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Beach2Battleship Half Iron Distance Triathlon - Triathlon


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Wilmington, North Carolina
United States
Set Up Events
60F / 16C
Sunny
Total Time = 4h 42m 5s
Overall Rank = 31/1000
Age Group = M35-39
Age Group Rank = 4/93
Pre-race routine:

Harbours Inn X2 for the family and I. It's cose to the swim finish and T1 so bike check is a walk away and race morning It's a walk to the trolley. Full breakfast, hydration, and double downloading. Talk with alot of people to calm the nerves. Family pics. Bike last minute checks and setup. (last year I left my stuff in the bag-DOH!) Had to "rush" my morning-I thought tranistion was open longer and apparently it closes at 7...for an 830 start ugh. Didnt really affect me, just mental.
Event warmup:

Body glide everything! Wetsuit proper fit. I think I did about 100 in the water, just to get a feel of the water on my face, the salt, and to stretch the arms and suit. Tide was really psuhing today!
Swim
  • 28m 27s
  • 2112 yards
  • 01m 21s / 100 yards
Comments:

The tide was pushing so much you had to wade backwards to stay at the start-NICE! I started near the front, Im not a FOP swimmer and Im not big on being laundry. I felt GREAT to the first buoy, I felt FAST. The sun was bugging me alittle bit but nothing game changing. Once I truned I felt like I was swimming sideways till the exit and the water was colder-odd. Friends said they felt the same thing.
What would you do differently?:

More off season swimmiing
Transition 1
  • 04m 32s
Comments:

So last year I was real slow-COLD weather, new to the 300+ yards to T1 and path, and leaving my stuff in the bag. This year was to be much quicker-ok quicker. Wetsuit stripper was a guru, it was half of by the time I got to the stripper thanks to the volunteer pulling the zipper on my way OUT! Ran the path through the showers (I rinsed my face), up the hill *** and into T1. Got dressed quickly (only a shirt, socks and shoes) helmet on and go-WAIT STOP QUAD CRAMPS-WTF?!!? Ok so I took a "second" then said Eff it and run it out. They were gone by the time I mounted.
What would you do differently?:

Yeah just be quicker, I ran but next time I should RUN!
Bike
  • 2h 32m 56s
  • 56 miles
  • 21.97 mile/hr
Comments:

