Tall Texan Triathlon (Page 2)
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Tall Texan Triathlon - Triathlon1/2 Ironman
View Member's Race Log
Swim
Comments: Surprisingly, I felt good. I mostly freestyled, but took breaks when I was loosing breath or felt like I was slipping. My only goal was to finish the race and I was very careful not to overextend myself. We did have to swim with the sun a bit.... My arms didn't hurt at all and I am still astonished at how easy it was. Hell, I even had several CONVERSATIONS with some of the women around me at several points: "Is your family out here?" "I'm divorced" "ah, I'm in the process..." "Kids are with my ex..." "I'm Margie" "See you in a bit!" crawl, crawl, crawl for 10 minutes, come up for some air and rest "Hello again...." "I'm refinancing..." "What rate did you get...?" Perhaps I shouldn't have been so lesiurly about it and shaved 10 min or so, but what can I say... What would you do differently?: I think I would have worked a bit more on my swiming - slowing down my stroke. I swim too fast and get out of breath in 10-15 minutes. It kills my time. I think next time I will try to do the whole swim with the crawl and not worry too much about wearing myself out. Maybe I wouldn't have been so damn chatty!! Transition 1
Comments: There was a lot of chatting in the T area due to the relay folks. It felt good to come into a transition area with bikes still there!!!! What would you do differently?: Nothing Bike
Comments: The race director kept telling us this was a "Technical" course. HA!!! The first 20 miles were uneventfull other than the hills, but after that things got interesting: I had noticed a lot of dead armadillos on the road, maybe 5 or so over 20 miles. Well, it was a "Technical" course, right? 4 or 5 riders and I were climbing a hill that had, I kid you not, at least 20 vultures at the top. Big black stinky mothers. We were all spaced out so as not to get tagged for drafting as we approached the top (well, I was chugging air, but allow me my illusions...) As the first rider went through, they all scatter and land again. Same for the second rider, scatter and land again. Well, after the that, the birds developed what I can only describe as "Attitude." Next rider, the birds don't move... much... they scurry a bit and the lady fumbled, dodging, trying to avoid them and the flapping wings. She almost wrecked. I come up, going a whopping 6-7 miles an hour, breathing hard and hyper concerned about the damn birds. "Get!!!!!" I yell at 20 yards... Balefull look... "HI YA!!!!!!" Flaping wing which I assume was the equivilant of a bird giving me...the bird... "Little Peckers..." These little peckers were not getting off the ground again. They had probably been getting up and down for a hundred riders and countless cars....I unclip a shoe just in case and pedal through them, probably closer than I had to... that'll show em... I continue the ride and feel really good. The course got interesting again at about 40 miles.... seems there was a big "trail ride" the day before for some fair or other. Bunch of weekend cowboys drive 50 cows from one ranch to another. Thing is, it wasn't on a trail, it was on our bike route!!! For about 10 miles, I literally had to negotiate hundreds of shi* piles.... The smell wasn't nice. I found myself wishing for some diesel truck to drive by just for their exhaust to mask the urine/feces stank... Still, I felt really good. I mean really good. I did great on the swim, was doing ok on the bike, averaging over 14 on the hills was perfect for me. I spent a good portion calculating what my eventual finish would be. Hell, I was going to break 7:00, forget about just finishing!!!! What would you do differently?: Maybe bring a sling shot and a pooper scooper?? Transition 2
Comments: No problems. I was ahead of quite a few people, but I knew that wouldn't last What would you do differently?: Nothing Run
Comments: Crap. Damn. That was the hardest thing I have ever done. I ran for about the first 3 and started suffering. I just didn't have any more in me. By mile 4 I was walking/running. I was cramping at the top of my calves and my hams were sending me little FU signals. By mile 7, I was just walking. The weather forcast that Tiger Phil and I had seen for Texas was off by about 10-15 degrees. It was baking and there was not an ounce of shade. Literally no shade on the whole course except for the aid stations. I began to notice my feet felt pickled and sore. I had been dumping water on myself and into my hat and my feet had become soaked and squishy. I rolled my eyes and continued on, just throwing my feet forward, walking. The