Hey Denise, how tall are you, as I have a Tri Gal I know that got a new
Tri Bike and is trying to sell her Road Bike....I can talk her into
giving it to someone like you, beginning with Tri's. I don't know how
tall you are, so I would need to know to see if the bike would be a
proper fit. BTW, way to go Girl with your Tri....you are now hooked!!!

Whew, did I bike and run a lot of miles for this race. I know it's not
the norm to cram a bunch of miles in the week before a big race, but I
wanted to see how well I could do with no rest. Officially after my Tri
Sat, for the week I had - 362.8 miles cycling - 56.2 miles running - and
1.2 miles swimming ( yes Carolyn / Erika, I did the swim part too LOL)

I have been thinking a lot about how much of a taper does a person
really need...or how hard of a effort can a person do on tired legs. I
know this sounds silly and ridiculous, but most of my miles were cycling
which I recover from very fast due to my strong cycling background.

Geez, I have so much energy to spare sometimes.....Tammy (your next
Marathon is when?)....me and Laura knows when (grins)

I am soooo lucky to have the friends I do here at home. I found out
awhile ago this race had been sold out for many Months, when usually I
could register the week before...not this time. I had this race planned
well in advance, but due to some of my difficulties as of late, I waited
till the last minute. I personally know the event director of this race
- the Muncie Endurathon held in my home town in my back yard so it
seems. I asked him about me getting into the race as he knew about my
problems as of late. He said Tim, no problem I will get you in...and in
he did. This race was sold out with the max allowed at 1200 racers,
which hasn't happened in many many years he said. This is the longest
running 1/2 Ironman in the World going 30 years strong, and besides Kona
in Hawaii, it is the longest lasting Tri of any distance in the
World....Slo, you need to pencil this race in sometime....really. There
are twice the number of Volunteers as there are racers, and the event is
known as one of the best organized races anywhere.

Ok, I need to shorten this.

My Friend told me I could have a race bib - timing chip - he would make
sure I got a shirt - and I could enjoy the food and drinks afterwards.
But, he said I could not be given or considered for age group placement
or overall status at all....I said cool, I don't care about that stuff
at all.

Race morning I got up at 4:00 am to eat and hydrate, and to watch the
weather report as I knew storms were moving in. It looked pretty clear
for a while, but the storms were going to move in at some point during
the race...I thought the rain would be nice because it was already warm
and "super" muggy out.

I had not swam since January I think, so I thought I would be nervous
about that. I got to the race sight which is a very short 12 miles from
home and talked to some of my Tri Buds. Due to the storms coming in, the
race organizers started talking about doing away with the swim and
making it a Duathon.....replacing the swim with a 6 mile run (I didn't
want that, nor did anyone else) They determined that there was enough
time to let everyone swim, so at 7:00 am sharp the swim waves
began....they hurried these waves quicker than I have every seen before.
They let the Elite athletes and Pros go first, then the waves are the
youngest to the oldest (I personally think it should be the opposite,
and let the "older" folk start before the younger crowd, and that's the
way it is with the shorts Tri's I do)

With 1200 racers my wave started at right around 8:00 am....I could see
the storm clouds in the distance but it was still sunny and muggy out.
Once I had swam a few warm up minutes, I didn't feel nervous at all....I
felt all giddy actually. I knew without any swim training that I had to
be smart - relaxed - rely on proper form -  don't  panic - breath every
stroke - and have fun.

Swim: 1.2 miles -  49:46 - I know this is slow, but I had a small
problem that others did too. My goggles were all fogged up and I
couldn't really see where I was going very well, and the sun was glaring
in my eyes. At some point I (and others) missed the 3rd buoy as I was
just trying to follow the swimmers in front of me...sounds smart, right.
A boat came up to us and said we had missed that buoy, and that we had
to go back and go around it. I asked the people in the boat if they
could lead us back to that buoy and they said sure. So off I had to back
track which seemed like forever, but finally made it around and swam for
shore....but still couldn't see at all then with the sun directly in my
face. I then heard a very loud crack of lightning which sure puts a
spark in your butt to get to shore fast. I have to admit to being very
anaerobic during that swim because of lack of training, but made it just
fine because I relaxed. Later I heard they had to pull the last 50
swimmers from the water because it was too dangerous, but they still got
to continue without any time loss...so very cool I thought.

