Florida Challenge Triathlon - Triathlon1/2 Ironman

Caught my rhythm around the end of the first leg and overall, felt pretty good about performance - Sighting on the last leg was really tough and it's possible I added an extra couple of hundred yards for all the zig-zagging.

Scooted right in and out. 7th plc in AG

I hammered first 35 or so miles - Averaged almost 21mph through Sugarloaf and wasn't bothered by heat. As a result, I neglected fluid and salt intake. At around the 40th mile, I stood up on the pedals on a gentle uphill slope and was hit with the worst cramps I have ever had - Literally knocked me off the bike. After about 5-10 mins on the side of the road, watching people pass, I walked up the rest of the hill, hopped back on and averaged maybe 15mph back to T2. Effectively, I was toast.

This is so simple - When it's hot, you're supposed to take salt/potassium/electrolytes. I pretty much blew myself up and a couple of month's work went for naught by ignoring the conditions.

5th plc in AG

Came very close to the dreaded positive bike/run split! Ouch.

Started out as a death march - First six miles was as much walking as shuffling, much less running. Getting passed by yet more people. Around the seventh mile, I found my legs a little and shuffled/ran most of the loop around the lake. In any case, slow, but at least now I was passing more than the other way around and that was good for morale.

As close to taking a trip to the med tent as I ever hope to get. .Felt worse after this bad-boy than I did afer IM AZ.


See above comments about salt.


Life is full of coulda/shoulda's - I had much higher expectations for this race and I think my overall fitness level was ready to deliver a PR. I fully expect to make other stupid mistakes in the future, it just won't be this one again ;-)

PS It really looks like times were slower this year across the board - My time last year was good for 18th in AG. Same time this year would have gotten me 5th. Obviously, I wasn't the only one who was slowed down by the conditions - How those folks doing the full coped with the heat is a testament to will power - Way to go, guys!