Whirlpool Steelhead 70.3 Triathlon - Triathlon1/2 Ironman

The beach start was different for me. I started swimming when I reached waist deep water. I was able to stay with the pack for a good portion of the swim. There were several times I wanted to get past some slower swimmers. THAT has never happened to me before. I slowed and took advantage of the draft. Once the pack thinned my navigation became a little tougher. I sighted to the right and mostly was able to keep a swimmer in view except when I was between the waves or looked directly into the sun. I did much better at swimming in a strait line than what I used to do. A point came in the swim when my mind started to wander. After several minutes I realized my form had broke and I was wasting too much energy - and the fast swimmers in the next wave had caught me. I refocused and took advantage of their draft. I knew I was doing ok when I rounded the last buoy toward the beach and had not been caught by the large pack of the wave behind me. Once I was able to stand up in belly deep water I already had to pee again. I started peeling down my wetsuit and pulled it off in ankle deep water. It was about a 75 yard run in the sand slightly uphill to the timing mat in transition. I wish the mat was at water's edge for a more accurate swim time.

FOCUS! I admit my nerves got the best of me. I started thinking about the whole distance instead of 'the next buoy'. Also, I think I want some shaded goggles. The sun affected my sighting more so than I expected.

Transition was a long narrow obstacle course of wetsuits, bottles, and the occasional athlete not moving as fast as I would prefer - and considering I'm pretty slow, well...I didn't race through transition, but I did keep moving forward at all times. I reapplied the chamois cream and hoped for happy girlie parts at the end of the bike. It was impossible/unsafe to run with my bike because of gear scattered in transition.

Nothing really.

The first 40 miles of the bike were AWESOME for me. I was easily maintain 19-20mph with little effort. My plan was to take it easy on the bike so I would have legs left for the run. For the most part I think I did that. The rough roads took a toll on my gut and nutrition. There were several times I wanted a porta-pottie but I stayed with it. I had only 4 gels and didn't drink the amount of water I had planned. At the aid stations I had tossed half full bottles of water for a full one. It was kinda fun to have someone hand you water on the fly! My great ride turned fugly when at mile 41 I turned south onto the highway and stared down a brutal headwind. I looked at the line of riders ahead of me and they all seemed to be moving at a snails pace. I looked at my computer and noticed I was pushing to maintain 12mph. This was going to be a L O N G ride back to town. I even had to push it to go downhill. By this point both of my feet had gone numb - I'm not sure why. My velcro straps were not tight. And my shoulders and back were aching. This is something I will need to figure out before IMSG.

The only things that I had control over would be my hydration. If I could have the roads resurfaced and stop the wind I would.

T2 was an even more challenging obstacle course than the first. Now there were gear bags tossed out in the aisles along with everything else. Again, I just kept moving forward.

Nothing.

It took awhile to get my legs under me. I think it was around mile 5 or six when I really started to feel good. I really liked the winding 2 loop affair since I could see other athletes at various points along the way. I walked through every aid station and dumped ice in my top and poured water on my head. I stayed with my marathon nutrition plan and it worked. My gut settled down on the run. On the second loop - about mile 8-9 - I got a twinge of a cramp starting in my right calf on an uphill. Once I crested the hill I started running again and on the next uphill it came again - this time worse. Looks like I am walking up the hills. I felt it a couple more times is the flats but some stretching and rubbing quickly helped it. The rain started coming down during the last 1/2mile. It's ok. I was almost done. I pulled off my sunglasses and smiled. I had done it. All of those negative thoughts of my abilites disappeared. I crossed the finish line with a big smile.

Not start the run mildly dehydrated by drinking more on the bike. also I should have thought twice about running through the hoses and sprinklers that soaked my shoes, therefore giving me blisters.

Drank an EAS Myoplex and some water. It was pouring rain at this point. I was getting cold and wanted to put some more clothes on.


Wind and rough roads. Not under my control.


This was my first 1/2 iron and first experience at an IM branded event. I loved how big it was and the overall competitiveness of it, although i'm a BOPer. I enjoyed seeing the pros. Andy Potts and Leanda Cave were awesome to talk with.