Cycling: 56 miles - 2:32:54 - 22.2 ave speed ( 48th overall out of 1200,
and 2nd in my AG, grins)   

This actually was one of my hardest rides because of the wind. We were
in the middle of a storm front and it was a out and back course. Heading
South to start I was cycling into the wind, and I has looking for a big
push coming back....wrong. The front had came through and now the wind
was from the North in my face coming back (drats)

Early in the bike portion it started raining "buckets" and it was super
hard to see where I was going.....I could only see a few feet in front
of me litterally. Before the race I had a plan of tryng to ride at 23
mph and hold on to that pace. At mile 45, I know I as using way too much
energy and dialed it back some for the run. This segamnt was NOT
uneventful, as I had a group of 4 crash into the back of me at mile 6
when the visabilty was like 0. I was pushed off the paved trail we were
riding on and I couldn't un-clip out of my cycling shoes in time and I
twisted and "slightly) spained my right ankle as I tumbled...I thought
of Holly at this point. I was shirtless the whole race to cut down on my
T times, so I was a muddy mess all over. Yes I was mad...very mad, but I
quickly got up and my Tri Bike seemed to be just fine so I got back on
and back to pace real fast. I was so mad that I sped up enough to pass
these fools who were drafting illegally (but then thought of the times I
have done that too) I just kept going and never seen them again, my
restraint actually gained me more time being mad I guess...and the
pouring rain at least cleaned the mud and yuck off of me. While
finishing the cycling part, I thought about my ankle which was not
hurting at all, and hoped it didn't hamper my run....it didn't.

Run: 13.1 miles - 1:43:17 - 7:53 ave pace (surprised the heck out of me,
since I have had no real speed working running in quite a while)

It was still pouring ran when the run started, which felt  - oh sooo
very very good. But I could see clearing in the skys, and imagined how
hot and humid it would be if the sun did come out.

I really didn't know what pace I should run, but only remember Ribs
having me at 7:30 pace last Fall when he made me fast - for me. Each
mile I heard my split and I was right on that, or even quicker. At mile
9 the sun did come out and it got very hot "quick" At mile 10 there is a
big up hill that is about 3/4 of a mile long (I do repeats up this hill
cycling and running all the time) As I read what Erika said early
tonight (Sun) the heat really does "suck" the energy right out of a
person. At a water stop I took 2 S Caps - gel - water -  and continued
on the best I could, but I was slowing I could feel. I finally got to a
mile from the finish, and I had a little in the tank to finish the steep
up hill finish strong....I was done and was a happy happy camper.

After a strong effort, I normally don't feel so well till I eat a little
something and begin to rehydrtate. I then saw my good friend Doc I talk
about sometimes, as he is the medical director of the race. He said I
didn't look to well (sheesh, Wimmin...enough with the wise cracks would
ya) So he "made me take a IV to replenish my fliulds.. there must of
been 100's doing the same thing. After that I  felt super and went and
cheered on the rest of the racers that still were finishing....I am one
of those guys that gets a thrill out of seeing others finish too.

Geez, I said this would be short (rolling eyes)

Overall: 5:11:24 - New PR....that does NOT seem right at all - had fun -
worked hard, which made it fun - and the rain did help.

Don't know my overall results or AG placement like I mentioned
before....but I really don't care at all (but did get  "inside" info
about my AG time with my cycling time and OA placement)

Thanks everyone....funny, while racing I think we ALL have our great RA
folks in mind (eveyone agree?)

Whew, next on my maniac journey is a 160 mile bike race next Sat....then
"Joyfully" back to Marathon training.

Timbo

PS: Slo Again....you really need to think about this 1/2 IM in the near
future....and It would be great to meet and race with Ya!!!

way to get into a famed event on your reputation. 

from what I heard about your performances in seattle,

you well deserved it. 

 

official or not, nothing beats the atmosphere of an official event for any kind of training.  However, though you indicate you were slow enough to be able to concentrate on your form, I hope you get the chance someday to be slow enough to concentrate on the other forms and sceneries abounding that keep a lot of us coming back year-after-year for our favorite tri`s too.

 

Holy Cow Tim.......Awesome friggin Half !

 

Then a 10 miler today.....I can't believe your not sore.....I'm stiff as a board for the next two days.

 

Your in Super Fit condition.

Sounds perfect! Great job Tim! Congratulations! Glad the ankle was ok

 

Steve

Wow, very nice Tim!!  You continue to amaze me!!  I don't know how you do it.

 

I'd like to try this one someday.  I've been considering doing the half IM and this sounds great as it wouldn't be too far from family and friends. 

 

rs

Nice job there, TimBo! Your enthusiasm and energy are just bubbling out of this RR. Almost makes me want to try one... But then the storm, lightning, rain and crashes... well, you did a great job. Glad you got taken care of right at the end. Reminds me of Denise saying she checked people out while offering bananas at the end of the Boston Marathon. You are going to rock your next marathon.

(Tammy does Vegas?)

Cripes, Tim!  I'm with Tammy on not knowing anything about biking and swimming, but  that run.  Man, oh man! You are a true athlete in every sense of the meaning.  Congratulations!

What a great read!

 

You really performed in some tough circumstances (weather and crash).  WAY TO GO!!!!