Post by sidmcmahon on Aug 4, 2009 21:53:34 GMT -5
Kind of weird going up to the race myself, but my wife had a wedding. Was lucky enough to meet up with Rob, Scott, and Liz for dinner Friday night
Got to the race with plenty of time to spare. At Steelhead you get bused in the dark to the race. Most people had trouble figuring out where they were parked. With lots of time, I still got to the start of the swim with only minutes to spare.
Was hoping to go around 5:45 as I did 6:00 two years ago in my first 1/2. The swim had some rollers but nothing too bad. In the first 1/3 of the swim could not really find any open water and panicked a bit. I really like swimming in clean water. Finally got into a rhythm for the last 2/3 of the swim. Came out of the water in 46:01 which was 3 minutes faster than last time. Seemed relatively easy and did not burn up too much energy.
Since i swim soo slow, I usually pass a lot of people early in the bike and this was no exception. Felt really good and relaxed. Met up with two women at about mile 5 and stayed with them for the entire race. We never said a word, nor did we draft but we were all about equal and pushed each other. If I was leading and slowed for a second to get a drink or eat. they passed. I did the same to them. It was obvious to me, we were helping each other. My pace through around 40 miles was around 21.5 MPH. It just felt like a good bike. But about mile 40 I started feel a stinger wind coming from the south. It was hitting us on the left side. But I Knew the last 15 miles was due south and we would heading directly into it. The last 15 miles was pretty tough. Sometimes the speed slowed to 16 going downhill. Ended up slowing the bike time down to 2:51 or just below 20. But we all faced the same wind and I was still a little ahead of pace.
Was planning to run around 2 hours or maybe slightly better. First 2 miles were around 8:45 and the legs felt good. I felt as if I was holding back. But in mile 3 I felt the lower back tightening up. I normally do not have these problems and had no such feeling in all the training this year. Stopped to stretch but it was not getting any better. I think maybe I over compensated because around mile 6 the hamstrings also tighted up. The times were slipping to almost 10. I went from walking the water stops in mile 4, to walking the hills, and the last 4 miles, walking 100 yards, running 100 yards. I turned the watch off, as I only wanted to finished this thing and sit down. My body just basically shut down during this run. I had to laugh at around mile 9 two older guys (I am 50) so they were around 65-70 passed me. One had his shoes off and was running barefoot and they still passed me. I tried to stay with them but could not. Run time was 2:45 but I was never as happy to cross a finish line. I must of looked pretty bad, because 2 volunteers immediately helped me to a chair and brought me Gatorade.
I was adequately trained, was prepared mentally, so I do not know what went wrong with the back. I think maybe the body is telling me to stick to the shorter distances.
Got to the race with plenty of time to spare. At Steelhead you get bused in the dark to the race. Most people had trouble figuring out where they were parked. With lots of time, I still got to the start of the swim with only minutes to spare.
Was hoping to go around 5:45 as I did 6:00 two years ago in my first 1/2. The swim had some rollers but nothing too bad. In the first 1/3 of the swim could not really find any open water and panicked a bit. I really like swimming in clean water. Finally got into a rhythm for the last 2/3 of the swim. Came out of the water in 46:01 which was 3 minutes faster than last time. Seemed relatively easy and did not burn up too much energy.
Since i swim soo slow, I usually pass a lot of people early in the bike and this was no exception. Felt really good and relaxed. Met up with two women at about mile 5 and stayed with them for the entire race. We never said a word, nor did we draft but we were all about equal and pushed each other. If I was leading and slowed for a second to get a drink or eat. they passed. I did the same to them. It was obvious to me, we were helping each other. My pace through around 40 miles was around 21.5 MPH. It just felt like a good bike. But about mile 40 I started feel a stinger wind coming from the south. It was hitting us on the left side. But I Knew the last 15 miles was due south and we would heading directly into it. The last 15 miles was pretty tough. Sometimes the speed slowed to 16 going downhill. Ended up slowing the bike time down to 2:51 or just below 20. But we all faced the same wind and I was still a little ahead of pace.
Was planning to run around 2 hours or maybe slightly better. First 2 miles were around 8:45 and the legs felt good. I felt as if I was holding back. But in mile 3 I felt the lower back tightening up. I normally do not have these problems and had no such feeling in all the training this year. Stopped to stretch but it was not getting any better. I think maybe I over compensated because around mile 6 the hamstrings also tighted up. The times were slipping to almost 10. I went from walking the water stops in mile 4, to walking the hills, and the last 4 miles, walking 100 yards, running 100 yards. I turned the watch off, as I only wanted to finished this thing and sit down. My body just basically shut down during this run. I had to laugh at around mile 9 two older guys (I am 50) so they were around 65-70 passed me. One had his shoes off and was running barefoot and they still passed me. I tried to stay with them but could not. Run time was 2:45 but I was never as happy to cross a finish line. I must of looked pretty bad, because 2 volunteers immediately helped me to a chair and brought me Gatorade.
I was adequately trained, was prepared mentally, so I do not know what went wrong with the back. I think maybe the body is telling me to stick to the shorter distances.