Playtri Half Ironman
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Playtri Half Ironman - Triathlon1/2 Ironman
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Swim
Comments: Aside from one minor mistake on my part...an excellent swim for me. My "only" mistake was to attempt to draft off a guy who had no clue what direction he was swimming. He nearly ran into a kayaker near the 4th bouy(yes, I was about to run into him too)...I changed direction and trusted myself to go the rest of the way solo...only had a few folks fondling my feet, but I was fine with that...I'd kick especially hard ocassionally and that seemed to drop whomever was directly behind me a few feet further away. lol. What would you do differently?: Not follow Mr. Magoo! Other than that...nothing. I rocked the swim as I had envisioned. Transition 1
Comments: First time being stripped of my wetsuit (in race conditions). Got it off until my heels got caught. Funny, I figured my calves were going to be the bottleneck! I heard spectators laughing (assumed it was directed toward the girl that pulled and pulled and pulled but couldn't seem to get the suit off my heels)...I said "here, let me help". HA HA. I proceeded to run the 150 yards to the entrance to T1. Ran another 100 yards to where I thought I parked my bike. Realized I parked it 110 yards from the entrance shortly thereafter (DOH!) lol. I then changed into Bike MAN! Aero helmet on..buckled, shades on...shoes on...gells in tri top pocket..snickers in pocket (more on that later)...I realized that the advil and Enduralyte tablets would dissolve in my tri-suit pocket (being still wet from the swim) if I brought them on the bike, so a quick in-race decision was to hold off on those till the run. What would you do differently?: Not much...ran with the bike to mount line and took off (clipping in on the first try with both feet - a rarity for me). Maybe tie a yellow ribbon around 'Eleanor' so that she is spotted quicker coming into T1. Bike
Comments: I somehow rocked this (for me). My legs were fresh...nailed my nutrition (sans one snickers bar). At mile 22.4...it fell out of my back pocket of the tri top...DRAT! Thought about getting it...determined that it wasn't that important (although tasty, yes!). Thought about picking it up on the 2nd loop...saw it...and again..decided it wasn't that important (but still...so very tasty!) Realized that I was doing very well (again, for me) on the bike and started to believe my aggressive goal of sub 6 was attainable. What would you do differently?: Secure snickers bar so it doesn't fall out. sniff sniff. Nothing else...I felt I pushed it hard enough, but not too hard to where I had nothing left for the run (although, I was redlining the E on my run tank...lol) Transition 2
Comments: No issues. I actually ran with my bike to my rack...that was cool..normally, my calves don't cooperate with running (I know...more bricks will cure that!). Stood over my stuff for a good 10 seconds just staring at it all...kind of taking it all in (HELLO! THERE'S A RACE BRIAN!). Figured I had all things that I needed and headed out on to the run...well...at least 100 yards to the timing mat and the much needed port-o-potty. fellow BT'er John somehow picked my stall to try to enter (while I was peeing) and yelled "LOCK IT NEXT TIME, KARHU". How'd he know it was me? Honest...He's never seen me pee before! Turns out...it's because Chris and I have the same tri suit style. Or at least that's the story John told me later. LOL. What would you do differently?: Nothing. I went as fast and for as long as my legs would allow and then some. Run
Comments: I began running. Tailwind...slight downhill...first mile 8:17. YIKES! Whoa Nellie. Slow down there. I'm a 10:00/mile kind of guy...this 8:17 is my 5k range...not my 21k range! So...slow down I did...kept it about 11:00/mile pace for the next 10 miles...began to feel pain in the front left quad around mile 2, but gutted it out for as long as I could. Eventually began the walk/run/gimp/walk/run/gimp theory of "just keep moving". Whatever my feet would allow me to do...I did. My HR was a steady 155 for the run...until mile 12. Then it was 139 and holding...I couldn't go any faster...legs said no...so I started clock watching...can I still break 6 hours? Let's see...the turnaround meant 5.x miles out...and then someone said I was 1.5 miles out...and then...oh, F it...just keep on moving...If I break 6 hours...it's meant to be...if not...it's not meant to be...Got a little emotional a couple times on that last 1/2 mile...just from a crazy year it has been (about this exactly time last April, I filed for divorce, witnessed my brother lose his battle with melanoma cancer)...so...here I was...telling myself jokes...telling Tri-Chic to HTFU (really, it was directed at myself..she was just in the area...lol) and finally...the final turn. I checked my chrono...5:57...I checked the finish line clock (6:05)...I knew I started 6 minutes after the pro's..so I knew if I could jog the next 50 yards in less than 3 minutes...I'd get it under 6 hours...and so it goes.... What would you do differently?: Nothing to compare it to. It was my first HIM... I thought it was fun. Post race
