Epic Day for me in my first Half Ironman distance event. One of my favorite quotes from NBC's 2010 Ironman World Championship is that "Ironman is just one long tedious conversation with yourself". I had several moments during the race where I was inside my own head trying to manage myself to give a little more or back off so I could maintain later in the race. I'll highlight those in the race report below. Overall, a great event, I think the production company and the support along the way was great. Thanks to all of the great volunteers that helped keep all of us fueled all day. I went into the race with a clear strategy for the first time ever. I was planning to take it easy for the beginning stages of each leg to allow my body to warm up and acclimate for the task at hand. The swim started off exactly to plan. I think that doing Trans Tahoe has helped me with this as well. I dove in and focused on my stroke, nice and easy and breathing. I tried to remain as calm as I could and not allow myself get too amped. This worked out great. I used the first 250 to 300 yards to warm up and get into a rhythm and kept my body in an efficient position. I kept hearing Coach Don and Texas Mike's words in my head of long strokes push all the way back and enter in front of your shoulder. I made it to the first buoy and I had already passed some swimmers from the group ahead of me, (the 30-34 year old men had started 5 minutes ahead of us) so I felt like I was in the groove, Once I rounded the buoy, I started to add a 3 to 4 beat kick and rounded the 2nd buoy and caught site of the swim finish. I did not know where I was on time, but I felt like I was moving pretty good. About 300 yards out from the finish a swimmer from the group behind me (the blue caps) swept past me, so I tried to stay on his feet the rest of the way in. I got out of the water feeling good and smiling for the first time in 14 Triathlons. My swim was 32:40 and I felt fine running out of the water. I also came out of the water 18th of 82 in my age group for men 35 to 39.
T-1 was about a quarter mile run from the swim finish so I had plenty of time to get my land legs back. Wore my CEP compression socks for the first time during a triathlon so T1 took longer than normal. My transition time was 7 mins long so I may not use the full socks in half IM's or shorter going forward. The bike started out nice and easy. Guys with really nice bikes were passing me in the aero position. But for the first time, I also began to pull people in. It was during the bike that the real tedious conversation with myself started. I had to remind myself to keep some fuel in the tank and only take sips of my Sports drink as well as drink enough water. I started using Hammer's Perpetuem and it worked out well. Gave me the energy I needed but not the stomach issues I've had in the past with Accelerade or Gels. I did the first half of the bike in 1:18 so I thought a very solid time was in the cards. When I hit the turn around, I quickly realized that a great time was going to be hard work as the head wind we were now facing was brutal. That explained the 22 to 24 mph avg I was able to keep up on the way out. Now I had to try to remain positive when all I could say to myself was, "man this wind really sucks" Now the real conversation started happening. First I'd say this sucks, then I'd tell myself...everyone has to deal with this...which I translated into just make it home in one piece and get out on an enjoyable run, you've been training for the run so save your legs and get home around 3 hours. With about 10 miles to go, the bike course veered back away from the ocean and we got out of the wind. Combine this with the fact that Skye and Paige and the girls had driven out 6 miles from transition to cheer us on and I was pumped. I was able to crank it back up over 20mph and got back to town with a sub 3 hour bike firmly in my sights. My strategy was to relax for the end of the bike and rest my legs for the run but when I realized I could bust out a sub 3 hr, I kept on hammering the pedals. I made it back to the final turns and couldn't help but smile as I was just over 2:50 and made it into transition by 2:55. Felt great, got off the bike, got my fuel belt, my visor, and my shoes, took a quick drink of water and got out of T2 in just over 2:00. Felt great coming out on the run and got up the hill to the bluffs feeling strong. I looked down at my watch and 8:00/ mile avg was pretty easy to maintain. I told myself at this point, "if it feels good and your heart rate isn't spiking let's play this out for as long as we can". I started thinking a sub 2 hr Half marathon was in my sights. I ran the first 4 miles in the low 8's and felt good. Mile 5 started to get to me and I struggled to run a 9:45. I saw Mike Kelly just before I got to the turn around and he was on his way back in and then I saw Matt. I thought if I could get back to a sub 9:00 pace, I may be able to make up some ground but the long day was starting to wear on me. I had to stop for a bathroom break and that destroyed all of my momentum. It's funny how stopping once can convince your brain that it's ok to stop again and eventually it's ok to walk for a bit. Around mile 8 of the run both hamstrings felt like they were cramping up and my stride shortened even more. I remembered that there was an aid station with bananas coming up and I got myself talked into running to the station. Once I got there, I downed 2 half bananas right away and immediately felt better. I started running again after that aid station and got back to a sub 10 min pace fairly easy. This only lasted for a mile and I still have 2 miles left. Now the mind games started in earnest; Reward myself for running to each remaining aid station by a nice long walk through the station. I got through the 11 mile aid station at 1:50 of the run and told myself 20 mins and you're done. Two 10 min miles would put me at 2:10 and I had a goal of doing the run in 130 mins so I thought I was on pace. I was inside of a mile to go with the finish line in sight and my hamstrings started to cramp again. I sipped some water, slowed down and told myself, this pain is temporary. I got to the beach and picked up the pace, then I saw my crew. My wife and girls, Matt and Mike all waiting at the beginning of the chute. I felt great again and Bella ran out to hand me a little flag that we brought to pay tribute for 9-11 and she and I finished the rest together hand in hand. 5:51:34 I wanted to be faster than 6 hours and I got it done by 8 and a half minutes. If I can figure out this run thing some more, I will improve again. I now know that I'll finish my Ironman in November. It now becomes an issue of how painful that will be. The deciding factor will be my training from here on out and I will make sure I get the miles in.
Thanks to everyone who has supported this quest and everyone who cheered along the way.
