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Ironman 70.3 Branson - Triathlon1/2 Ironman


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Branson, Missouri
United States
88F / 31C
Sunny
Total Time = 6h 14m 8s
Overall Rank = /
Age Group = 40-44
Age Group Rank = 64/201
Pre-race routine:

Alarm set for 4:40. Up, got marked in the hotel room, grabbed my Transition bags and headed off to parking at T2. Ended up right behind Ty and Pete on the way into the lot so rode with them and Todd Black on the "Ride the Ducks" bus over to T1. Got everything set up, said a prayer with the Tri4Him guys and headed down to the beach. What a beautiful swim/race start. The water was so clear and smooth.
Event warmup:

Took about a 5 minute warmup swim just to get the water in the wetsuit and get ready for the swim. I was happy that they allowed us to warmup swim. They didn't allow that at KS and it was a bummer.
Swim
  • 34m 1s
  • 1920 meters
  • 01m 46s / 100 meters
Comments:

Felt good about this swim.(finished in the top 10% of my AG) Was able to navigate myself to long stretches of open water where I could concentrate on long smooth strokes and keeping my head down. I've gotten much better at staying down in my stroke without lifting my head to sight a lot and keeping a straight line.
What would you do differently?:

Nothing.
Transition 1
  • 04m 41s
Comments:

Took my time in T1. Had to make sure to get my wetsuit in the transport bag and took the time to tie the two bags together to make sure everything made it safely back to T2.
What would you do differently?:

Nothing.
Bike
  • 3h 22m 36s
  • 56 miles
  • 16.58 mile/hr
Comments:

I knew this course was going to be tough because I had trained on it twice in the last year. Maybe it's an excuse, but I really tried to concentrate on spinning up the hills very easy and not trying to push too hard. I have been feeling very good about my run in training and I didn't want to jeopardize the chance of posting a decent run by pushing too hard on the bike. My time definately reflects that I rode quite slow on the bike!
What would you do differently?:

Nothing really. Although was very slow, I rode within my ability and didn't push too hard.
Transition 2
  • 01m 31s
Comments:

Had a couple of funny moments coming into T2. When my spirits are up on the race course, I like to joke around with the spectators. It just keeps my mind off the pain, so when I was coming down the hill to T2, a lady screamed :You're Done with the Bike!!" and I screamed back, at the top of my lungs "WAAHHHHHHOOOOOOO." She got a pretty big kick out of that. I also asked all of the volunteers at the entrance to T2 if any of them wanted to buy a bike. I was so ready to be done with that thing for the day!!
Run
  • 2h 11m 19s
  • 13.1 miles
  • 10m 01s  min/mile
Comments:

I was really hoping that I had saved enough of my legs on the bike to put in a decent run but they were just SO shot after that bike. I started out the first couple of miles at a pretty good clip and then around mile 3 I started to slow down. I walked every aid station (which I had planned to do) to pour icewater down my back and over my head. Lap 1 went ok, but when I got to the furthest out point of the run course in the park on lap two, it took everything I had to talk myself into running all the way thru the park and back to the aid station. When I walked the aid station, I began that internal negotiation of OK, I'll pick back up after the last trash can...(trash can passed, still walking), OK, I'll pick back up after the curb....(curb passed, still walking)...etc.
I ended up walking the roughly half mile returning through the neighborhood and was able to get back to running as I turned the corner to leave the neighborhood.
I guess what I'm most proud of is that even though the overall run was slow, I was able to gut it out and increase my pace for lap 3 over lap 2. I actually think I ran the last 2 miles under 9 minute pace. Which normally wouldn't have been good, but based on how I was feeling, I am happy with. I remember looking at my watch and thinking Wow, 9:45 pace never felt this fast. That's a pretty sad testimony as to how skewed my perception was!
What would you do differently?:

Not walk the section during the second lap although, I think that is what made the difference in finishing the 3 loop stronger.
Post race
Warm down:

