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Ironman 70.3 California - Triathlon1/2 Ironman


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Oceanside, California
United States
World Triathlon Corporation
Overcast
Total Time = 7h 58m 16s
Overall Rank = 2108/2192
Age Group = F 30-34
Age Group Rank = 92/98
Pre-race routine:

Woke up at 2:30AM,ate a PBJ and coffee. Finished packing nutrition, watched Ironman Kona video on youtube, and then drove 45 minutes to arrive in Oceanside at 4:45AM. Parked next in the transit center parking. Put bike together, and set up T2 before cycling to T1 to set up my bike. Sunblock, Triglide, all systems go!
Event warmup:

Put my wetsuit and goggles on and waded into the beach side to get used to water temperatures. Water was actually warmer than I expected, probably in the 60's since I did not have to do much to get accustomed to the temperature. Unfortunately had to run to the bathroom again after this (awkward suit taking off and putting on XD) jogged over to Wave 17. Waited with the rest of the group. Got kicked in the face as we got into the water XD Had to fix my goggles and started WELL behind the start line (due to goggles fixing) Startled at least one lifeguard who thought I was drowning (no, fixing goggles XD) Started!
Swim
  • 49m 32s
  • 2112 yards
  • 02m 21s / 100 yards
Comments:

Got kicked in the face getting into the water, which messed up my goggle fit. I was slightly panicking since I knew I only had three minutes to get to the deep water start. I swam slightly the wrong direction, lifeguard told me to make a hard left to the start, and I got there, slightly back, still fixing my goggles. We started, I took five strokes, had to stop and fix my goggles again, which worried another lifeguard across the way from me. I finished fixing my goggles and was off. We rounded a couple more buoys and I saw a girl on my age group hanging onto a lifeguard board, and I yelled out "you can do it!" before I slowly kept going. I meant that to make her feel better, but I actually felt better, too, seeing her keep going. Also, the route took us through parts where you could see some underwater stuff, and it was cool :3 I took the turnaround too wide and yet another lifeguard pointed me to take a harder left instead of swimming out to the sea XD A couple of feet and arms got close to my face and I had to protect my goggles. Thank goodness no one swam OVER me. I did take a half mouthfull of water when I breathed as someone else was swimming by.

I was not sure why, but I was especially thirsty during the swim :/

I got out of the water and could not believe I finished under 50 minutes. I was expecting at least another 20 minutes in the swim. Overall, an excellent finish after a rough start.
What would you do differently?:

I need to practice mass group starts, so that means more triathlons since I could not replicate this outside of races. Overall I was happy with the swim.
Transition 1
  • 10m 18s
Comments:

NOW I know why people have compression cuffs, you can totally wear them under a wetsuit and just leave them on for the bike! It took me FIVE MINUTES to put my knee high compression socks on. I did remember to eat and drink (SWEET SWEET drink! I was sooo thirsty!)
What would you do differently?:

Must, practice transition. At least I remembered to eat and put on my gloves this time. Still wished it didn't take 10 minutes!
Bike
  • 3h 51m 21s
  • 56 miles
  • 14.52 mile/hr
Comments:

First 20 miles, flat. Took advantage of this by getting a good pace on. Then the hill of doom showed up. I started pedaling up this hill and was somewhat demoralized by seeing how everyone ahead of me was pushing their bikes up this hill. I wanted to do the same, but I did not know how to dismount while facing such a steep uphill, so I soldiered on. Almost crashed at one point since I was going so slow, but somehow finished (while humming the Super Mario Brothers water theme, since that usually keeps me calm in open water swims). There were three other hills after that, which were also tough, but looked pretty conquerable after this first hill. I was glad it was not the other way around (tough hill at the end) or I would have probably just fallen over.

The continued slight incline was also tough through the second half of the race, since you couldn't see there's an incline, but you could feel it since it was so hard to turn the crank. Towards the end there was nice downhill going on and I got to give my legs some rest in preparation for the run.

Overall faster than I thought. I estimated 13mph but finished over a mph faster.
What would you do differently?:

Find a tougher hill to practice up. Need to build speed going up hills.
Transition 2
  • 08m 4s
Comments:

I had way more time than I thought after my swim and bike, so I took it easy for the T2. I was unfortunately not hungry but I knew I needed energy, so I ate part of a wafer while I put on my sunblock (I thought I was getting a sunburn on my nose since it stared to hurt, but turns out I was scratched there, probably from the kick to the face from the swim) and chatted with this guy who was already done, coming to pick up his bike.

Socks came off faster than I came on. I put on my vibrams, replenished sunblock, put on visor, cap, and race belt and was off.
What would you do differently?:

I probably could have just moved faster.
Run
  • 2h 58m 51s
  • 13.1 miles
  • 13m 39s  min/mile
Comments:

Is it just me, or was the course slightly short?

Never the less, the part of the race I thought would be cake walk turns out to be such, without the CAKE part. I hit the wall hard after mile 3 and the whole run/walk plan went out the window. My legs hurt, MY ARMS hurt (You know it's bad news when it hurts to push the buttons on your Garmin) I was also unaccustomed to running mid afternoon and the sun decided to shine all of a sudden. I started shoving ice cubs down my jersey and water over my head.

I could not bear to eat any more gels or gummies I packed, so I started drinking water, orange slices, and banana. I did force myself to drink some mix stuff in my bottle (still slightly cold since I froze it solid the night before and it melted for the run) since I knew I need it to prevent cramping.

It was a rough climb over the wall.

BARELY finished under 3 hours.
What would you do differently?:

Need more brick practice.


