Gulf Coast Triathlon (Half IronMan Distance)
http://gulfcoasttriathlon.com/
1.2 Mile Swim (Gulf of Mexico)
56 Mile Bike Ride
13.1 Mile Run
Saturday, May 07, 2005
The most recent memory I have of this race was the sweltering heat of 2003. I skipped this event last year partly due to a scheduled Cruise, and my recovery from the Ironman New Zealand in 2004.
I wasn't quite sure what to expect as my training was interrupted by a nasty cold during the first build up week. I knew I had done the miles in all three events to justify a sub 6 hour finish. I at least wanted to do as well as I did in 03 as a basic rookie to the sport.
The conditions seemed much better than 03 with much calmer waters, cooler air temperatures and cool enough water to allow for a wetsuit. We arrived on Thursday afternoon giving us plenty of time to check in, grab dinner and relax.
Here is a run down on how things went on race day:
04:30 Race Day Wake up, shower and coat with sun screen. Make a pot of coffee and eat 2 pieces of toast.
05:30 Arrive at the body marking area (they write your number all over your body so they know what part belongs to whom in case of a shark attack) No really they do it so they can easily identify you at the checkpoints. This seems kind of pointless as we are going to be covered by a wetsuit coming out of the water.
06:00 Kiss Audrey goodbye and go to the transition area to drop off my equipment and fill the water bottles on my bike.
06:15 Move down to the beach for the start of the swim. (The order of events is Swim, Bike, and then Run). They start the first wave at 06:15 and space them 5 minutes apart. I am in wave 10 of 15
07:00 Cannon fires and we are off. After my practice swim on Friday I figured there was little to no current, and put myself in the middle of the pack to start. I figured the faster swimmers to the front and slower to the rear. Seeing how I am about an average swimmer the middle should be safe. Well that was the second of two bad decisions I had made thus far. I had to swim over most of the front pack and the swimmers in the rear were doing the same to me. It was an all out kick and punch fest. I lost my goggles, swallowed way too much salt water and seemed to be getting pulled off course by the current. I could not believe how hard the first half of the swim was. No matter how hard I swam I could not stay out of the pack and when I stopped sighting for just a few strokes I would get pulled (or pushed) way off course. I figure I spent about 5-6 minutes swimming in the wrong direction either to avoid the fighting or because I was too lazy to look. At the half way turn I checked my watch and thought "okay I can still break 35 minutes, if I keep fighting". At this point I was swimming at the feet of some guy who must have been kicking as if he was trying to shake a piece of gum from the bottom of his foot. His wake was causing a swell that would push a stomach full of water at me with each breath. I could not stand it, whenever I tried to pass him he would swim (and kick) harder. I finally made the pass and started sighting the finish. My arms were killing me from the full length wetsuit. I think I would have been better off without it. By the time I pulled my tired, beaten body out of the water I felt like there was no way I could continue. I was very nauseous from all the salt water I had swallowed but still better off than this guy (I hope I was ahead of him ;-)
07:36 - After deciding to stay in the race (I figured I would get on the bike at least and see what happens) I run past my fans, peel off the wetsuit and grab my bike. Overall a much better transition than two years ago. At this point I was up about 10 minutes.
07:42 - Once I got on the bike I started feeling better. The course had changed a bit from the previous years having us go away from the start for about 3 or so miles before turning around and completing the long out-and-back. Once I make it back past the starting line I pass my adoring fans J . By about mile 20 I am really starting to feel good, I managed to "cough-up" most of that saltwater I swallowed and while my stomach still feels terrible, I am holding down my fluids. I start passing people big time after the turnaround, I guess they really didn't pace themselves well. Before I know it I am at the 50 mile mark on the bike and well ahead of my projected/targeted time. I decide to put it in cruise control for the last six miles. The winds have picked up, but I just want to loosen my legs up and prepare for the run. A few people power past me but I am sure I will see them on the run course.
10:16 - Off the bike and on to the run. It's still pretty cool at this point. My legs feel AWESOME! I am almost worried about how good my legs feel. I remember to slow it down a bit as I know that things will get tough later on regardless. I try to remember what worked well for me in the past and use every aid station (each mile) to grab a cold soaked sponge, and cups of ice. The sponge goes over my head and inside my shirt, while I pour the ice in my hat. I make sure not to stop running (out of fear) just to make sure my legs don't cramp.
It seems much easier this time as the miles click by. I keep thinking if I can make it out of that park feeling okay it's on 6.5 miles to the finish. I keep an eye on my watch but can't believe the time, I figure that I must have messed it up somehow by pressing a button when I shouldn't have. According to my watch I can break 5:30 at this pace. Either way I figure the most important thing is to keep running and finish strong.
My legs start to feel that mid-race pain and as I turn through the park a photographer snaps a picture. I think this was my lowest point (as the picture seems to indicate), I just kept telling my self to "make it through the park". This is where you feel the heat the most, I am not sure why but it feels like the temperature spikes 10 degrees in that loop. As we exit the park another guy turns and says "if this is cool compared to last year, I hate to see what hot feels like". OH! I remember what HOT feels like, and this is nice compared to the years past.
Finally mile 10, it's only 5k till the finish. I keep remembering how hard I would run the last few miles of my long runs to prepare for this. The next few come up quick, and apart from the idiot that almost backs over me in his truck it's rather un-eventful. I remember how long that last mile seemed two years ago (mainly due to the course being marked improperly) so I don't get my hopes up too much when I see the 12 mile mark. Before I know it the finish line is in sight and I see Audrey and the gang, I blow her a kiss, run to the finish and smile now that it's over. "When asked why he keeps hitting himself in the head with a hammer, the man replies, because it feels SO GOOD when I stop!"
Heres the breakdown:
Swim Time Swim Transition Time
36:39 05:38
Bike Time Average MPH Bike Transition Time
2:41:32 20.8 2:19
Run Time Average Pace (Per Mile, I am so embarrassed) Total Time
1:52:44 8:37 5:18:50