Crossed the finish line with my arms raised. I don't have a single finish line photo with my hands raised, but this one was all about me signing up for a race that specifically targets my main weakness: (cycling on the hills). I was less concerned about my time for this one and more excited that I was able to complete the distance with the hills and feel like I finished somewhat strong!
After the finish line I went over and sat in the fountain that was filled with the cold, roughly 55 degree water of Lake Taneycomo. It felt so good after such a hot run , and I remember seeing 15 triathletes lined up sitting on the ledge underwater with the look on their faces, as if to say "WHAT WAS THAT!!" Everyone was talking about how tough the course was and I heard comments on the course and at the finish all day like "I've been racing 70.3 for 10 years and that's the toughest bike course I've ever seen!!"
After the "ice" bath, I caught up with Pete and Ty, found Todd, headed back to the hotel for a quick shower and then headed back to KC.

What limited your ability to perform faster:

Spent legs on the bike left almost nothing for the run.

Event comments:

Regarding the race set up, the ONLY complaint I have is that when we finished the race, the only food available was oranges and chocolate milk. I have learned, at this distance, that I need to eat right away after the finish to keep my stomach settled and I was disappointed that there was NO food available for the athletes after we finished. Other than that the race was great. It has to be a logistical nightmare to pull off this kind of race with the two transition areas on opposite sides of town, but everything seemed to go very smoothly.




Last updated: 2010-03-04 12:00 AM
Swimming
00:34:01 | 1920 meters | 01m 46s / 100meters
Age Group: 23/201
Overall: 201/
Performance: Good
Suit: Sleeveless XTerra
Course: One Loop, rectangle, counter clockwise
Start type: Run Plus: Waves
Water temp: 77F / 25C Current: Low
200M Perf. Good Remainder: Good
Breathing: Good Drafting: Below average
Waves: Good Navigation: Good
Rounding: Good
T1
Time: 04:41
Performance: Average
Cap removal: Average Helmet on/
Suit off:
No
Wetsuit stuck? Yes Run with bike: Yes
Jump on bike: No
Getting up to speed: Average
Biking
03:22:36 | 56 miles | 16.58 mile/hr
Age Group: 87/201
Overall: 0/
Performance: Below average
Wind: None
Course: HILLS!!! A climb coming out of transition followed by about 8 miles of twisting rollers, then 35 miles of treacherous hills. After those were completed we had roughly 7 miles of mostly downhill twisty road back to T2. This part of the course was the most fun I had all day, short of crossing the finish line!
Road: Smooth Dry Cadence:
Turns: Good Cornering: Good
Gear changes: Average Hills: Below average
Race pace: Comfortable Drinks: Just right
T2
Time: 01:31
Overall: Good
Riding w/ feet on shoes Good
Jumping off bike Average
Running with bike Good
Racking bike Good
Shoe and helmet removal Good
Running
02:11:19 | 13.1 miles | 10m 01s  min/mile
Age Group: 64/201
Overall: 0/
Performance: Average
Course: Pretty flat. HOT on the outer section running thru the park, but cooler on the section running on the walkway along Taneycomo.
Keeping cool Good Drinking Just right
Post race
Weight change: %
Overall: Average
Mental exertion [1-5] 3
Physical exertion [1-5] 3
Good race? Yes
Evaluation
Course challenge
Organized? Yes
Events on-time? Yes
Lots of volunteers? Yes
Plenty of drinks? Yes
Post race activities: Average
Race evaluation [1-5] 3

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2010-09-20 2:48 PM

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Member
61
2525
Olathe, KS
Subject: Ironman 70.3 Branson


2010-09-21 7:23 AM
in reply to: #3108449

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Veteran
740
50010010025
The Woodlands, TX
Subject: RE: Ironman 70.3 Branson
Great job sticking with it on what was definately a tough day on a tough course. The only part of that run course I liked were the guys with their garden hoses spraying people down!
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