What can I say? This is the best swim venue I've been to. You could actually see the bottom the entire way! You could see swimmers beside you in the water...

I followed my plan and took it out easy, then I found my groove and some open space and pushed it up a notch.

Just a little winded when I finished, but I was VERY PLEASED with this swim!

zero

followed my plan and RELAXED and gathered my bike gear and headed out!

followed my plan until maybe, 10 miles from the finish, I began to get a little tired of sitting on that damn seat! my left glute/hammy was beginning to cramp a little too. Stayed with the same group of racers for most of the entire race. followed my nutrition plan; gelled 3 times, 1 powerbar, and some fig newtons, and plenty of powerade/h20.

did anybody see that snake at mile 23?

also, my bike computer registered 57.02 miles..??? hmmmm...

maybe save just a little bit more the last 10 miles...

no problems here, just RELAXED and got my run gear on... almost forgot my hat! saw Christian (theattorney) and he shouted some encouraging words.

It is safe to say that this run was the hardest physical event that I have ever done!!!! What a learning experience!! It started off just as planned... for the first 3 miles, I ran an easy pace, about 9:50, then the PF pain started to nag at me and my pace slowed. the stretches on the highway really took their toll on me; I did find some grass to run on, but not much. I began to walk the water stops, and at the 1/2 way point, I looked at my watch and I was around 1:02, so I thought I could get this thing done in 2:15 or so. Fat chance!!! the second loop was painful and discouraging. I started to cramp up in my left calf about mile 8. mile 10 saw cramping in my right calf and my left hammy... more walking...longer stops to get water...it was HOT! at mile 12, I looked at my watch, and I thought if I could just jog it in, I could go under 6 hrs! but, the heat just kept cramping me more and more... here comes the drama... I turn the corner to enter the finishing shute and my right leg just totally locks up with cramps...I mean, I can't move it!!! I hobble over the number mat and I hear the announcer say my name, but I can't move my legs to get the last 10 yards to the finishing mat!!! damn! damn! damn! I stretch a little and finally hobble over the mat.

gotta get more experience with long runs, espcially HOT runs. this was my first 1/2 mary and it showed! I didn't have a run plan really. I've never even tried Cytomax, so I didn't drink that.. didn't take any electrolytes... so I cramped. but I did hydrate correctly, I believe.

I don't know... it is very frustrating having this foot injury. I can't train enough, but if I rest it for several months, I won't race... arrrrggggh!!!

Christian Thank YOU for helping me to the post race cabin. A couple of times I almost fell and I wanted to puke! I sat and drank some powerade and tried to talk to fellow finishers, but I was out of it!! someone suggested I go down to the lake and jump in. WOWWWW did that feel good. I continued cramping in some of the craziest places like my toes and my fingers...

Went back to the post race cabin and met up with Shannon who ROCKED THIS RACE!!!!


running experience and training.


another well run Setup race. I wish it wasn't a week after St. A's because I may do that next year!