6th Triathlon for Poster, 1st Long Course
5:21:57 Total Time
Age Group M 50-54
13th in AG, 398th overall
Swim = 34:17 1:48/100m
T1 2:27
Bike = 2:51:31 19.59mph
Splits: 1:28:43 (18.94 mph) & 1:22:48 (20.29 mph)
T2 2:34
Run = 1:51:08 8:29/M
We arrived on the island in the late afternoon on Friday the 8th for the race on Sunday. I always look forward to being in Galveston as it brings back fond memories of the dozens and dozens of visits over the years. Watched the sprint race on Saturday, so had the benefit of studying the transitions before the 70.3.
Swim: This was my 1st race in a wet suit and I'd only practiced in it once. Since I own both, I had my choice of sleeveless vs. full suit and opted for the full based upon advice of a swim trainer/coach that I'd recently used to clean up my form. Felt very comfortable in the 70ish degree water - neither hot nor cold. After starting, the group quickly spread out and I enjoyed the most open water that I've seen in a race. Offats Bayou was a choppier than I'd expected, so sighting was a bit challenging and I ingested a solid volume of nature’s sodium replacement drink in preparation for what was to come. Felt good, zig zagged slightly three times but am overall very pleased with the rookie 1/2IM swim and 1st effort in a suit. Having cut back on the length of swim workouts in training while taking up the intensity and frequency of swims - I was a little worried.
Grade = A-
T1: Can't ever remember being passed on the run through transition, but a couple of guys blew by me on the ramp between the water and the stripping station although I was moving at a decent clip. Things did seem to go smoothly and I did use the strippers as my suit is very tight around the ankles. Without the strippers, I think I would've spent another 30-60 seconds in transition. One of my tri buds has cut the bottoms of his suit legs up to around the calf area to facilitate his exit. I may try that.
Grade = B
Bike:
Executed a flying mount w/no problems. After a short ride to the seawall, like everyone else I realized our Westward journey would be into the wind. I stayed on the small ring for almost all of the 1st leg. I had left transition with two bottles of Accelerade, so decided not to get anything at the 1st station. I discarded empty bottle no. 1 at that station and reached behind me for the 2nd bottle after passing the station. I kept reaching behind me for five or ten seconds before the bottle ejection lightbulb went off...ugh! I told myself that it really wasn't that warm outside and I wouldn't have any hydration issues as long as I kept putting down the fluids after replenishing at the next station. Although I was consciously holding back for the run, I felt a little sluggish and was passed by many, although I also passed many. It wasn't too intimidating to be passed when they were youngsters, but one guy with a "53" on his calf (my AG) went flying by on the way out. Riding with the wind on the way back was nice, but I was still being passed by quite a few riders. About 6 miles from the end I heard a dreadfull sound...PFFFFFFFFFFFfffffffffffffffffffffff.f.f.f..f..f..f...f...f...f....f....f....f.....fffff. My speed probably dropped to around 16 mph so I came out of the aero position and rode the flat on in. The last couple of turns were quite dicey with the front squirreling around. I think I have lost a little bike fitness over the last six months. I worked on putting down alot of calories on the bike so that I wouldn't bonk on the run - 6 gel packs, three bottles of sports drinks, some cookie wafers and a few bites of pretzels - perhaps 1200 calories or so. I wonder if that was too much.
Grade = C+
T2: Made the running dismount with no problem, ditched everything efficiently, but realized that after putting down three bottles of fluid I'd actually overhydrated on the bike...so made the extra stop.
Grade = B
Run: Felt really good for the 1st three of four loops. No serious fatigue or issues with heat until the last lap and coming that late in the race it was easy to push through. A little disappointed at my pace, hoped to be at or close to an 8 minute pace.
Grade = B-
I really enjoyed my 1st 1/2IM, perhaps more than I expected to. Also recovered faster from the race than I expected, a little surprising after taking quite a number of days to recover in January from the Houston 1/2M. I think without the flat I might have been around 8 or 9 minutes faster and finished around 5:13-5:14, putting me in 7th place out of 111 in the AG. I'm thinking that a 5:15 goal and 5:00 stretch goal going forward are about right, although I think I handle the Galveston wind better than the hills that I might experience somewhere else. I'm thinking Longhorn 70.3 will be my next long course event and I'll focus on 5-8 short course events between now and then. On to King Tut!
