1st attempt at 70.3 distance
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New user![]() ![]() | ![]() hi guys - sorry, it's a bit long.. I joined here just on 18 months ago when I went from nothing into my first tri - a super sprint. I was hooked from then on. Living in the UK, I had to wait for another 6 months over winter before I managed to do my next tri. Last year I did 3 sprint duathlons and 6 sprint triathlons. then one day late summer, a few of us decided we'd do the South African Half IM. It sounded great at the time... After hunting around, I ended up buying a great 16 week tri plan for beginner 70.3 triathletes. Lets say that what's considered a beginner for someone attempting a 70.3 is a lot fitter than someone who was only doing sprint races. Apart from a few problems in the latter stages of the training, I stuck to it very well. Unfortunately I got sick in the beginning of week 13 which knocked me out of training for almost 10 days. It also happened to be right over Christams! It wasn't until almost the end of week 14 that I could start training again, and even then I was very weak and had to take it easy. It was only at the end of week 15 when I was feeling strong again, and then I started my taper week..., which was also the week I travelled. So my last 3 to 4 weeks of the plan was a complete loss & I was very stressed about it.. So how did it go - after 16 weeks of training I started & completed my 1st half IM race.. ![]() Overall I did a time of 7:22 - not ideal, but all I wanted for my 1st one was to finish with a smile & that's exactly what I did. there were around 1350 registered to race & I think I placed around 920th. the other guys I flew over with finished in times of 6:27, 6:23 and 5:54. Swim (37 min) First time I've done a mass start with around 8-900 people starting in a single wave! Boy, was that an experience. It was a run start into the sea. All was going well until I turned at the 1st buoy 300m in when I got kicked in the face and my gogles came off. Fortunately I put the goggles under the swim cap, because they were pushed right up off my eyes & would have lost them if they weren't. It knocked me for a minute or so, but once I got them back on & into a rythm all was good again. Bike (3:47) The cycle course was tough. A single out & back lap with 45km out from the town over a rolling, continuous climb until the turn around point. It was terrible... My HR was all over the place & average speed was 20km/hr.. very strong head winds made it very slow! The way back was an absolute pleasure smile and I was hitting speeds of up to 73km/hr.., pushing my average speed overall up to just over 24km/hr. I felt good on the way back and managed to pull back quite a few positions that I had lost on the uphill sections. Run (2:47) This was definitely the one part I was not looking forward to. I'm not a good runner, and I don't enjoy the run section of any tri. At best I was hoping for a time of around 2:25, so for me this wasn't too bad. By the time the run was going, it was very hot. The day turned out to have temps of just on 30 degrees & everyone was suffering from the heat. To anyone out there thinking they'd like to do the longer distances, but are only just managing to do sprint races and are a bit scared.. don't be. The key to finishing the longer race is being consistant on your trainign and choose a plan that you can follow and that works for you. If you aren't going to put the time into training and using the plan - then forget about it. Overall - a great experience & I'm looking forward to the next one. The same bunch of us will be doing the Monaco 70.3 in September ![]() |
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Pro ![]() ![]() ![]() ![]() ![]() ![]() ![]() ![]() ![]() | ![]() Way to go!! Congrats on a huge accomplishment! |
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Cycling Guru ![]() ![]() ![]() ![]() ![]() ![]() ![]() | ![]() Monaco is one of my dream races ..... lucky you are in Europe to just be able to drive down there if you wanted (albeit a long one ...). Congrats on your success and good luck in the next! |
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Extreme Veteran![]() ![]() ![]() | ![]() Great job! I hope to complete my first HIM in September. |
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Extreme Veteran ![]() ![]() ![]() ![]() ![]() | ![]() Excellent report, thanks! I'm looking forward to 70.3 in 2010. Totally excited for it, actually. That might get me thinking that I could maybe attempt 140.6 someday. One step at a time, however. |
