 1.5 miles I didn't walk at all, I just wanted to get to the line. Going through the last couple of aid stations I didn't take a whole lot to eat or drink, I just thanked the volunteers for being out. Made it to the finishers shoot and got really pumped-up to finish. Coming down toward the line I saw my family, cheering their hearts out. Heard my name come over the loud speaker, crossed the line, and was glad to be done. Got my medal, a bottle of water, and my finsher's glass.

NOT DROP MY GELS. I think that was my biggest problem. I think I just Biffed it on my nutrition this race. More run training in general probably wouldn't have hurt.

Got some water and gatorade. Found my family, gave my wife a big, sweaty, hug, which she almost killed me for. Saw Shawn and Andy. And oh yeah, I got meet Chissie Wellington too. She was hanging out, giving medals out, signing autographs, and taking pictures. I got my picture taken with her and she signed a poster for me.

I got some post race food and waited for Jeff to finish up. Went and gave Jeff a high five when he got done. Hung out and cheered in the other finishers.

Went to get my bike, and guess what I found laying on the ground about 10 feet from my bike...my freakin gel flask and extra gels!


I did pretty well until late in the run. My nurtition was just poor. When I got my bike I noticed I still had at least half of one of my bottles of sports drink left as well as some in the other. I think that when I was feeling so crappy I was just plain out of fuel, because shortly after getting something back in me I was good to go again. It sucks that it happened but it I guess it is a lesson worth learning.


Great race, I had a blast. Great weekend with my family and friends, knocked out my first half Ironman. I have no complaints.