Warm down: Med tent to tend to the blister on my right foot. Finisher's max T (two of 'em) and a cotton one too. (hey, I like me some shirts!) Got my finishers medal...headed to the food...ordered two hamburgers...was told to come back in 5 minutes...came back as instructed...waited 15 more minutes while many others were getting served...yelled at the guy (sorry) and eventually got burger and dog... What limited your ability to perform faster: Nothing. I went as fast as I was able to. Event comments: Only issue I had was with the hotel "night manager". I asked for a late check out...he asked what time...I said 2:00. he said can't do that...after 12:30 you will be charged 1/2 a day...I said "let me talk to a manger"..he said "I am the manager"...I said..."let me talk to someone else that will agree with me"...didn't work...but my friend checked us out while we were still racing so I didn't have to go up the chain to get my way (I could have, you know!). Overall...I'm proud of myself...of my brother, Chris...of my friends that came to root Chris and I on. Lest I forget my fellow BT'ers that showed their support too. Tim and Sabrina are great! Tim, I love your wife (ok - I love how you wife gives massages). You are one lucky fella! I'm 1/2 way to being a bonafide IRONMAN. T-Minus 221 days till IMAZ. Last updated: 2008-01-18 12:00 AM
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2008-04-16 11:34 AM |
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2008-04-16 12:28 PM in reply to: #1341971 |
2008-04-16 12:38 PM in reply to: #1341971 |
2008-04-16 12:52 PM in reply to: #1341971 |
2008-04-16 1:19 PM in reply to: #1341971 |
2008-04-16 3:47 PM in reply to: #1341971 |
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2008-04-16 8:59 PM in reply to: #1341971 |
2008-04-16 9:48 PM in reply to: #1343561 |
2008-04-16 10:56 PM in reply to: #1341971 |
2008-04-17 11:55 AM in reply to: #1341971 |
2008-04-17 9:38 PM in reply to: #1341971 |
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2008-04-18 8:27 AM in reply to: #1341971 |
2008-04-18 8:35 AM in reply to: #1343652 |
2008-04-18 12:24 PM in reply to: #1341971 |
General Discussion-> Race Reports! |
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United States
Playtri Festival
51F / 11C
Sunny
Overall Rank = 94/139
Age Group = M35-39
Age Group Rank = 19/24
Chris and I decided to stay at the host hotel in order to be witness to the whole weekend of activities. Sure, we could have done the same from our house (15 miles away), but what fun is that? So...I just happen to have flown in from Kona, HI Friday morning and Chris picked me up. I got home, gathered all of the items (I thought) that I needed for the weekend and loaded up my bike and off we go. Got checked in...went to packet pick up and expo and got myself a shiny GIRO helmet. I had a friend flying in that evening, so I dropped Chris off at the hotel and I said I'd meet up with him in the morning. Got up early (4:30'ish) and showered and headed from my house back to the hotel. Chris and I decided last minute to volunteer for the Du and Sprint going on. When we were told (strongly urged) to help out on the bike course...I had the groovy idea to wear our Giro aero helmets while out on the course directing the cyclists. What fun we had! Scott, the bike course director drove up and saw me and said I was nuts. I told him we were trying to get into the spirit. After our services were no longer needed...we headed back to our hotel room at the Marriott and prepared for the OWS practice. got all suited up and headed down...Chris backflipped (his traditional water entry) and I "slithered in"...We headed out to the 4th bouy (just shy of the first bridge) and back. I felt great and knew that I was going to do well (at least in the swim). We went to the pasta dinner at the IBC and came away with a HUGE supply of pasta, lettuce and dinner rolls! I'm still eating it. lol. We went back to the hotel, chilled out, went over our "strategy" and got our transition bags all ready. SOOOO...as I'm going over the check list...I realize I don't have my race belt! SH*T. It's 12:00 a.m. and I have to head back to the house to pick it up. While there...I picked up a dozen other things that I thought I "might" need (including advil). Got back to the hotel and was asleep by 1:30 a.m. 4:44 a.m. came quickly (too quickly!) IT'S PARTY TIME!!! Got up, got my tri-suit on...bike and Transition bag in hand...down we go...Got body marked...didn't have the nervous bladder or other so no issues there. Ate 1/2 a bagel...a few sips of red bull and some water and I was ready to get jiggy wit it.
jumped up and down...stretched...told jokes...you know...to keep everyone's spirits light (including mine).