Oklahoma City Redman Triathlon - Full Redman - TriathlonFull Ironman

A little chaotic to start, but I found a decent rhythm early. The water was a bit choppy, and the rain had finally stopped. Stayed in the pack all the way to the first turn. I actually wore my HR monitor for this swim, which is a first in forever. I was astonished that my HR was in the 150's. Really thought that was high. When I realized this I tried to settle down, and it dropped into the 140's. I figured that was better.

Really pleased with my ability to stay on feet for the first loop. When I started the 2nd loop, I could actually stand up. So I checked my time. Just rolling over from 32 minutes to 33 minutes. My initial thought was hooray for a short course! Did the math in my head and realized that was flirting with a 1:30 per 100 yard pace. Heh, that's just a little slower than I swim hard 100's. But I've heard that some people actually felt it was long, so I'm not sure I can state it was short or long. I just know that if it was accurate, that first loop was the best swim of my life.

Lost my feet on the second loop, and really struggled with navigation. Noticed the rain was coming back at this point. I had been 2-stroke breathing for about 20 strokes, sight, then 3-stroke breathing for about 20 strokes. This is what I did for all my long swims in the pool, so I figured might as well do it in the race. But I guess I got overconfident in my ability to swim straight, because I started venturing off to the kayaks a couple times.

Finally rounded the last buoy, and swam until the water was at my waist. Then I dolphined on in to the shore.

Nothing really. This was a great swim for my ability.

I wasn't in much of a rush here. The wetsuit strippers did a great job! Just trotted into the transition tent. Put on my cycling gear, and headed on out. Walked all the way through transition. I don't like running in my cycling shoes.

Nothing. I'm not overly concerned about quick transitions in an iron-distance event.

Heart rate started off in the 150's, so I really soft-pedaled for the first couple miles around the lake to get it down into the high 130's. The section around the lake was dead-flat and smooth. The rain had picked up to the point where it was coming down pretty hard. I was very concerned about flatting, as I always do when it rains. And I was also a bit grumpy because I knew that the wet roads and puddles were going to slow down my bike split.

Settled into my nutrition plan of Infinit every 20 minutes with half a clif bar every 45 minutes. The next few miles are urban riding, but all traffic stops are closed off. They have given us the far right lane. Make it to the mandatory dismount, which I get off and walk. Some people were running, but I'm just not that concerned about saving the few seconds and possibly hurting myself running thru we grass in cycling shoes carrying a bike. Hop back on and get back to it.

My heart rate is getting up into the mid 140's as I climb the light hills. The course was exactly as advertised, light rollers. Eventually MacArthur becomes a bit more rural, and we only have one road which we share with traffic. This was kind of odd, because alot of the slower half riders were in front of me, and the cars were having to slow down for them. I didn't feel like slowing down, so I just passing the cars.

Make a left on Waterloo, and this is where the rain really came down hard. Puddles everywhere. And lots of potholes too. There was a few miles containing chipseal, but it wasn't fresh and had been compacted pretty good. Keep on trucking to the turnaround.

The way back on the first loop was pretty uneventful. Picked up the intensity a bit after 40 miles to keep the HR around 140, which enters zone 2. I needed to use the bathroom, so I stopped after my first loop. Went through my special needs bag to get my next bottle of infinit powder. Filled it up with water, and gave it a good shake. Probably lost about 3-4 minutes here, but I knew the nutrition was necessary. And I really needed to use the bathroom.

The rain finally stopped about mile 60, but the course was still very wet.

About 70 miles out, my stomach really started getting grumpy. I'm not sure why, as I've never had problems with infinit and clif bars. But everytime I get in aero, my upper thighs will sometimes make contact with my stomach. And this was causing intense problems. So I would bail on aero position until my stomach settled while , and then give it another try. I could never last more than a minute though.

So I pretty much eased on back into zone 1 until my stomach settled and then pushed until it started hurting again. All the way to the finish.

Not have stomach cramps. Can't complain too much though. I think I could've possibly broken the 5:40 mark like I was hoping, but I'm very pleased with this bike split.

Same as T1. Just walked my bike to my spot. Made my way to the chaning tent and put on my running shorts.

Lots of people cheering here, which was cool.

Nothing. Not concerned about time. Just want to make sure I'm good to run.

My stomach had started to feel a little better when I started. Seeing Gina, Pat, and Townsend really was an uplifting moment. Ran the first few miles at a 9:00 pace, which is what I was hoping for. The HR was in the low 150's, and I thought this was something I could hold for the marathon. The first loop was pretty quick. But the sun had come out and it was getting a little hot, and somewhat humid after the rain.

About midway through the second loop, my hips began failing. I knew this spelled trouble, because once they start hurting - I usually can't run much any more. About the same time my right foot started hurting alot. I've been suffering and training through plantar fascitis for about 3 months, and it really started acting up about mile 10.

Struggled on through, but I was walking much slower at the aid stations, and my pace was a bit slower too. Stopped to take a pee at the beginning of the third loop. That kind of boosted my spirits. But shortly after the stomach cramps came back. So now my stomach hurts, my foot hurts, and my hips have thrown in the towel. Seeing Gina at the beginning of the third loop nearly broke me down emotionally. I knew I was too weak to run at the pace I was hoping for, and I knew that I wasn't going to be able to hit that 11:30 mark I was hoping for. She gave me some positive reinforcement, and I headed back out for more torture.

That 3rd loop was the longest 6.5 miles of my life. Just horrible. Walked until my stomach would settle. Then I ran until it hurt again. I could ignore the pain of my hips and foot, but the stomach pain was overwhelming. Trudged, on and on, to the 4th loop.

I had started drinking coke earlier than I wanted to at around mile 11, and I just continued doing so at every aid station. Sometimes I mixed it with some pretzels, but usually just coke and a bit of water. Being on the 4th loop was enough to help me pick up the pace a little. My socks were soaked because we had to run through puddles, and I could feel blisters starting to form. So I stopped at special needs on the fourth loop to change socks. There was a plastic container the lady told me to sit on. So I plopped down, bending the container in half. Heh, guess I weigh too much? But I got my socks changed and that helped alot for that last loop.

Kept on counting down the miles. 24. 25. 26. Thank heaven, 26! There was a fork where you could go left to the finish or right to the turnaround at the last aid station. They asked me which was I was going, and I yelled, "I'M GOING HOME!!!". I RAN those last 2/10 mile. Like I was floating. I was thrilled to see I had broken 12 hours and set a PR, but I was still a bit disappointed that I had broken down so much during that run, feeling like I was capable of much more.

Quit skipping runs during training. Not have PF. Strengthen my hips. Just learn how to run faster. No doubt about it - run endurance is my limiter.

Made my way to the finisher's tent. Got my shirt and medal. Ate a banana, and made my way to the massage tent. The massage therapist was actually at Arizona last April, and we talked about how brutal that race was. The massage really felt good.

Then I made my way to the bleachers and sat with Gina and Kami while waiting for Brad to finish. I had seen him throughout the day, and I had told him I would be there to congratulate him when he finished his first Iron.

Once he came across, we packed up and headed to the hotel. Of course, I still couldn't sleep...


Run training. Wet roads.


Considering the cost and distance of this race, I cannot argue. The price of an M-dot race is a little steep for my budget currently. And I've already experienced the M-dot hoopla last year at Arizona in April. If you're looking for an "event", then the M-dot is for you. But if you're looking for a quality race, then Redman is a nice way to go.