MightyMan Montauk
-
No new posts
MightyMan Montauk - Triathlon1/2 Ironman
View Member's Race Log View other race reports
Swim
Comments: This was a really good swim for me this morning. I probably did the best I have at sighting and navigating the course. I got into a pretty good group of swimmers and I was able to draft in a little bit of a triangle that 3 or 4 other guys formed for me;) When I exited the water, everything was perfect the swim felt great, actually refreshing and I felt good as I entered transition. What would you do differently?: Nothing Transition 1
Comments: Took a little long getting my wetsuit over my ankles, but I have had that problem before with this suit. I cut the opening a little larger a couple of days ago. I might make it on more of an angle so I get a larger opening. Bike
Comments: Again, I can't complain about the bike ride I had. I was flying on the straight aways and the downhills and my climbs were good. I slowed down a lot at all of the turns because I was freaked out by the wet roads, gravel etc. (maybe a left over from my crash this summer). My first loop was great, my second could have been a little better, but overall, I think it was a great effort for me. What would you do differently?: I need to start thinking about what ring I should be in. In the past I was exclusively a small ring rider, but recently I have made myself a big ring rider with a lower rpm. I think it might sap too myuch energy from my legs to ride that way. Transition 2
Comments: Great. Entered the run course with plenty of time to get to my goal of finishing under 6 hours. Run
Comments: The first loop on the run went perfectly I was averaging like 9:30 miles and I felt really good. I was well within the time I needed to be to reach my goal. At one point on the first loop I even figured out that I could run just 11:00 miles and still finish under 6. I met Rudy at mile 7 and we started running together. He is a great guy and he had a great race. Kudos to Rudy. All of a sudden, at about mile 7 I got a terrible cramp in my hamstring, so bad that I couldn't unbend my leg. It was terrible and the pain was awful. I was able to walk myself out again, still with plenty of time. I got another cramp at mile 8 (approx.) and at mile 9.5 (approx.) at that point, I knew that breaking 6 hours just wasn't in the cards especially when you throw in the fact that I puked up red Gatorade and Gu at mile 8.5 I knew after all of these issues, today wasn't gonna be the day. I thought back to some of the things Kev told me when I first started this madness 4 years ago. (I'm beginning to realize what an expert he is). One time, he told me that in races as long as HIMs and IMs, our goals will change over the course of the race and we need to adjust our expectations as the conditions or the day change our outlook/ability. He also said to me countless times that triathlon is a paradigm for life in that really getting the most out of it is centered around knowing your limitations and managing your expectations. I used to never really understand what that meant. I'm growing up. It made a lot of sense to me during the run. I found myself changing my goals based on where I was physically. Eventually, my goal became to just finish. Post race
What limited your ability to perform faster: I wish I could put a finger on it, but who knows what caused my problems today. I guess I have to look at the positives here. I fully believe that I am a better triathlete and athlete in general than I have been in the past. I also believe that, if I got the chance to do this again, at my current level, I would be able to break six hours. I fully believe that I am a sub six hour Half Iron Man, but it just wasn't in the cards today. I think I deserved to break six hours but for whatever reason, my body failed me. The thing that makes it very tough to swallow is the fact that I have worked so hard and that this race was my focus for the entire year. I think I did all that I could have to put me in the best position to break six hours starting from the end of last season and ending at mile 7. I'm not sure if time goals should be a focus for me in the future, because, today, it took all of the fun out of it. This was easily the most frustrating day of my triathlon life and for what reason? because I didn't reach a time goal that I had in my mind? I think that's nonsense. I think I need to try to recapture some of what made this sport so enticing four years ago. It isn't a business, and I shouldn't let it be like work. I need to remember that it's about "getting to the start line that matters." I finished a Half Iron Man... for the third consecutive year and, at 34, I am in the best shape of my life. That in itself is an accomplishment. I will not let this race define me. Last updated: 2008-12-20 12:00 AM
|
|
{postbutton}
2009-10-05 2:18 PM |
|
2009-10-05 4:49 PM in reply to: #2443649 |
2009-10-06 5:22 AM in reply to: #2443649 |
General Discussion-> Race Reports! |
{postbutton}
United States
Event Power
62F / 17C
Overcast
Overall Rank = 241/349
Age Group = m30-34
Age Group Rank = 29/39
I got to the race sight at about 5:10am, giving myself plenty of time to get set up. The time flew by and I knew I was ready.