This swim went pretty decent for me. My breathing was under control and I felt like this was a nice controlled effort. It was so congested that I stopped several times to find a lane - I need to sight better and just move around people without the stopping.

I also think I just need to get wide and trust my swim if I can't find anyone to draft off of (which is always). Before the first buoy I was running into previous waves and I think it cost me time trying to stay on the buoy line. I had no complaints coming out of the water and looking at my time until I realized it must have been a short course. Either way I was 12 minutes up on my previous HIM effort and on my way

Get outside and away from the congestion and get out of my comfort zone and push the swim. I am capable but never seem to have that breakout effort at this distance. Or, just do what I do, keep it comfortable and conserve energy. 2 competing theories in my head...

Standard T1 effort. I always say I'll go harder before the race and looking back wonder why I didn't but it was the best I had at the time. I normally have shoes clipped on my bike already and decided not to here since Transition was all dirt and I had a long run to the mount line. I think this was the right decision here since I had a chance to wipe my feet at my rack and put my shoes on. 56 miles is a long way to have dirt and rocks in the bike shoes

nothing

Started off with my HR not as elevated as normal so I was feeling good about that. It was cool for the first hour or so and this helped. I felt like I had a good controlled effort for the firt 20 miles and was happy with my pace. After this, going into the wind I never found anyone to work with. I think it's a mistake for me to go it alone for too long as I lost focus. I need to try and hook on when someone passes to stay with it. I realized this around mi 40-45 and picked up the pace when we got the wind at our back again. I stood up on a downhill to stretch a bit and BAM!! quads in both legs seized up and I freaked out! I mmediately grabbed some salt tabs earlier than planned and upped it to 3 and started going harder on the water. I knew inside it was probably too late but I was hoping for a comeback. Approaching the quadzilla hill on the bike I really thought there was a possibility I may fall over if I went into total crampage in both legs. It didn't happen but I knew I was in trouble for the run...

Find someone to work with.

The cramping all started with morning hydration. In my firt HIM I suffered GI issues and I've figured that part out. Here, I simply didn't get a head start on the hydration the morning of the race. Looking back I realize I didn't even need to pee before the swim start and that never happens for any race.

I got to the dismount line, unclipped and nearly fell over when my feet hit the ground. I limped to my rack and stretched my quads for a little bit. If they didn't loosen up I thought about calling it a day. I never ever thought about a DNF before but I thought walking the run just to not have a DNF might not be worth it. Luckily they responded so I was able to gingerly hobble out onto the run course

get a massage and IV in T2!

I stopped 2 or 3 times the first mile trying to do some deep stretching and figure out if I could keep going. It got to the point where the slightest uphill (and there were plenty) would make me seize up and I had to walk. The rest of the time I shuffled along trying to get things going. I saw Murphy on my way to mile 3 and couldn't figure out how he was in front of me?? He told me to pick my head up and I cussed him out under my breath. I saw Jenny after the turnaround and knew she'd pass me in no time as I was a mess. Surprisingly, none of this bothered me too bad.

I realized my situation was not going to change and I decided to enjoy every aspect of this event so I did just that. I think the question of "could I make the run" gave me focus and a drive to make sure that I did do it. So in a way this kept me focused and on a mission the entire way and I never thought about what mile I was at or when this would be over. It seems like those are normally my dominant thoughts. I'm hoping I can use as a learning experience for when I am having a good run. This run took me longer than normal, it was hilly and I had massive cramps in my quads, feet and groin but I fought it and enjoyed it the whole way and was proud to finish.

Hit the finish line and my brain must have told my legs it was over b/c everything tightened up at this point and I squatted down to stretch my quads out. Jenny came over and looked pretty worried so we went to the med tent. My vitals were ok so I couldn't get the IV but the ice bags seemed to help. I laid on a cot next to Murphy and swapped cramping stories. Turns out we experienced pretty much the exact same thing which was really odd.


I'm convinced it was hydration the morning of the race and until I hear differently or experience this again when I feel like I am hydrated well I'm not going to worry about it too much.


Endorfun races are great and this being a 70.3 made it even better. I will be back year after year for some unfinished business