The bike I was expecting to crush because of good weather, good training, and consistent results from tried and true fueling. The bike has a couple components to it: back road navigation, a grated bridge, bridge climb, grated bridge. I FORGOT that the back road area was CRAP; potholes, speed bumps, and congested turns. I was concerned about a flat and was trying to be cautions but I hit a bump and was focused on the road and didn’t notice my bottle fly out. My main, 32 oz, amino acid supplement bottle was airborne and my first thought was brake and stop and grab it. That thought quickly disintegrated when I saw it hit the ground, the top snap off, and the blue elixir splash across the pavement. Well there goes that plan. I had just trained my brother for his amazing (and first) marathon and the last advice I gave him was: “Something WILL go wrong, it’ll be out of your control and all you can do is acknowledge it and accept it and then adapt and move on.” Sigh, this was my moment. The first aid station on the bike was at mile 19. I had a 20 oz half scoop of HEED bottle on board and this was going to get me there, consider the aminos gone. I navigated the newly grated bridge just fine, my butt swerved al little (and more than last year) but nothing to worry about. Game on for the next 55 miles. What I didn’t realize until mile 12 was that not only did I lose my main hydration, my chain jumped into the small ring. Not a problem I had been averaging over 20 mph and listening to others talk post race we had a headwind for the first 18miles or so. I was working the back cassette like a pro I guess. Once I switched back into the big ring I didn’t notice much of a change. I was working the other end of the back cassette now and thought maybe I had just been spinning more than usual-good or bad thing I don’t know. Mile 19 I went with a water bottle. My aminos are calorie free so why not stick with that, I was due for my Justin’s PB packet in 5 miles anyway. I learned quickly that the problem with the water choice was there really is no cap or lid so I had to tilt the bottle up to prevent it from spilling everywhere. I managed fine, I was in an aero position anyway, and using a finger I could plug the opening. Then I encountered a group that would distract me from zoning out during a 56 mile 2+ hour ride. Zoning out or sleeping happens a lot on rides like this and races like this, Ive ben warned by fellow racers and experienced it myself. This day provided me an alternative; 4 drafting (CHEATING) riders. I am no official, but what bothered me was that once the peloton of 4 cheaters passed me they proceeded to DROP their speed in front of me! Ok were they trying to fold me into their cult? I did not succumb and did not find it amusing. I for the next 3-5 miles proceeded to get upset and made many attempt to break the train by maneuvering between them, slowing to drink in front of the train, and verbal comments. Once the situation became verbal I decided to have a better sportsman ship attitude, I did a self-check and remembered that I was racing for me and my goal not against them, and there was still a run to be had. I then proceeded to take my PB packet and let them go. Other staples on my ride are gum and halls cough drops. I had finished my first set and after the PB I was moving onto the second set. No problems here and I was about 40 miles into the ride. The bike garmin was lapping every 5 miles and each time I was over 21 mph. I was more focused on total time and started the mental math around mile 40 to see if I was up or not. I also knew what average I needed to keep and wondered what I could pace for this distance but it was still all about total time. I switched to average at mile 46 and saw 22 and wondered if I could post a 22+ average. I did the math and figured I had created a 3 minute cushion. Now all I had to do was keep it. The second bridge climb was beautiful and not too painful, I had trained on MUCH worse but on this course the bridge climb is the “worst moment” that it can offer. Mile 46 has another aid station, last year I took a bottle and felt like it paid off so I took one again this year. That and my water was gone along with my 20oz backup HEED bottle. I took HEED this year as well-orange…ok that’s new. The second grate bridge is longer and that had about 2 butt swerves and a little sphincter tightening mainly because I was near another rider who butt/rear wheel swerved towards me. Final stretch before heading into the convention center and BOOM I’ve got a 22 average.
What would you do differently?:

Rubber band a loose bottle, not use a loose bottle, secure bottle during bumps-UGH. Gear check after rough terrain that ejects a BTA bottle. and 4 days later I think I could have pushed harder, maybe that's what we all think but maybe just maybe.
Transition 2
  • 02m 29s
Comments:

Last year volunteer couldn't find my bag, this year with duck tape I turned my bag GREEN. As I entered the volunteer took my bike and I ran to the bags-the MC checked my number and I yelled it and said ITS GREEN, before I turned the corner the volunteer already had it and we moved towards the chairs together-much faster!
What would you do differently?:

Nothing-great T2.
Run
  • 1h 33m 43s
  • 13.1 miles
  • 07m 09s  min/mile
Comments:

Family was before the first turnaround so that was nice, I got to high 5 my duaghter early. Quads were being a PITA for sure so once I got near the convention center again I dipped into the porta john to pee, but mainly stand still for seconds and let them release. I'm definitely paying for dropping my aminos now. I knew I was going to run sub 7:20s. Missing the first 3 mile markers and not having satellite on the garmin till mile .67 made me pace off feel till mile 5. Mental math 3 hours in...bad. Mile 7 I had flashbacks to my cramping stint in augusta-smile and chew gum harder, check pace. I have this WEIRD physiological response-if I start running to slowly >7:20s I START to cramp WORSE-solution: run faster. Guy in the med tent says nice problem to have, yeah until you CAN'T do that pace and your stuck cramping on a curb. yeah med tent coming soon. The run back was good until the last 4 miles. I was in damage control, maintain sub720 and hurry up you trained 364 days for a sub 5!
What would you do differently?:

Not lose hydration on bike.
Post race
Warm down:

Flat on my back for 20 with a bottle of water. Waited on the wife, wehn I was handed a Coke by a volunteer and proceeded to drop it because I couldn't hold things-I was escorted tot he med tent. Nausea, headache, cold. 20 minutes later I was on my way to get a massage by Stacy-OMG freaking amazing.

*** In room my heel hurts still-bruised? Im about to get in the shower and I pull a rock from my heel after I see a bloody sock. sigh, problem solved. WVU over OKST made for a GREAT AFTERNOON Too!

