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Great Illini Half-Iron Distance Triathlon - Triathlon1/2 Ironman


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Neoga, Illinois
United States
Mattoon Beach MultiSport
86F / 30C
Sunny
Total Time = 5h 59m 59s
Overall Rank = 101/187
Age Group = 30-34
Age Group Rank = 11/15
Pre-race routine:

Night before went into Mattoon and ate dinner. Got some supplies. Then got lost on the way back to the lake and ended up in some small town. Eventually found the way back. I decided to sleep in the back of the rental SUV. I slept about 4-5 hours -- just couldn't get comfy. Woke up at 5 when they turned on the lights in the parking lot. Nice. Got up, drove closer to the start area and got everything set up.
Event warmup:

I threw on the onesie, the goggles and the wetsuit and went for a quick warm-up swim. I forgot to pick up my timing chip so I ran back up to the pavilion to get one -- like 20 feet away. I wasn't the only one. Several people were running up there at the last second.

Oh yeah! I forgot the bento box and the straps for my aero bottle. So I put two UnCrustables and a sampler of Endurolytes in the left rear bottle holder.

And then the kicker. I used my EXTRA PAIR OF GOGGLES to strap down my aero bottle. So, you guys mock me if you will, but the extra goggs came in pretty danged handy. Take that beetches!
Swim
  • 47m
  • 1900 meters
  • 02m 28s / 100 meters
Comments:

Waded into the water and started swimming. Since I breathe on the left I had the sun in my eyes on the first two legs. Spotting was OK but I tend to go too wide around the buoys and ended up off course a little. Oh well I hate swimming anyway.
What would you do differently?:

Nothing. Basically I'm not that good a swimmer. I'm just happy that I beat my previous half-ironman swim time by 9 minutes. All good.
Transition 1
  • 03m 25s
Comments:

It's T1. I took it a little easy so I could get in an UnCrustable and had some Pepsi and some water. Made sure I was good to go on the bike and off I went.
What would you do differently?:

Not too much. Focus a little better.
Bike
  • 3h 02m 37s
  • 56 miles
  • 18.40 mile/hr
Comments:

Finished 103rd overall on the bike. So, you know, could've done better but I was actually feeling pretty good and wanted to save some for the run.
What would you do differently?:

No clue. Just ride lots to get faster.
Transition 2
  • 03m 10s
Comments:

Don't really remember much about T2. Just got in, took off the helmet, changed shoes and took off on the run.
What would you do differently?:

Nothing. It was fine.
Run
  • 2h 03m 44s
  • 13.1 miles
  • 09m 27s  min/mile
Comments:

Despite the shittiness of the run I still came in 71st overall on the run. That indicates to me the run was either long or it was more brutal than I thought.
What would you do differently?:

Don't know -- I thought I was good to go. I just couldn't keep cool and started hurting about mile 6 or 7. The finish couldn't come fast enough!
Post race
Warm down:

Crossed the finish line and just plopped down on a picnic table in the shade. Laid there for awhile, got a Coke and some pizza and then went and got my stuff out of transition.

What limited your ability to perform faster:

The heat, I think.

Event comments:

Good race. WEll organized. The roads suck but that's not the fault of the organizers. The heat sucked, but again, not the fault of the organizers. Overall lots of fun.

My goal was a sub-6 and I made it by 1.45 seconds!!!




Last updated: 2008-09-08 12:00 AM
Swimming
00:47:00 | 1900 meters | 02m 28s / 100meters
Age Group: 11/15
Overall: 15/187
Performance: Average
Suit: Full
Course: Clockwise swim -- I hate clockwise because I breathe to the left. Anyway basically a three-point triangle.
Start type: Run Plus: Waves
Water temp: 74F / 23C Current: Low
200M Perf. Average Remainder: Average
Breathing: Average Drafting: Average
Waves: Navigation: Average
Rounding: Good
T1
Time: 03:25
Performance: Average
Cap removal: Good Helmet on/
Suit off:
No
Wetsuit stuck? No Run with bike: Yes
Jump on bike: No
Getting up to speed: Average
Biking
03:02:37 | 56 miles | 18.40 mile/hr
Age Group: 0/15
Overall: 103/187
Performance: Average
Wind: Some
Course: The bike had more hills than I'd expected. The roads were pretty danged sucky -- lots of potholes and rough spots. Of course the wind kicked in about mile 20 and I went from an average of 18.8 to about 18.1 by the turnaround. Sucked. The second dog leg was especially brutal. It started about mile 46 and went west then turned back north, unexpectedly. Ouch. Finally made it back to the main road and transition.
Road: Rough Dry Cadence:
Turns: Cornering:
Gear changes: Hills:
Race pace: Drinks:
T2
Time: 03:10
Overall: Average
Riding w/ feet on shoes
Jumping off bike
Running with bike
Racking bike
Shoe and helmet removal
Running
02:03:44 | 13.1 miles | 09m 27s  min/mile
Age Group: 0/15
Overall: 71/187
Performance: Below average
Course: It was four 6.55-mile legs. The sun was beating down -- about 85-86 degrees, which made it pretty brutal toward the end. I was hurting after about mile 6. I ran with a woman for awhile -- we talked, which broke the monotony and made the miles go by. With about 3 miles left she said I had 30 minutes to go to make six hours. Then a guy who started in the same wave as me said `No, we have 26, let's go.' So I said by to Tiffany, my running buddy, and me and some dude took off. He was flying, I was barely running. I'd sprint and then walk the water stops, drink and take some endurolytes and then pour water over my head and then take off again. I sprinted, or tried, the last half mile and was VERY happy to see the finish. My kidneys, knees, calves and quads killed. I was having a hell of a time keeping my body temp down.
Keeping cool Below average Drinking Just right
Post race
Weight change: %
Overall: Average
Mental exertion [1-5] 3
Physical exertion [1-5] 4
Good race? Ok
Evaluation
Course challenge Just right
Organized? Yes
Events on-time? Yes
Lots of volunteers? Yes
Plenty of drinks? Yes
Post race activities:
Race evaluation [1-5] 4

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2008-09-08 3:14 PM

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Champion
34263
500050005000500050005000200020001001002525
Chicago
Subject: Great Illini Half-Iron Distance Triathlon
The overall finish was 101/187. I've changed it like three times.

