1/2 Ironman Triathlon - Oceanside CA
So I have been slowly working up my training, secretly in August, and then I came out of the Triathlon closet in January to do full on training the. But this is the first of my 5 big races this season - and all those months of nerves…
I have been waking up at 5am, but not being able to fall asleep until midnight or later!
Let me sum up:
Race day 3 h sleep, a bowl of oatmeal, 2 meal replacements…. set up with 2000 other people in the dark, blast around for a bike warm up, in the dark. Short jog, watch the sunrise while Sean takes off in the Pro wave, one last long pee in TL’s wetsuit, and it’s Go-Time.
Swim: Other than body surfing it was my first time swimming in the ocean. Which wasn’t bad, but I probably took in a little more water than necessary.
My fastest time at this distance in the pool was 29min30 normally pool swimming is faster than open water… but that’s not taking the V:1 Wetsuit into account. I came out of the water 1min12 seconds faster than this. You’d better believe that the
V:1 is fast. My secret goal time was 18 seconds faster, but I didn’t max out, and am really happy with my speed (Sean and the top pros were 4 minutes ahead of me, realistically I am hoping to take in 2 or these)
Transitions, in the last race I could have gotten my wetsuit off faster, and I worked on it. The very top pro’s were a little faster than me, but I too
Bike:
I probably drank a titch more salt water than initially planned. This made me feel a little uncomfortable at the start of the bike. Otherwise I stayed smooth, went fast, but didn’t max out. In the end I would have preferred to have gone around 3min faster. This is really just a few interval workouts, and now knowing what racing this distance feels like away. (most pro’s put 2-4 minutes into me)
Run: I didn’t have my normal ‘wobbly leg’ issue starting the run, but did have some slight cramping in my back, and on the hills in my legs. I just had Justin’s old timex for splits, but paced it pretty evenly. The 3rd quarter was around a minute slower but the others were within 20 seconds. I need to go 10 minutes faster here to be a pro.
The bottom line:
Sure I did well, but I was 30th overall, and 16 minutes out of the prize money.
I also realize that as a pro male it is absolutely necessary to be very balanced in all of the events. Loosing 4 minutes in the water means that I am not able to key off other athletes for pacing in the bike. Like putting, if you can’t run fast, you aren’t going to be winning any prize money.
Some recovery sleeping, and we spent Sunday on the deck, beach, and haunts of Newport Beach having a great time with my Cousin Chris, Melanie, and Loppy.
Side note… after introducing Sean to In N Out burger post race, he consumed 12 patties and 12 slices of cheese within our final 18h in California (I only managed 8). Our in-flite food… how airlines do hamburgers… within 2h30 of his final two 4×4’s.
Triathlon ain’t cheap:
Entry $258
Airfare $338
shipping bike $195 (airplane tax… on the way home I was within 3 inches of the ‘oversized limit’)
getting towed $65
Car rentals $133
But I am going to Hawaii (no joking, I’m super stoked)
The last word… getting home after midnight, and the car’s battery won’t start, bum a jump… get driving.
