| How Important was the race to you? |
| A Race - Big race of the year |
| Which training phase were you in? |
Foundation |
| Pre-race meal: |
Oatmeal with peanut butter |
| How well did you sleep the night before the race? |
Fair |
| Explain: |
only 5 hours, restless |
| How would you rate your focus and attitude? |
100% - Very Prepared |
| How did you feel Physically? |
4 - Very Physically Charged |
| How did you feel Mentally? |
2 - Farily Mellow |
| How did you prepare on race day? (Check all that apply) |
Meditation, Focus on Race, Positive Self-Talk |
| Other: |
|
| Describe your warmup: |
Jogging in place, it was 53 degrees and I chose not to wear a wetsuit |
| Race Details - Swim: |
It was 53 degrees before dawn (cold!) and a few of us were swimming in Lake Conroe without wetsuits, since the water was 75 degrees (warmer than the pool I train in!). However the majority of swimmers wore wetsuits since a) it helps you float, and b) its warm OUT of the water. Well, they closed Transition area 45 minutes before my wave started; so I was shivering while they made announcements and sang the Star Spangled Banner at dawn. At least the lake-dwelling Brain Eating Amoeba didn't attack me, since they wouldn't expect any brains in a person who swims when its 53 out! Alison and I went in without a wetsuit, and Tommy, Matt, and Leann wore one. Once we got in, the early waves (all of them) discovered that swimming into the rising sun, all we could see was a blinding golden light (must be like the near death experience of a dolphin in a Tuna net)... consequently, people swam all over the lake and added time and exhaustion to their Tri start. But, hey, its still the shortest (and scariest) leg of the Tri. |
| Race Details - T1: |
Fast- for me. I didn't choose to dress warm, and I was fine once I got going. |
| Race Details - Bike: |
After a straight highway ride to near Montgomery, we biked north through a state park forest, into a big 44 mile loop west, then south, then east to Montgomery. The latter half had bigger hills, and stiff headwinds (both!). All the scenery was lovely this morning, and the sun had turned the morning balmy but cool. As you should, I immediately started fueling on gels and Endurance Gatorade, both of which are revolting to consume. I had about 4 gels on the bike which is none too many for the calories going out. I was able to pass people on the ride, due in large part to my Power Meter. All I did was try to keep my effort at 150 watts whenever it dropped down. Of course, on hills, the Watt effort is always high, but in descents and flats, you often drop below 100 watts almost unconsciously (because it easier!). So the power meter makes you bomb down every hill and go uncomfortably hard on the flats. But for me- I can do 150 watts all day long without going anaerobic so in a race I SHOULD do 150. Then at almost exactly half way- I had a rear flat! All the people I had passed came by and were friendly but relieved it wasn't them! I saw several other flats, all in a long chipseal stretch. All the other roads were smooth. I changed the flat in 10 minutes- because I had to check inside and outside the tire as I had only one tube. Then I had to go back and pass all the same people which was frustrating- and later in the run, I was beat by several people because of the 10 minutes- but Hey, that is part of racing- and it actually is less disastrous in a long event! I also took a water bottle out of a volunteer's hand at 19 mph- a personal best! At last the hellish combination of long grades, headwinds, and increasing heat that was the second half of the ride- ended! We coasted into Montgomery, dismounted, and ran the bikes into T2. |
| Race Details - T2: |
Most racers are semi-catatonic and non-responsive in a half-iron transition- but the volunteers brought us our running gear- then forced us to put it on and go running. Since NOBODY thinks running is a good idea after a hard 54 mile ride, this is probably the only way iron-length events EVER happen. Mine was rather fast. |
| Race Details - Run: |
The first two miles take forever as you get your 'land legs' then you enter a condition of misery that gets no worse for many miles. We wound among the partly built-out new subdivisions outside Montgomery, and it could have been nice except there was no shade and the day was finally hot. But there were water stations EVERY MILE, including Endurolyte salt capsules which I probably took about 11 of during the whole event! Here I got passed by many of the feeble old geezers in my age group, when my missing 10 minutes would have been handy! On the run I saw Tommy coming in very early- running a very fast Tri on a recently sprained ankle. Way to go, Tommy! That is the kind of lack of judgment that champions are known for! I also spotted Alison and Leann, but I was too zoned out to spot Matt, By now my stomach was refusing anything but water, so I'd drink a bit then throw the rest down my shirt- when I finally got a cup with ice in it, it was a real boost! at last I got back to the first two miles, and they were even MORE interminable going the other way! |
| How did you do in this race? |
2 - Worse than I thought |
| What went well? |
Swim was OK, I should have trained more. Bike was great until the flat, but I'm not complaining. Run was faster than I expected, about as good as my running-only half marathons! |
| What do you need to work on? |
I have still more potential on the Bike. |
| If available, will you do this race again next year? |
Possibly |
| How would you rate the course and overall venue? |
Good |
| How would you rate the Event Director and Staff? |
Average |