EagleMan Ironman 70.3 Triathlon
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EagleMan Ironman 70.3 Triathlon - Triathlon1/2 Ironman
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Swim
Comments: The swim was relatively uneventful. The water was very calm. I managed to stay out of trouble most of the time. I didn't get kicked and bumped much which was surprising. The water temperature was just about perfect. I felt pretty good most of the way. I'm not a very good swimmer but I've put in alot of time in the pool lately. As a result, I came out of the water feeling fresh. My time is about what I expected. Looks like the times are a bit slower than last year overall. The current may not have been as favorable. What would you do differently?: Not much really. I probably could have gone a little harder but I doubt I would have gained much time. I came out with a decent time and felt fresh. Transition 1
Comments: I made it a point to take me time in transition. With the heat so bad, I wanted to make sure I got some fluids. I didn't want to rush things and make a mistake. The wetsuit came off easy. Helmet on. Quick drink. Nothing really to report. What would you do differently?: Nothing really. Maybe move a little quicker if the weather was cooler. Bike
Comments: I started off the bike feeling very strong and very comfortable. I didn't have the usual sea sick feeling I get after triathlon swims. All the swimming this year seems to have paid off. I started cranking away and was leap frogging with another 1-2 guys within the first 3-4 miles. I passed by buddy James at the 5 mile mark and asked him how far ahead Dave was. He had no idea. I figured he was well up the road. The 1-2 guys soon became 3-4 guys leap frogging. We really were trying to keep things legit. This went on for until the 20 mile mark. I passed my buddy Dave around this point and we had a quick chat about the swim. He told me to go and I took off. At this point our group of 4-5 passed a group of around 10-12. They quickly latched on and I was suddenly in a pack of about 20 bikers. Around the 25 mile mark I really noticed that there were some major drafters in this pack. I really started getting concerned about penalties. I honestly did my best to be legal. By the 30 mile mark, we were a 30-40 rider pack and picking up more as we went along. Several times I tried to pull away from the pack as did a handful of other guys. I even got as much as 200 yards on them at some points but eventually somebody else would accelerate and bring the pack back up to me and I would get swallowed up. And let me tell you...once you got swallowed up there was nothing you could do. The only way to stay legal at that point would have been to slow down considerably and let them go up the road. The problem was that they really weren't going that fast most of the time. There were only 3-4 riders willing drive the pack and we were getting ver frustrated with the whole thing. I'd say there were 4-5 people from this pack that were really trying to play by the rules..another haldful who were mildly trying to be fair and a large number who could have cared less about the drafting rule. Once you were in the middle of the pack, it was like being in a leisurely Sunday ride. I could have stayed in that pack with a 3 speed huffy. I really tried my best to stay legal but I really wasn't sure what to do. I spent a good portion of the bike leading a 30 person pack and it was frustrating. I pulled away near the end to avoid the mass bike dismounting. I may be naive in saying this...but I think the only advantage I had was that I didn't have to slow down while eating a drinking. As soon as I eased up to eat/drink, I was swallowed by the pack and pulled along until they cleared me. By that time, i was done eating and moved back up to the front. I'm not sure if this would be legal or not. Another thing, the pack was 3 riders wide at some points. When I was passing after eating, I had to cross the yellow line several times which I'm sure would be a penalty. I'm not sure what else I could have done. I saw one race official all day and he sped past without even looking. Despite the drafting pack, I was very happy with my bike. I felt strong the whole way. I really put in some major bike time this year and I think it paid off. I did not feel overly fatigued at the start of the run. It actually felt good to be able to work in the front of a pack like that even though they were cheating their asses off. It's a super fast course with no hills and I don't get to experience that much living in PA. I think I only used 2-3 gears the entire ride. For food, I had two bottles of accelerade and a gel with water every 20 minutes or so. That seemed to work out pretty well. I drank when I was thirsty...which was often. I also took in about 6-7 salt stick caps. Probably overkill. What would you do differently?: I really don't know. Does anybody have an idea about what I could have done to get away from that pack? I honestly think bike times are more legit with smaller events. Transition 2