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Expert ![]() ![]() ![]() ![]() ![]() ![]() ![]() | ![]() fantastic report! I am also gearing up for my first HIM at the end of my first season this year-Austin70.3 great to read that. Thanks! |
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Expert ![]() ![]() ![]() ![]() ![]() ![]() ![]() | ![]() Way to go! My first HIM is in August. |
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Regular ![]() ![]() ![]() | ![]() Nice one am thinking of having a go at HIM in 2010 and poss IM the year after if I can get time for the training. Excellent race by the way, glad to see the goggles didnt slow you too much on the swim. Sprints and Olys for me this year see how that goes. |
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Master ![]() ![]() ![]() ![]() ![]() ![]() ![]() ![]() ![]() | ![]() You're beginning to inspire me to look for a race outside the US! I've traveled a lot internationally, but never for triathlon (unless you include the race I did in New Hampshire which is outside the Republic of Texas Brian |
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Pro ![]() ![]() ![]() ![]() ![]() ![]() ![]() ![]() ![]() | ![]() Wow, congrats! HIM, someday but that is a long ways off. |
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Expert ![]() ![]() ![]() ![]() ![]() ![]() ![]() | ![]() Just semantics, but that wasn't an attempt...that was a finish!! ![]() |
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Extreme Veteran ![]() ![]() ![]() ![]() ![]() ![]() ![]() ![]() ![]() | ![]() Great Job! I too will be attempting (and completing!) my first HIM in August. Steelhead 70.3! |
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Veteran ![]() ![]() ![]() ![]() | ![]() Way to Go!!!! I just signed up for the Germany 70.3 race 15 minutes ago, which will be my first distance tri. |
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Master![]() ![]() ![]() | ![]() Congrats! I am doing my first HIM in May and get sick to my stomach thinking about it. I am soooo nervous so it is good to hear other first timers stories. |
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New user![]() ![]() | ![]() thanks for the comments guys. for those doing their 1st HIM, hopefully some advice below will help. 1stly - the nerves... don't stress out. I know it's easy to say, but relax. The thing that heped me is that I attended an early morning swim session the day before the race to calm my nerves. On the morning of the race, I got there early, sorted out my things with friends in Transition, then disappeared into my own "happy" place.. ![]() ![]() 2nd - take your time in the first 300m of the swim. it's not about the swim, so loosing a minute or 2 is not going to end your race. concentrate on getting into your own comfortable space (drafting, clear water etc..) and enjoy the swim. It's the easiest 35/40 minutes you're going to have... enjoy it while you can. Once you're out, get through T1 quickly but without killing yourself. check your ego at the door & go comfortable in the 1st part of the bike. there are 2 types of people who overtake you - those who are better than you & those who are pushing too hard & will blow up later on. My 1st half of the bike was mostly uphill & horrible. It took me 2hrs 11minutes, but I was goign at a pace I was comfortable with. The return leg is where I picked up the pace a bit & did a 1hr 36min.. ![]() the run - what can I say... I should have trained more... lol. If you're running in the heat, try put ice or cold sponges in your cap and let the water slowley drip over your head between aid stations. pouring water over you might seem like a good idea at the time - until you realise that you've still got 15km's to go & you're running in wet socks! a cool head makes it easier to cope with. the rest will be history - as long as you train, you'll get the medal & the finishers shirt... good luck guys. PS: just about to register for Monaco in September. I'll let you know how that goes. |
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Extreme Veteran ![]() ![]() ![]() ![]() ![]() ![]() ![]() ![]() ![]() | ![]() I've got my first HIM in June at Buffalo Springs - I'm a little nervous too, so thanks for the advice : ) ...though I have to say I'm mostly just really excited!! |
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Extreme Veteran ![]() ![]() ![]() ![]() ![]() ![]() | ![]() Awesome job! My first will be at Steelhead in August. Not nervous yet, but come raceday I'm sure there'll be plenty of nerves!! |