Florida Challenge Triathlon - Half Iron Distance - Triathlon1/2 Ironman


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Clermont, Florida
United States
Sommer Sports, Inc.
97F / 36C
Sunny
Total Time = 7h 27m 47s
Overall Rank = /
Age Group = 40-44
Age Group Rank = 4/7
Pre-race routine:

Had driven the course the day before and I was a little nervous about the hills...yes, there are hills in central florida, for me they looked like the Himalayas (sugarloaf is a 17% grade which for us is HUGE) so I was pretty nervous. Breakfast was oatmeal, cranberries, agave and coffee!
Event warmup:

Set transition up, met up with my friends who were also racing and my hubby who was going to ride the course.
Swim
  • 43m 35s
  • 1931 meters
  • 02m 16s / 100 meters
Comments:

I really felt great on the swim. I never felt anxious and my sighting was very good. There was some contact eventhough I started in the back, I don't ever start at the front as I am not so fast or competitive. I must say I had been anxious about swimming in a lake as I much prefer swimming in the ocean. I am terrified of alligators!!! and to make things worse 2 days before my brother's 90lbs dog was killed by a 9foot alligator...YES, I am not kidding. My sister in law was walking her by a canal that has a walking trail and the damn thing came out and grabbed the dog. So to say the least my mind was not really in the mood to be swimming in the lake!
What would you do differently?:

Swim faster!
Transition 1
  • 03m 51s
What would you do differently?:

get faster!! I am like a turtle at these transitions!!
Bike
  • 3h 50m 26s
  • 56 miles
  • 14.58 mile/hr
Comments:

I think it was more than 56 miles! my Garmin said it was 59, oh well. This was the hardest bike course I have ever done. The hills were everywhere and there were a couple that people were walking their bikes up! I must say that I am very surprised that florida has these kind of hills, sugarloaf hill I was told is a 17% grade which for us Floridians is like climbing mount Everest..lol..it was very hot and windy at times. Excellent support throughout the course. I was just happy not to get a flat specially going downhill when I was going 31mph!! yes, for me that is very fast..;-)eventhough this is my slowest time ever I am super happy that I survived. My nutrion was right on, I had NUUN, water, cliff blocks (margarita ones which have extra sodium), and extra salted pretzels. I never felt dehydrated but my quads were on fire and I really thought I was not going to be able to run.
What would you do differently?:

Practice riding hills!
Transition 2
  • 04m 37s
Comments:

Another slow time. Basically when I got off the bike I just walked slowly into the transition and took my time. I really thought I was not going to be able to run, so I had to take a few moments to "re-group"
What would you do differently?:

I could not have done anything differently, my quads were on fire!
Run
  • 2h 46m
  • 13.1 miles
  • 12m 40s  min/mile
Comments:

Wow! that is all I can say. I never experienced such heat and I run in south florida all the time but this was insane. Thank God for the fantastic volunteers, the neighbors who came out with hoses, ice, kids with water guns..THANK YOU! lots of people cramping up, walking and just giving up a few miles before the finish. I walked and ran, walked and ran 5min and 1 min walk..that is all I could do. I put ice on my head, drank coke and water, could not eat one thing...this again is my slowest half marathon ever but it was the hardest I have ever done so I am happy.
What would you do differently?:

run with a personal air conditioner!
Post race
Warm down:

Went under the shade and took a cold shower. Had watermelon and grapes..my husband and friends were waiting for me and cheering me on the last mile, it was awesome!

What limited your ability to perform faster:

heat! hills! I need to practice riding hills

Event comments:

This was an AWESOME race!! I will definately be back eventhough it just about killed me ;-)...The race is small but just fantastic. I highly recommended it.




Last updated: 2011-05-31 12:00 AM
Swimming
00:43:35 | 1931 meters | 02m 16s / 100meters
Age Group: 0/7
Overall: 0/
Performance: Good
Suit:
Course: One lap in lake Minneola. Beautiful lake! I was happy to see there were no alligators to be seen!
Start type: Run Plus: Shot
Water temp: 84F / 29C Current: Low
200M Perf. Average Remainder: Good
Breathing: Good Drafting:
Waves: Navigation: Good
Rounding: Good
T1
Time: 03:51
Performance:
Cap removal: Helmet on/
Suit off:
Wetsuit stuck? Run with bike:
Jump on bike:
Getting up to speed:
Biking
03:50:26 | 56 miles | 14.58 mile/hr
Age Group: 0/7
Overall: 0/
Performance: Good
Wind: Some
Course: One loope, very hilly and windy at times. Excellent support through the course by volunteers and the police dept.
Road:   Cadence:
Turns: Cornering:
Gear changes: Hills: Good
Race pace: Drinks:
T2
Time: 04:37
Overall:
Riding w/ feet on shoes
Jumping off bike
Running with bike
Racking bike
Shoe and helmet removal
Running
02:46:00 | 13.1 miles | 12m 40s  min/mile
Age Group: 0/7
Overall: 0/
Performance:
Course: 2 loops, hilly as well in some areas. Great volunteers!97 degrees and sunny. It was a sauna!
Keeping cool Drinking
Post race
Weight change: %
Overall: Good
Mental exertion [1-5] 4
Physical exertion [1-5] 4
Good race? Yes
Evaluation
Course challenge Too hard
Organized? Yes
Events on-time? Yes
Lots of volunteers? Yes
Plenty of drinks? Yes
Post race activities: Good
Race evaluation [1-5] 5