Vineman Race Report....My first IM

So, I completed my first IM.  Although I suppose I can't exactly call myself an ironman, since it wasn't a WTC branded event, and of course, by slowtwitch standards, I think I have to be under 10 hours (or is it nine, or 8:30) to have really 'raved' an IM.  Whatever.

Regardless, it went well.  Vineman is in Windsor, CA, near Sonoma, and you ride through some beautiful wine country, and right by many famous vineyards.  Makes for a nice ride, albeit hilly.  Unfortunately, the run was not so scenic, and was oft accompanied by the smell of cow manure, or baby goats bleeting.  Still fun though.

Swim was 1:20:44, which was certainly not blazing, but good enough to get me to T1.  The Russian River was quite shallow, and at the turn around point, you almost had to walk, it was so shallow.  My fingertips were not gently scraping against the bottom, rather my entire forearm was smacking the bottom in those spots.  However, despite that, I kept swimming, and was faster than the people who walked.

T1 was 5:36, in which I put on a pair of bike shorts and a jersey over my tri suit.  I've found in training, that for long rides, I am more comfortable like that. 

The bike was great (for me) 5:43:35.  Averaged about 19.5 mph, and passed a whole lot of people that swim faster than me.  Got clipped by an RV around mile 25 (he passed to close, and the awning support sticking out the side brushed me)  I managed to stay upright, and yelled and flipped the driver off.  I'm sure he is hurt by it...  Around mile 70, my rear wheel decided it didn't need one of it's spokes.  Fortunately, the spoke did not get wrapped up in the cogs, or anything.  I had to stop and thread it out, but got back on my way just fine, minus one spoke.  Finished up, and realized T2 was still only lightly populated with bikes, so I must be doing well.  And then I realized I still had to go jogging for a while.  Bummer.

As I had dreaded, I basically exploded on the run.  It was a three lap course, each lap approximately 8.7 miles.  First lap was 1:24:40, which, if I could have kept that up, wouldn't have been terrible.  Second and third laps, though were both in the 1:40 area.  Oh well.  I did managed to finish, though.  Walked the hills, and jogged most of the rest.

Final time was 11:59:40.  My soft goal was 12 hours, and my hard goal was 13.  So, I made my soft goal by 20 seconds.  Makes me happy. 109/684 overall, 99/423 in mens, and 31/114 in M35-39. I'm obviously not earning a Kona spot anytime soon, but I think I did well.

Nutrition worked out well:  1 clifshot block in T1, 10 GU shots on the bike and gatorade and water,  and gatorade and cola at each aid station on the run. No intestinal problems at all, although I did have to stop at the last 4 aid stations on the third lap of the run and pee.  Obviously, I was quite well hydrated.

Some memorable notes:

Did have to stop once on the run and sit down for a #2.  I'm sitting in the portajohn, and I get really dizzy, and then I think to myself that if I pass out in the portajohn, no-one will know, and I will probably die in here.  So, I took care of business, fought off the dizziness, and got back out of there and ran.  Good thing!

At the distant turn around point on the run, saw the CHP officer who was directing traffic writing a ticket to two young gentlemen.  Apparently it was either a DUI or open container bust, since there was a open can of budweiser on top of their car.  Nice.  Glad these two drunks didn't hit anyone for the portion of the course they had to drive on to get where they were currently at.

Bike course was quite scenic, as mentioned.  Hills weren't to bad, at least compared to the Auburn Half (6000' of climbing in 56 miles)  Vineman full has 4000' of climbing in 112.

Run course was stinky in spots, and the hills were no fun.  Two quite steep spots, and the rest was rolling hills.

Next race (and I use race as a relative term) is the Pacific Grove Olympic Distance, and then in October, a MTB tri as part of Scott Tinleys Adventures.  Then, finally, in November, IMAZ, where it's ok to call yourself an ironman afterwards.  My goal for IMAZ is 11:30, which includes not blowing up on the run.  So, more run training in my future.