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 Swim
Comments: I started out nice and easy. I felt a lot more comfortable this time out with my wetsuit. I took a bit more time in putting it on and it was less restricting than the last time I had it on. I also remembered at the last minuet to remove my wedding ring so it didn't end up on the bottom of the lake. The swim went really well. I had no problems with breathing or sighting. I had to clear my sinuses a few times, but this is not unusually for me. Didn't have much luck finding a drafting partner. The one guy that seemed to be going my pace was zig-zagging in front of me, he actually kicked me really good on the cheek once. He was going just fast enough that I couldn't get past him. If the guy was swimming straight he would have blown me out of the water. I was feeling really good by the end of the swim. Not a bad warm up. I heard Rachele yelling for me and I just had to smile. Out of the water, I was having a bit of trouble getting my suit off of my shoulders, another racer as he was passing just gave it a tug, I said thanks, no problem was his response and he was gone. I moved over to the wetsuit strippers and in seconds I was on my way. What would you do differently?: I think I could have pushed it a bit harder on the swim, but I am very satisfied with my time.  Transition 1
Comments: From the shore to transition was an uphill haul. I got into transition and had to put my wedding ring back on. Tried, in vain, to wipe some of the mud and grass from my feet before putting on my shoes. had a bit of trouble with the wetsuit and getting it put into the bag. Finally got that worked out after a few tries. I pretty much slow jogged to the mount line. There was a bit of traffic in transition, but not a big hinderance. What would you do differently?: I think I would practice putting the wetsuit into the bag. Other than that nothing.  Bike
Comments: The bike ride went really well. In fact I finished 20 min faster than I planned. The wind was not bad for the first 20 miles or so and I was feeling good. My plan was to take it easy for the first 20 miles, just spin and see how I was feeling and if things were going well then I would push it for the last half. This turned out to be a good strategy because the wind picked up on the second half of the bike and seemed to be in your face all time. Headwind, turn, Crosswind, turn Headwind, turn crosswind, etc, etc..... Yes the roads were a bit rough in places, but nothing that was all that bad. You just need to pay attention. I only had to jump one rut that had snuck up on me. The hills really didn't seem all that bad, or I just did the right amount of hill work. One really tricky section was after a tight right turn to a blind hill that was short, but a crazy steep grade. I actually passed a woman who was struggling, as I passed her all I could think was she really should shift or she ain't gonna make it. What I heard next was ARERGH! and looked back and she had come to a stop on the hill and just laid over. (She was fine, saw her later on the run, moving way faster than I) The rest of the ride was pretty normal. I just got into a groove and rode. For some reason I kept singing Pink Floyd's Momentary Lapse of Reason over and over again. I had to chuckle to myself. The wind seemed to pick up toward the end. I was very glad that I had took it easy early or I would have been in trouble. This was my first experience with bottle hand ups. It worked really well. I wish I had know that they were only going to be using Ozarka bottles, I wouldn't have taken my own bottle to toss out. Oh well live and learn. What would you do differently?: Need to get my bike fit adjusted or just get a bike that fits in the first place. The muscles in my neck and upper back were killing me by the end. Transition 2
Comments: Didn't really feel like 6 min, but the chip don't lie. I was taking my time. Chatted with the guy next to me about the wind and how happy we were to be off the bike. Stopped to apply some more sunscreen. As I was about to leave T2, A guy at the end of the rack came flying in and tossed his bike on the rack and the rack fell apart. I stopped to help him put it back together and he thanked me after I left. You gotta love this sport. What would you do differently?: Maybe have a bit more get up and go. I really was just trying to recover from that ride. I was concerned about the run and the cramping I have been having.  Run
Comments: This is were all hell broke loose. I have been fighting some sort of diaphragm/abdominal cramps this whole season. I haven't been able to track down the cause, but just as I feared, they were back. I ran the entire Half-Mary with these cramps. It really hampered my run. I was feeling strong, but just couldn't push myself because the cramps would worsen. I ended up doing a run walk. I tried everything, water, coke, gatorade, GU. I was amazed that I was still able to put up a sub 10min mile. It was a rough one out there. The run was really well organized and well supported. It felt like every half mile there was something. Almost TOO MUCH! We had greeks in togas, cowboys, cheerleaders, superheroes, orange shirt people???. They had it all!!! The run was challenging and a bit hilly. The best part has got to be the Arena finish. As you came into the Arena you come from the sunny outside to the darker interior and as your eyes adjust you enter into all of this noise with people reaching over the rails to give you fives and yells of encouragement. You can't help but pick up the pace. It was a bummer that I didn't get to hear my name, but hey even the announcer has to allowed to breath at some point. What would you do differently?: Gotta figure out why I am getting these cramps. I think In the off season there will be some experimentation. I and thinking pre race dinner might be the culprit. I think I eat too much to late and then try and pile on breakfast and then all the race nutrition, It might be just to much and my body revolts. Strange though, cause it is not my stomach, but my diaphragm. Post race
Warm down: Ha. A baked potato, ice cream, water, grapes, and a beer. 2 trips up the stairs and slight stretching. So really nothing and I paid for that later. What limited your ability to perform faster: I think I was right on with everything until the run. It became a mental game at that point. Gotta figure out the cramps. Event comments: First HIM and I will never forget it! I would do this race again. Hopefully they will be able to enclude Quadzilla in the future, you know, for a challenge!!!! I want to thank my wife for putting up with all the crazy hours these past few months. Also my friends and training partners, I couldn't have done any of this stuff on my own and you all played are part in this achievement. Thanks!!!! Last updated: 2009-01-21 12:00 AM
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United States
EndorFUN SPORTS
76F / 24C
Overcast
Overall Rank = 985/1991
Age Group = 35-39
Age Group Rank = 175/328
Rachele and I got into Austin on Friday night and stopped by the Arena for packet-pick up, this is were the stress started. I realized that I had left my keys at home, not a big problem, except my USAT card was attached to them. I spent the next 30 min with spotty internet access trying to pull up my information on my iPhone. Finally located it after many failed attempts to remember my password. Anyway I have my packet and start to head back to the hotel, got lost, and 1-1/2 hours later found the hotel. Deep breath...room service...Jeremy and Mom's arrival...and sleep. Next morning we got up and packed up my run transition bag and headed off to the Expo for the pre race meeting, bike drop-off, etc. This being my first 2 transition race I was a bit confused. Main issue here was I had forgot to put my race number on my bike, wouldn;t have been a problem except I left the bag with all my number at the hotel....Sigh....so we had to go back to the hotel and return to bike check-in. This made a 2 hr trip into a 4.5 hr whipping. This pushed back lunch and dinner. Went to Spaghetti Warehouse after Joey and his Mom got into town. The wait was crazy, next time we will plan for dinner to happen a bit earlier. Finally got done eating around 10. Packed the rest of my stuff up and in bed by 11pm. Up at 4:45am Ate a Bagel w/ cream cheese and a Clif Bar. gathered up my stuff and met Jeremy and Joey in the lobby and off to the race site we went. The Bus shuttles to the race site were great, and I am glad cause I was running a bit late at this point. Setup T1 with no time to spare and now I had 20 min until my wave started. put on the wetsuit and dropped off my Dry clothes bag and met up with Jeremy and Joey completely by chance. We had time for a quick photo op and I had to get down to the start. Phew. Now all I had to worry about was the race.
Warm up...Warm up? After all the stress leading up to the start, my heart rate was already elevated. I had just enough time to eat a GU and let some lake water down the front of my wetsuit before my wave went off. I warmed up for the first 300 meters.