Edited by mr2tony 2008-09-08 3:20 PM


2008-09-08 3:26 PM
in reply to: #1658903

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Science Nerd
28760
50005000500050005000200010005001001002525
Redwood City, California
Subject: RE: Great Illini Half-Iron Distance Triathlon

Congratulations!  Way to beat the goal. 

And I like that the extra goggles come in handy.  I usually have an extra pair with me, but I've never had to use them.

2008-09-08 3:30 PM
in reply to: #1658903

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Champion
15211
500050005000100100
Southern Chicago Suburbs, IL
Subject: RE: Great Illini Half-Iron Distance Triathlon

Woot!

Way to make your goal time.

2008-09-08 3:38 PM
in reply to: #1658903

Iron Donkey
38643
50005000500050005000500050002000100050010025
, Wisconsin
Subject: RE: Great Illini Half-Iron Distance Triathlon

mr2tony - 2008-09-08 3:14 PM The overall finish was 101/187. I've changed it like three times.

Well, now you've proven your MacGyverness AND how having a 2nd pair can be diversely used!  Great job of ingenuity there!

Way to go on breaking the 6 hr mark, too!  EEEAAAWWW!!

Once again, thanks for coming up after all that and still helping out here for Moo '08!

2008-09-08 3:49 PM
in reply to: #1659007

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Slower Than You
9566
5000200020005002525
Cracklantaburbs
Subject: RE: Great Illini Half-Iron Distance Triathlon
Nice race, son.
2008-09-08 4:02 PM
in reply to: #1659051

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Sensei
Sin City
Subject: RE: Great Illini Half-Iron Distance Triathlon
Good work, kid...


2008-09-08 4:17 PM
in reply to: #1658903

Subject: ...
This user's post has been ignored.
2008-09-08 4:37 PM
in reply to: #1658903

Expert
1226
100010010025
Chicago
Subject: RE: Great Illini Half-Iron Distance Triathlon
Nice job on coming in under the clock, Tony! And I'm glad to see that second pair of goggles came in handy!

I'll have to talk with you about the bike course here...I'm thinking about doing the aqua bike portion next year as race prep.

Dinner next week? We've got a gift card to blue agave we've been wanting to use.
2008-09-08 8:44 PM
in reply to: #1658903

Elite
2423
2000100100100100
Subject: RE: Great Illini Half-Iron Distance Triathlon
How bad were the roads? Great work out there beating your goal. The full iron Illini has become my backup, backup race next year.
2008-09-08 8:58 PM
in reply to: #1658903

Veteran
405
100100100100
Memphis, TN
Subject: RE: Great Illini Half-Iron Distance Triathlon
We were pretty late getting in so I wasn't able to meet you but I think I met you on the run.  Were you the on I asked about the endurolytes at the aid station around mile 9?  Nice race by the way.
2008-09-09 11:08 AM
in reply to: #1660032

over a barrier
Subject: RE: Great Illini Half-Iron Distance Triathlon
Well done! Please tell you got a picture of your goggles being used as a rubber band!


2008-09-09 11:56 AM
in reply to: #1658903

Pro
4528
2000200050025
Norwalk, Connecticut
Subject: RE: Great Illini Half-Iron Distance Triathlon
Way to go Tony, great work on the swim!!!
2008-09-09 3:09 PM
in reply to: #1658903

Expert
1069
10002525
Wauwatosa
Subject: RE: Great Illini Half-Iron Distance Triathlon
Pretty damn sweet race mr2t... congrats on making the race plan!
2008-09-09 10:01 PM
in reply to: #1658903

Davenport, IA
Subject: RE: Great Illini Half-Iron Distance Triathlon
Congrats on the race Tony, and on beating your time.  Way to find a use for those spare goggles.  Now all we need to know is if you put them back on for the run.
2008-09-10 7:17 AM
in reply to: #1658903

Pro
4675
20002000500100252525
Wisconsin near the Twin Cities metro
Subject: RE: Great Illini Half-Iron Distance Triathlon
Nice going with the MacGiver method of putting your spare goggles to good use!  Congrats
2008-09-10 10:05 AM
in reply to: #1658903

Expert
856
5001001001002525
Pittsburgh
Subject: RE: Great Illini Half-Iron Distance Triathlon

Congrats on your race! 

Very efficient way of meeting your goal time! Smile



2008-09-11 10:10 AM
in reply to: #1658903

Veteran
173
1002525
Subject: RE: Great Illini Half-Iron Distance Triathlon

Nice race!  Congrats on beating your goal time. 

It wasn't just you, it was hot on the run.  I saw it tear apart a couple of people who I know to be strong on that leg.  Sorry I didn't get to meet you out there.

2008-09-12 10:45 AM
in reply to: #1667140

Sensei
Sin City
Subject: RE: Great Illini Half-Iron Distance Triathlon

Nice work stud....

So good, I had to read again and praise you....



Edited by Aikidoman 2008-09-12 10:46 AM
2008-09-12 11:29 AM
in reply to: #1661216

Elite
3371
200010001001001002525
Subject: RE: Great Illini Half-Iron Distance Triathlon

running2far - 2008-09-09 12:08 PM Well done! Please tell you got a picture of your goggles being used as a rubber band!

I'm hoping so too.

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