Comments: I really took my time in T2. I knew the run was going to be brutal. I got to my rack spot quickly and took off the helmet. I put on running socks which I usually don't use. I also left the speed laces at home. So I spent some extra time putting on socks and tying my shoes. I also grabbed a quick drink of cold gatorade, grabbed my running bottle and put some ice down my shirt and in my hat. I bought a small cooler and put some ice in it for T1 and T2. That worked out well. What would you do differently?: In cooler conditions, I wouldn't have worried about the ice and drinking in T2. I may have also used speed laces. Run
Comments: I started off the run feeling just OK. My legs were pretty heavy from the bike. Around the 2 mile mark, I started to feel much better and increased the pace a little. I made sure to grab a drink (usually gatorade) and ice at every aid station. The ice when in my hat or down my shirt. Sometimes I even dumped some ice water on my head before the ice. This worked out pretty well to keep cool "most" of the run. I was really feeling good from the 2 mile mark to about the 8-9 mile mark. I crossed the halfway point at about 46 min and felt good enough to think I could do the same on the second half. I honestly thought I was going to crank out a 1:32ish run and hit 4:33-4:35 for my first HIM. BOY WAS I WRONG!!! I passed by buddy Dave between the 7-8 mile mark and yelled at him. I still felt really good. Around the 8.5 mile mark I noticed the first signs of the heat. How quickly things turn temperatures like this. By mile 9, I felt cooked. My body overheating and just did not want to run any more. I did everything I could do recover. Ice in the hat... down the shirt... down the pants... water over the head. I even took a gel. Nothing worked and it just got worse and worse from mile 9 to the finish. I walked the last few aid stations and did everything I could to stay cool. Mile 9 to the end was absolute torture. The hardest 4 miles I've ever had to run. I'd say my pace was about 7:10ish between miles 2-8. The last 4 miles were probably closer to 8:30 or more. I was not passed on the run until mile 9. After that, I think 3-4 guys passed me....I think 2 from my age group. At that point, I could have cared less. I just wanted the run to be over. I was so happy to cross the line. I had to sit down right away and got gallons of cold water dumped on my head. It took me a good 20 minutes to be able to walk without getting dizzy. What would you do differently?: I don't know if there is anything I could have done. I don't think starting off slower would have helped.....maybe. Just too hot for my 6'3" - 175lb frame to handle. I've never done well in the heat and I actually kept it together longer than I thought I would. Post race
Warm down: HAHAHAHAHAHA! Gallons of ice water over my head. Sue, my wonderful wife, came over to make sure I was OK. It took me a good 10 minutes to get my head clear. I had tunnel vision and was really out of it. I could tell she was concerned and did my best to make her feel like I was OK. She has been more supportive than I could ever have hoped for. I love you!!!! Gave the kids hugs and kisses. Cooled off and ate some food. What limited your ability to perform faster: Heat! I think I had a chance to crack 4:30 on my first HIM in ideal temperatures. Last updated: 2007-08-01 12:00 AM
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2008-06-09 12:46 PM |
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2008-06-09 12:59 PM in reply to: #1454391 |
2008-06-09 2:09 PM in reply to: #1454391 |
2008-06-09 5:55 PM in reply to: #1454391 |
2008-06-09 7:47 PM in reply to: #1454391 |
2008-06-10 6:59 AM in reply to: #1454391 |
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2008-06-13 1:20 PM in reply to: #1454391 |
2008-06-13 3:14 PM in reply to: #1454391 |
General Discussion-> Race Reports! |
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United States
Columbia Triathlon Association
95F / 35C
Sunny
Overall Rank = 62/1300
Age Group = 30-34M
Age Group Rank = 11/125
Woke up at 4am. Ate my usual cereal and yogurt and made coffee. Quickly packed up the rest of my stuff and threw it in the car. Got the family together and headed to Cambridge from our hotel in St. Michaels with the Dicocco's. Got to transition at 5:30 and sipped gatorade until my swim start. Felt ready for my first HIM.
I swam a couple hundred yards before my swim wave started. That's about it.