General Discussion Race Reports! » Patriots Half Rss Feed  
Moderators: k9car363, alicefoeller Reply

Patriots Half - Triathlon


View Member's Race Log View other race reports
Williamsburg, Virginia
United States
Set Up Events
80sF / 0C
Sunny
Total Time = 7h 21m 37s
Overall Rank = 326/363
Age Group = Women 40-44
Age Group Rank = 19/26
Pre-race routine:

Woke up @ hotel. Ate uncrustable & drank some water/gatorade. Drove to race site, set up transition, got the good news that the race was wetsuit legal (77.3).
Event warmup:

Talked to my friend, obsessed about my transition set up, put on wetsuit (always a workout for me), generously coated myself in Tri-slide
Swim
  • 53m 36s
  • 1931 meters
  • 02m 47s / 100 meters
Comments:

The swim was going great until I got caught up in some bad tidal action rounding the last buoy and got totally disoriented (along with a bunch of other folks). Had to fight to get back to get around last buoy and then swam a zigzag the whole rest of the way in, until I could touch ground...and then I walked. Yes, I should have dolphin-dived, but really I just needed to get my head back on straight.
What would you do differently?:

Do better with current/tide issues. I'm not unhappy with my swim, given the struggles I have had to get here...but I really wish that last buoy hadn't been such a pain in the behind.
Transition 1
  • 06m 8s
Comments:

I used the wetsuit strippers for fun. :)

Otherwise, this time is NOT as long as it looks, as there is a good quarter mile run up from the beach to transition included in the 6 minutes.
What would you do differently?:

Nothing - I was calm, got my stuff together, and headed out on the bike in a really good mental place.
Bike
  • 3h 36m 54s
  • 58 miles
  • 16.04 mile/hr
Comments:

I am happy with the bike, but would have been happier if I could have been aero more. Nothing felt good on the bike. In aero, my saddle parts hurt; out of aero, my back hurt - so I just alternated between the two as I could stand it. If I could have been in aero more, I think my bike would have been even faster - it's a flat, fast course.
What would you do differently?:

Aero. Also, not put too much salt in my super-Gatorade. Ick. Bad mix that I should have checked in the morning before the race, rather than for the first time when I was out on the bike.
Transition 2
  • 02m 24s
Comments:

Well, I fell off my bike while I was dismounting - didn't really fall, but I couldn't get my last leg over my water bottles on the back and ended up stepping on my tire and completely letting all the air out. Thankfully the bike was done, so I didn't need it anymore.
What would you do differently?:

Not much - this was a good, solid transition.
Run
  • 2h 42m 38s
  • 13.1 miles
  • 12m 25s  min/mile
Comments:

This run felt awesome. I found folks to talk to and the time flew. Got to 10 miles and felt good enough to push through to the finish. Granted the time is not fast, but given that my stand-alone half-marys of late have been in the 2:40-2:45 range, this is really good for me.
What would you do differently?:

Nothing - I'm proud of my run.
Post race
Warm down:

Beer Tent. :)

What limited your ability to perform faster:

? I don't know - the tidal issue? The bike saddle issue? The fact that I'm not as fast a runner as I used to be?

I don't really care, because I'm so happy to have finished and finished well before the 8-hour time limit. I'll worry about faster next time. :)

Event comments:

An extended race report at my blog: http://trimomhalf.blogspot.com/2013/09/i-did-it-i-am-half-iron-man....

Set Up Events always puts on a classy race. Even though there was a small fiasco re: swim waves and timing, they fixed it immediately. They are well run events, catering to the athlete and making it a great day. Thanks, Set Up!


Profile Album


Last updated: 2013-02-23 12:00 AM
Swimming
00:53:36 | 1931 meters | 02m 47s / 100meters
Age Group: 24/26
Overall: 334/363
Performance: Average
Suit: Full sleeve wetsuit
Course: First leg cross current, second leg against current, third leg diagonal out with current, last leg towards shore (fighting current & tide heading out)
Start type: Wade Plus: Waves
Water temp: 77F / 25C Current: Medium
200M Perf. Average Remainder: Average
Breathing: Average Drafting: Below average
Waves: Navigation:
Rounding:
T1
Time: 06:08
Performance: Good
Cap removal: Helmet on/
Suit off:
Wetsuit stuck? Run with bike:
Jump on bike:
Getting up to speed:
Biking
03:36:54 | 58 miles | 16.04 mile/hr
Age Group: 20/26
Overall: 335/363
Performance: Good
Wind: Little
Course: Big loop; mostly flat - 2-3 hills over the course of the whole bike. 3 water bottle hand offs.
Road: Smooth Dry Cadence:
Turns: Good Cornering: Good
Gear changes: Average Hills: Average
Race pace: Comfortable Drinks: Just right
T2
Time: 02:24
Overall: Good
Riding w/ feet on shoes
Jumping off bike
Running with bike
Racking bike
Shoe and helmet removal
Running
02:42:38 | 13.1 miles | 12m 25s  min/mile
Age Group: 18/26
Overall: 302/363
Performance: Good
Course: 2 out & back loops - mostly flat, on paved trails and dirt/rock trails through a park. Really nice!
Keeping cool Good Drinking Just right
Post race
Weight change: %
Overall: Good
Mental exertion [1-5] 4
Physical exertion [1-5] 5
Good race? Yes
Evaluation
Course challenge Just right
Organized? Yes
Events on-time? Yes
Lots of volunteers? Yes
Plenty of drinks? Yes
Post race activities: Good
Race evaluation [1-5] 5

{postbutton}
2013-09-08 3:08 PM

User image

Champion
6107
50001000100
Out running or enjoying a fine glass of red...
Subject: Patriots Half


2013-09-08 3:42 PM
in reply to: #4850103

User image

Royal(PITA)
14270
50005000200020001001002525
West Chester, Ohio
Subject: RE: Patriots Half

You rocked this.