What limited your ability to perform faster:

Hydration-ROFLMAO. It is NEVER about hydration with me, NEVER! I take 32 oz on a 56 mile ride all the time! I run half with NO hydration ALL THE TIME. UNREAL. Guess it was just practice, fate-who knew.

Event comments:

THANK YOU TO THE VOLUNTEERS AND POLICE CREWS!!!

I missed BASE salts at mile 3-they said theyd be the only ones there, not so much :-(

Finisher pants, again-BOOO! Gear still overpriced, and limited stock this year.

Post events/area seemed smaller this year.

Waiting for over an hour at the start-BOOO.

Loved the shirts, loved the support, GREAT race!

Results up QUICKLY, pics not so much.




Last updated: 2014-10-30 12:00 AM
Swimming
00:28:27 | 2112 yards | 01m 21s / 100yards
Age Group: 12/93
Overall: 121/1000
Performance: Good
Suit: Orca S3 Full
Course: Toddler drawn "number 7". 2 sight buoys. In water start with the dock, sun rises on the right. Keep it between the weeds and the dock. Left turn at the buoy and squiggle towards the TALLEST condo building on your right with the inflate a man.
Start type: Wade Plus:
Water temp: 65F / 18C Current: Low
200M Perf. Good Remainder: Good
Breathing: Good Drafting: Good
Waves: Average Navigation: Average
Rounding: Good
T1
Time: 04:32
Performance: Average
Cap removal: Good Helmet on/
Suit off:
Yes
Wetsuit stuck? No Run with bike: Yes
Jump on bike: No
Getting up to speed: Good
Biking
02:32:56 | 56 miles | 21.97 mile/hr
Age Group: 9/93
Overall: 73/1000
Performance: Good
Wind: Little
Course: Available online; mapmyrun, Strava.
Road: Smooth  Cadence: 90+
Turns: Good Cornering: Good
Gear changes: Average Hills: Good
Race pace: Hard Drinks: Not enough
T2
Time: 02:29
Overall: Good
Riding w/ feet on shoes Good
Jumping off bike Good
Running with bike Good
Racking bike Good
Shoe and helmet removal
Running
01:33:43 | 13.1 miles | 07m 09s  min/mile
Age Group: 2/93
Overall: 18/1000
Performance: Good
Course: Beautiful, shaded, well volunteered! No alligator this year though :-( ONE hill, after the bricks (and before the bricks*). Out and back x2 (even though the first turnaround is REALLY early into the run the latter is at mile 7.25-and you get a split.
Keeping cool Good Drinking Not enough
Post race
Weight change: %
Overall: Good
Mental exertion [1-5] 4
Physical exertion [1-5] 4
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: Average
Race evaluation [1-5] 4

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2014-10-30 7:59 AM

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Subject: Beach2Battleship Half Iron Distance Triathlon


2014-10-30 9:00 AM
in reply to: #5064001

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Subject: RE: Beach2Battleship Half Iron Distance Triathlon
Great job out there, man! THe current was awesome, no!? Strong bike! I'm surprised you didn't see the main peloton, of 12+ ppl, but maybe they formed at a different part of the course. Too bad about your nutrition, man. That really blows. It looks like you were ok, though, as you had a backup of pb gel (if taht's what it was). I don't carry much on my rides, but I do have a backup (which are just few gels) in case I drop my main nutrition. Very good run, especially with all the cramps!

Sounds like you gave it your all at the end! Nice job, man!
2014-10-30 11:40 AM
in reply to: d00d

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Subject: RE: Beach2Battleship Half Iron Distance Triathlon
LOVED that swim-especially since my swim has been WEAK this year
Backup bottle on the tube aero20oz half heed scoop.-Nursed but USED
Normal packet of Justins Almond maple butter-USED
Backup peanut butter GU taped to toptube-USED
Water at mile 19
HEED Orange from mile 46 aid -USED 1/2 bottle

Its just that my main bottle had my amino acid mix in it-not available on course. And missing BASE salt on mile3 didnt help.

Only saw peleton of 4- I remember 2 of them as black and white kit in the 40s a/g and a macca looking guy in yellow and ....black white aero helmet.
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