Iron Star Triathlon - Triathlon1/2 Ironman

Swim went OK, better than last year. Just kept swimming. Tried to keep my mind busy. Never panicked. Course seemed a little longer than last year. Was a point before the finish where I could stand up. Walked a few steps, then decided I could swim faster, so I did. Water was choppy due to SE wind. Fortunately it wasn't on my breathing side. I just kept pushing, thinking I may need these minutes in the end.

Practice OWS more. My sighting could improve. And lessons would probably help my times. I think the upper body weights really helped here. I'd definitely do that again.

Collapsed after the swim and strippers had a hard time getting suit off me. Legs cramping

get my own suit off and don't sit down

Was 3 minutes behind on my way out. Made up the time by mile 32 and was on track. Then lost 11 minutes from there to mile 45. Hit by headwind and awful hills. I was tired by that time and my legs and glutes were cramping. I just couldn't push up the hills. Never had to grind a hill, but just did a lot of spinning. Going out, when I would really drop down and push, I could make some speed, over 20 mph, so the potential is there. If it weren't for the backside of this course, I would have a better time. Overall made it in with 8 minutes over my predicted time.

Train more hills. This time I pushed on the way out and made up some time. Much better performance than last year. Lower body weights would help some. Also would add core. Could tell I needed more back strength to get very low in aero for flats.

Felt pretty burned at this point. Couldn't run with bike. Got dressed and turned around and saw Richard standing at his transition site. He was sick and said he couldn't run. I tried to get him out on the course. He couldn't quit now. He finally came with me about 50 yards, then quit. It was awful. I wanted to cry.

Hard. Really hard. Quads cramped all the way. Paraspinous muscles began to cramp about mile 8. Took lots of lytes and water. Perpetuem tasted awful and made my stomach cramp. Kept checking the benchmarks I had written on my race number and realized I was making up time. Started out 8 minutes behind, but had not calculated the 0.1 mile at the end. Would not have finished if I had not pushed to make up time. Kept trying to calculate when I could walk the rest of the way in, but at mile 12, realized I couldn't walk at all. Had to keep my running pace. Held the 1:1 pattern through mile 9, then it started to fall apart. I would just run, then walk, no real pattern. Kept checking my watch and benchmarks. Was really scared I'd miss a turn at the end and not finish. Saw Richard and the kids near the finish and got a spurt of energy. Elise ran the last few yards with me and that made it worth all.

Train the whole 13 miles. Do more long bricks.

Cramped, really cramped in my legs. Got a painful massage and that helped some. Wanted a Coke so bad, but there were none. Couldn't stomach my recovery drink. Felt nauseated.


Overweight and limited experience. This is a young person's race.


Good race. Challenging because of the hills. Volunteer are so supportive. Everyone cheered at the end, probably because I was near the last to come through. Boy Scouts were awesome helpers. Realized most people can do a triathlon...a sprint, but HIM is not for everyone, and may not be for me again. It's grueling and it puts a lot of stress on my family and me. When Richard DNF'd, I realized anyone can. Sometimes you win; sometimes the race wins. I learned a lot out there. The body has amazing potential if we will just tap into it. And it can quickly recover from most anything. There were definitely times I thought "How stupid of me to be out here at my age!", then I'd just run some more. I must have looked pretty stupid, too. And I stunk. And I was so sweaty. But I did it, and today, I'm going to put that 70.3 magnet on my car and be proud.