Dealt with the tide issues without a panic attack and kept your head in the race when you felt lousy on the bike.

 

CONGRATULATIONS!!

2013-09-08 3:49 PM
in reply to: #4850103

User image

Elite
4372
200020001001001002525
Connecticut
Subject: RE: Patriots Half
Awesome job!!!  Congrats on a great race.
2013-09-08 8:47 PM
in reply to: #4850103

User image

Extreme Veteran
541
50025
Virginny
Subject: RE: Patriots Half

Awesome awesome job! What a way to come back after colonial beach and kick a$$! And you went from being pulled out of open water swims to barely making it through to having just normal current issues like lots of other folks. Major accomplishment right there!"This run felt awesome." Words that shall never escape my mouth. Surprised So happy for you!Smile

2013-09-09 8:18 AM
in reply to: #4850103

User image

Master
6834
5000100050010010010025
Englewood, Florida
Subject: RE: Patriots Half

Nicely done, you got through the swim challenge and enjoyed the run. Win-Win!

Congrats on an enjoyable day.

2013-09-11 6:12 PM
in reply to: cdban66

User image

Expert
1023
1000
,
Subject: RE: Patriots Half

Wow! Congratulations on a GREAT race!!! You had a solid bike and a great run.

What really impresses me is your swim. What you have done with your OWS this season is outstanding. You had all sorts of issues in the beginning of the year and now you have completed 1.2 miles in a river with tides and currents that gave everyone some trouble. You really deserve the "Most Improved" award



2013-09-12 9:00 AM
in reply to: 0


51
2525
Subject: RE: Patriots Half

Heeeey, another BTer who did this race! (I was number 91, I think you were one rack over?)

I was there on Saturday too, my first HIM too!

 

I agree, that last turn buoy with the current had me panic a bit. I look up to sight and all of a sudden the bouy is way to the right of me and about half a dozen other swimmers fighting to get back around it.

I was fighting some GI cramping so my run was terrible(slow), but I felt excellent afterwards, minimal soreness

High five to you!



Edited by Major Ho 2013-09-12 9:01 AM
2013-09-12 11:41 AM
in reply to: Major Ho

User image

Veteran
2842
200050010010010025
Austin, Texas
Subject: RE: Patriots Half

Congrats on a great race!

Two of the best ever quotes in a RR:  "Strippers for fun" and "Warm Down:  Beer Tent."  Laughing

Terrific race and sound like you really enjoyed it and finished strong.

Matt

General Discussion-> Race Reports!
{postbutton}
General Discussion Race Reports! » Patriots Half Rss Feed  
RELATED POSTS

Patriot Half Iron (+4 miles)

Started by DMW
Views: 2429 Posts: 12

2007-07-06 11:31 PM wieczynski

Patriot Half Iron

Started by kaburns1214
Views: 2651 Posts: 9

2007-07-05 3:54 PM c2fd

Patriot Half Iron

Started by summer_2005
Views: 2392 Posts: 8

2007-07-03 10:14 AM jpcan

Patriot Half Iron

Started by scottymack
Views: 1936 Posts: 5

2007-07-04 8:06 PM scottymack

Patriot Half Iron

Started by Celeb_ithil
Views: 2859 Posts: 13

2007-07-06 9:31 AM dexter
RELATED ARTICLES
date : May 24, 2010
author : Coach AJ
comments : 0
My question is am I playing with fire entering the half marathon this close to my primary goal for this season which is the HIM?
 
date : September 22, 2009
author : Ali Winslow
comments : 0
Is it realistic to race a sprint and Olympic distance race within 2-3 weeks of one another to gauge my progress before tackling the half Ironman?
date : November 17, 2008
author : mat steinmetz
comments : 7
I just started doing tris this summer and I have two under my belt, both sprints. Is it reasonable to build up for a Oly in early ‘09, with a HIM in Oct of ‘09
 
date : August 21, 2008
author : vm354
comments : 1
How Pilates training helped a wanna-be triathlete realize the goal of completing a half-Ironman, Ironman 70.3 Rhode Island.
date : January 29, 2006
author : sl2302
comments : 0
I just had a couple of problems, I could count the number of triathlons I had contested at zero. Secondly, I could count on one hand the number of times I had been swimming in the last 17 years.
 
date : October 2, 2005
author : writers2
comments : 20
My First Half Ironman Experience-A Slow, Fat, Old Triathlete. Here is my story of my first, and probably only Half Ironman. I’m an almost 52 year old, VERY Athena triathlete.
date : September 3, 2005
author : trad_it
comments : 0
Now, for the last 20 years I’ve always though that jogging seemed about as interesting as watching paint dry, and you know what? That’s how it turned out to be.
 
date : August 30, 2004
author : sherrick
comments : 40
This half Ironman plan covers many weeks of challenging, but attainable training for someone who has some endurance experience, and ideally some Olympic distance races within the past season.