No swim fitness, so I started off behind the main body and just took it easy. I felt OK during this effort, and seemed to be swimming in a straight line most of the time. It did feel as though there was a lot of contact during this swim, but I don't normally start towards the back.

After reaching the end of the swim, I had to jump up on the ladder to exit the water and my right hamstring cramped up really bad. It took about 10 seconds for the muscle to relax enough to keep going.

The obvious answer is train more. I haven't been in the pool much this past winter.

My hamstring was tender after the cramp, so I didn't sprint to T1, like I normally do.

I knew coming into this race that I didn't have the fitness to race a HIM. My strategy was just to get through the swim, push the bike just a little, and let the legs do their thing on the run. Well, I started to ride and felt pretty decent, getting up to speeds I was racing at last year.

I thought to myself, maybe I didn't lose too much bike fitness during marathon training, so I kept up the pace. I figured I'd slow down once I got tired.

I kept going and started to feel like my old self. I'd make a pass, push it a little to prevent a wheel sucker, then back it off just a tad. I kept thinking that I felt great, nothing was hurting, and it was great to be racing again.

Then the wind hit me head on...at mile 35...and I was toast.

The wind was relentless. I went from going 22+ mph to 18, while pushing the same watts. I kept hoping the wind would die down, or that it'd shift, but no such luck. I had to ride straight into it for the last hour of the bike. My will to suffer was just not there and my lack of fitness convinced me to back it off. I was a man destroyed.

With 5 miles to go, I could not WAIT to get off the bike. The strain that I thought was healed, compliments of Myrtle Beach Marathon, really made things uncomfortable. Nothing I did would change that...but I kept trying different positions regardless.

At the end of the ride, I gingerly got off the bike and limped into T2. I noticed many more bikes there than I normally see, but, always the optimist, thought how I was going to chase them down. Watch out, cyclists, here comes a runner!



I went out too hard for my fitness level. I should have toned it down a bit to save myself for the latter miles.

In and out. Not my fastest T2 here, but decent.

Well, the runner didn't show up today. I started off well enough, but the farther I ran, the more the crappy bike took a bite out of my legs. My body was tired.

What do you expect when your longest workout is under an hour! I don't know why I kept thinking marathon fitness would carry me through like a magic carpet. Not gonna happen!

I managed a 7 min/mi average, about my normal time at this distance, but it was tough to keep it going, especially with the slight strain of my lower back/hip. As for the temps, the first half was nice and cloudy, but the sun decided to pop out during the latter half of the run and it turned muggy really fast. White Bake strikes again!

This is also the first time I've raced a smaller HIM and got passed on the run. This guy was Marine, had a big 44 on his calf (AG alert!), came up on me, and made the pass. Oh, Hell NO! I ran with him for miles 9-12, but then the strain was beginning to bother me, so I backed off. I watched him run off.

At the finish, I met up with him and complimented him on his pace. He ended up 4AG and had the fastest run split of the day, but had a penalty and dropped right behind me in the AG and OA standings.

The run was better than I expected with the fitness I had.

Had a water, a slice of pizza, bananas, and an orange soda. I talked with a few Warriors and hung out with a few others. It was great to see everyone again.


Fitness


Good location, plenty of snacks, shade, and scenery, and a good early season indicator of fitness.

This is a great race for beginners in that is is low key. The swim isn't particularly difficult, although I always think it's long, and the water is not deep. The bike is flat as can be, but expect wind. The run, too, is flat, but expect a beat down if the sun decides to join you.