First Swim 11.15 (my actual swim time was 10mins that time includes running to trnasition) - It was a beach start run into the water, I don't like running into the water, much prefer deep water starts. But the gun sounded and I sprinted into the water and dolphined out a few times before I started swimming, It was absolutely perfect swim conditions! Crystal clear water and so flat! I settled into a good pace and tried to push it faster then normal, I knew the only bit of the race I would be at normal pace would be the swim, so I swam as fast as I could, after I rounded the first buoy I started passing people.

Unfortunately I found a girl who decided to use me as a punching bag, she clocked me in the head about 4 times, then for some reason put her hand on the back of my head and pushed my head under! I'd had enough of that so summoned up a bit of pace and kicked hard to swim on past her, she then grabbed my calf and pulled me back pushiing herself forward in the process! (what the?) I again kicked hard and got up a bit of pace and sprinted for about 40 strokes to get as far away from her as possible.
headed into the beach and wished the swim was longer so I didn'th ave to get out and do the rest of the race hehe!

Second Swim 7.41 (when I got out of the water I looked at my watch and it was 6.50 so that time includes the long run to transition)
Oh my god it was so awesome to get back into the water in the middle of a race, it was a warm day so was fantastic to cool off in the water, I dove in and started swimming and flew past about 25 people all of whom had past me on the run. what was a great feeling! came out of the water and had the hard slog up the ramp and into transition

Swim faster :) Its hard to get a good position when you have a beach start, will work on beach starts if it looks like more races will start that way.

It was so great not having to fight with a wetsuit, came into transition threw on bike shoes and helmet grabbed bike and off I went, same for both bike transitions~

nothing

First Ride 39.07 (20km), I was really comfy coming out of the swim and onto the bike, my plan was to keep the speed over 30k's and hour and I did that for the first ride. there were a few hills and tight corners so it was a good course to break things up. before I knew it i was back in transition again.

out on the course there was an idiot who yelled at someone behind me to keep left, he then proceeded to overtake me and cut back in way too sharp in front of me and came very very close to clipping my front wheel, I may have yelled at him, (well he scared the crap out of me I so nearly came off my bike) he realised he'd stuffed up because he yelled sorry back as he was pedalling off into the distance.

Second Ride 22.46 (10km)
running out of transition I realised my chain had fallen off my bike, I bumped it over a curve running in off the bike the first time so it must have come off then. I very calmly put the chain back on the bike, I got oil all over my hands in the process and really didn't want to wipe oil all over the red trisuit!
On the bike and off I went, feeling very happy with the second swim, hoping I didn't fall too far behind on the last bike and run. I tried to drink more this leg because I dind't drink anywhere near enough on the first ride. again it seemed to go really fast and before I knew it I was back in transition

Ride faster, drink more, do some training before a race :)

both transitions were pretty good, the second was a bit harder because the laces weren't all that loose, threw on the socks and shoes thugh grabbed my cap and off I went both times.

fix my lace problem, I can't do elastic laces and have had trouble with toggles but might have to go back to toggles for sprint distances.

First run 30.06mins 5km - I found this tough going, my legs were plodding along and I just could not make them go any faster, I really did try to push myself harder then I normally do but it wasn't working, so I just settled in and watched everyone going past me. I just cruised along quite happily though its a nice course along the beach. I upped the speed a little bit heading back as transition got closer nd closer I could put a little more speed into the legs. this was the toughest leg of the race

Second Run 18.22 3kms. It was so almost over on the last run, 3k's did seem quite long though, but I just told myself it was like one of the triple bricks I did before the ironman and off I ran, it was pretty hot by this stage so was throwing water over my head each time I ran past the water stations. I just kept watching all the people I'd swum past running straight past me it was a bit disheartening! turned around to head back for the finish line and saw a guy in front of me and just challenged myself to try and pass him, I cruised down a hill and went slowly passed him, he must have thought hang on I'm not having that because a couple of seconds later he was back by my side. We played cat and mouse for a while it was great, he'd speed up so I tried to match his speed and I'd speed up and he'd match my speed, definitely went faster doing that, he must have used a bit too much energy because with aobut 500m's to go to the finish line he dropped back. i was put down the pedal as fast as I could and tried to finish strongly which I did. n ot fast but faster then I would have done without that guy to try and beat :)

I really want to run faster, working on my running is the goal for the lead up to the half ironman. it sucks having a good swim and then wathcing people fly past you on the run!

After packing up my gear I headed back into the water for a cool down swim and bit of recovery, it was hot so it was lovely cooling down in the water. headed over for the presentations to watch lots of my friends getting medals! dad came second in his age group again.


Ironman legs! no training, spending a good part of the last 4 weeks in bed all pretty good reasons why I was slow :)


I really enjoyed this style of race, its tough knowing you've got to do everything twice and it was tough getting your head organised to know what oyu need in transition etc, definitely a good challenge! I'll give it a go again next year.

I wonder how long it takes to get your fitness back after Ironman?