I am pleased with the new PR of 14:41 by over an hour from Florida two and a half years ago. I am pleased with the new nutrition working well enough that I did not have stomach issues or diarrhea after the start of the race. I am pleased that I finished with enough energy and hydration that I did not need any medical attention and I did not pass out. I am pleased I moved up in position with each split after the swim. The swim was without a wet suit, so the 1:35 time was right on target for my swim. I got out of the water ready to ride. I was not wasted!
I was disappointed with my bike split. The beginning went perfectly and according to plan. The nutrition worked well. I was able to keep my HR near the Ae HRT for most of the bike. The last part of the bike I seemed to be struggling to keep in Zone 2 and could not push enough to get into Zone 3 on the flats or the down hills. This may be in part due to eating more solid food on the bike to prep for the run.
Considering all my running injuries this season and my lack of tempo work on the run, I was pleased with my run spit for the most part. A 21 yo college student from Univ. of Miami in Ohio joined me at mile 19 so we talked and ran together. I think he needed me to keep him going, not the other way around. I was saving myself for the last 5 miles so I could push the pace, but chose to spend it with this young man instead. I figure a few minutes faster on the run split would not matter that much and I think it helped him finish. It's part of the journey!
It was a big transition area, perhaps a mile from the water to the tent and another mile from the tent to the start of the bike & run. I did stop to pee in the transition area porta potty during T2, so that added to my time, because I did not know where the pottys were on the run course and did not want to start out on the run needing to pee. My transition time was slower here than in Florida, but I really think it was due to the longer distance to the start line, not poor preparation or fatigue. Did I mention transition tent was probably 100 degrees and they ran out of water? L I am glad I had a bottle in my run bag. Funny I don"t remember packing a water bottle. Opps, maybe I took someone elses, but at least when you are that late, there was no one else around to steal from.
I realize it was hilly, hot and humid, but I thought I was prepared to do better. Yes, 90 degrees on the run will slow anybody down.
It's part of the journey!
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