Post race
Warm down:

EAT.

What limited your ability to perform faster:

Heat, lack of practices up to 8 hours with all three disciplines.

Event comments:

They ran out of chocolate milk at the end. That was the only thing keeping me going on the run. It's their official post race beverage ;_; I'm making up for it by drinking some now.


Profile Album


Last updated: 2012-07-10 12:00 AM
Swimming
00:49:32 | 2112 yards | 02m 21s / 100yards
Age Group: 94/98
Overall: 2146/2192
Performance: Good
Suit: Bluseventy Reaction 2010
Course: Out and back inside Oceanside Harbor
Start type: Deep Water Plus: Waves
Water temp: 60F / 16C Current: Low
200M Perf. Below average Remainder: Good
Breathing: Good Drafting: Good
Waves: Average Navigation: Average
Rounding: Good
T1
Time: 10:18
Performance: Below average
Cap removal: Good Helmet on/
Suit off:
No
Wetsuit stuck? No Run with bike: No
Jump on bike: No
Getting up to speed: Average
Biking
03:51:21 | 56 miles | 14.52 mile/hr
Age Group: 89/98
Overall: 2121/2192
Performance: Good
Wind: Headwind
Course:
Road: Smooth Dry Cadence:
Turns: Average Cornering: Average
Gear changes: Good Hills: Average
Race pace: Hard Drinks: Just right
T2
Time: 08:04
Overall: Average
Riding w/ feet on shoes
Jumping off bike
Running with bike Good
Racking bike Good
Shoe and helmet removal Average
Running
02:58:51 | 13.1 miles | 13m 39s  min/mile
Age Group: 92/98
Overall: 2108/2192
Performance: Below average
Course: Is it just be, or was the course a bit short. Two laps, around Oceanside.
Keeping cool Good Drinking Just right
Post race
Weight change: %1.812
Overall: Good
Mental exertion [1-5] 4
Physical exertion [1-5] 4
Good race? Ok
Evaluation
Course challenge Too hard
Organized? Yes
Events on-time? Yes
Lots of volunteers? Yes
Plenty of drinks? Yes
Post race activities: Average
Race evaluation [1-5] 4

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2013-03-31 11:41 AM

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Regular
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Costa Mesa
Subject: Ironman 70.3 California


2013-03-31 7:51 PM
in reply to: #4680777

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Master
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Rio Rancho, NM
Subject: RE: Ironman 70.3 California

Nice job! It sure was a great day for it. Don't know about the run being short but mile markers would have been nice!

 Looks like you had a great day.

2013-03-31 9:06 PM
in reply to: #4681156

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Regular
198
100252525
Costa Mesa
Subject: RE: Ironman 70.3 California

Run markers would have been nice.  They must have been thinking about it, since on the course, you could see bits of tape on the ground marking the mile numbers.  Then again, it probably would have been really confusing since it was a 2 lap run (I've seen people comment on confusing mile markers when two different distances courses overlapped, even when the markers were clearly marked "MARATHON" or "HALF MARATHON", could you imagine if they they started doing a "LAP 1" "LAP 2" one?  Too confusing when  you're already slightly delirious.

My garmin only marked 12.99 miles, which was unusual, since usually it's a little bit over due to the wibbly wobbly way I run through crowds most of the time (though in this instance, I was wibbly wobbly since I was sooo tired XD)

2013-03-31 10:11 PM
in reply to: #4680777

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Expert
703
500100100
Palm Springs, California
Subject: RE: Ironman 70.3 California
Good job! Loved your report.
2013-03-31 10:55 PM
in reply to: #4680777

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Champion
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Subject: RE: Ironman 70.3 California
Nice work. Good on you for sticking up the hill of doom in the saddle. I nicknamed it "death hill #1" haha!ETA: I just noted you already remarked on Death Hill #1 haha!

Edited by mndymond 2013-03-31 11:21 PM
2013-04-01 9:43 AM
in reply to: #4680777

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Veteran
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Queen Creek, AZ
Subject: RE: Ironman 70.3 California
AWESOME JOB!!!


2013-04-01 5:36 PM
in reply to: #4680777

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Master
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20005001001002525
Los Angeles, CA
Subject: RE: Ironman 70.3 California
Nice race and way to persevere despite what happened during the swim.  Those hills are pretty tough indeed!  Come train with me and ride up the the Griffith Park Observatory!  After those hills, the next race with hills like Oceanside won't be so daunting. =)
2013-04-02 12:23 PM
in reply to: #4680777

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Extreme Veteran
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50010025
Scottsdale
Subject: RE: Ironman 70.3 California
Way to tough out the hill climbs and not give in to temptation to walk your bike to the top.  Congrats!!
2013-04-02 10:03 PM
in reply to: #4680777

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Member
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Los Angeles
Subject: RE: Ironman 70.3 California
that a way to tough out the hills...good job and way to finish!
2013-04-04 12:11 AM
in reply to: #4682450

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Regular
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Costa Mesa
Subject: RE: Ironman 70.3 California

kloofyroland - 2013-04-01 3:36 PM Nice race and way to persevere despite what happened during the swim.  Those hills are pretty tough indeed!  Come train with me and ride up the the Griffith Park Observatory!  After those hills, the next race with hills like Oceanside won't be so daunting. =)

I've *run* up those hills at Griffith Park, and I'm not quite sure I can ride up those without falling over, they're really really steep and there are quite a number of them.  Though thanks for the suggestion for training there.  I'm going to work my way up to those so that the next time I hit this hill I shall laugh at it (okay, maybe not laugh, but chuckle a bit.)

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