sun was a problem. I could already feel the sunburn coming and I was only a little over half way. To top it all off, my buddies from the bike were there,the little peckers, circling... waiting... sneering... the only thing missing was a sharp eagle cry and a rattler shaking it's rattle... By mile 9 I had walked for most of the last 2 miles... every time I tried to run, I would get chills which was concerning... and my feet felt like the skin was about to split from being wet for so long. The bones in my feet hurt with every step. My calves hurt badly and were in constant cramp. I was also relly concerned about my right hamstring which was hurting in a way I haven't felt before. I was just imagining that sucker pulling or popping... At the mile 9 station I stopped and squated in the shade for a moment. 2 guys and a girl came up, all in pain. we did the calculations and realized we were in danger of not finishing in 9. These people were really negative and just done. "No. We can make it. 4 miles, 75 minutes. If we average 18 minute miles, we will finish. C'mon." "No, we can't do it" "Yes you can" "I'm done." "Me too..." I looked each of them in the eye and knew I was wasting my time. I threw some ice water in my hat, put it on with the water dripping down my face and said adios. I ran the next 2 mile straight, an accomplishment I am very proud of. It hurt. I desperately wanted to stop, but I though if I did I wouldn't be able to start again. I just went as far as I could. At mile 11 I stopped and walked. the run put me safetly within 9 hours and I thought abuot the people who had passed me in a volenteer truck and what they were feeling and how they would justify quiting, not for injury or nothing left, but because they werent going to finish in time. For the first time in over an hour I got to savor the fact that I would finish. I got more energy from somewhere and would run in 100 yard clips. I ran the last 1/10 of a mile and posed for the cameras and headed into the water. What would you do differently?: For the last 2 months I have really slacked off on the running. I went from a mid summer high or 10+ miles to doing 3-4 miles, once a week. BIG mistake!!!!!!!!! Post race
Warm down: I submerged myself into the lake until the cramps made me get out. When I did finally get out, I had no appitite or thirst, but ate a sausage link and drank some anyway. One of my buds had my guinness dark on ice. I popped the top and took a long pull... ohhhh it was harsh... I actually got the chills. After the pull, I asked to the crowd "Did I win?" This was a mistake despite the laughter: Buba the police officer decided to exert his authority: "Sir, you need to dispose of that alcohal." "I'm working on it..." This generated some laughter, which only egged him on, I'm afraid. "Pour out the beer, sir." "Are you serious?" "Yes sir." "Why?" Beligerent, I admit. "There is no alcohal permitted in this park, city ordinance" "You're kidding? Well, let me finish it and I'll throw it away." "You've already broken the law. Pour it out." Now I'm pissed. I begin to pour. Slowly. "I bet you there's beer on that boat over there...." Nothing from Buba, who turns and walks away without another word. Wwinner? No, but yes. I won in many ways What limited your ability to perform faster: Weight. Event comments: Wow. A half IM. I will have that until the day I die.... Last updated: 2004-04-08 12:00 AM
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2004-04-08 12:00 AM |
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United States
Texas Triathlon Series
98F / 37C
Sunny
Overall Rank = 73/117
Age Group = Clydsedale
Age Group Rank = 1/1
Dropped my bike and attended a pre-race dinner/meeting the night before. woke up at 5:30 and got ready and on the road. Got a bacon, egg and cheese with a large Dr. Pepper at McDonnalds :) Yum! Drove 40 minutes to the lake and kind of milled around, chatting with some of the people. Everyone but the relay folks was tense, but I felt good, but not strong. I had basically been on a 2 week taper and I felt like I wasn't at my peak, though I knew I was. I went for a swim to warm up, but after the sun started coming up and I saw how damn far the bouys were, I scratched that after about 2 minutes. I would have more than enough time to warm up on that course. I got out of the water and visited the Porta-potty (really the only distastfull aspect of racing, as far as I am concerned). Ugh... Got out and felt like that was going to be the biggest challenge of my day. I strutted around, talking to some of the sponsors I know and smiling at the looks I got. I really felt in good spirits....