Well I am on pace to finish my first full Ironman next summer. Because I finished my first half iron today at Branson
I will start with yesterday's weather. There was a chance of 10% rain yesterday and we had great intensions of going to Silver Dollar City with the family. It never stopped raining and never stopped thundering all day long! That evening I was beginning to worry about the weather, I don't worry much about races but they were talking about canceling the swim (which I was glad but then it is not a half iron). I also had to set my bike in a trans area the day before the race and put my run stuff at the Branson Landing 8 miles away. in the pouring rain! Then watched the sooners kick some butt while my wife was sleeping on the couch and then we went on to bed. I woke up about 10 times last night and listened for rain and thunder but never heard any.
This morning sure enough it was soaking wet outside but it wasn't raining and it was dark dark! We went to Table Rock lake and I took a big dig behind a retaining wall and had just enough TP. Then walked up to see no line at the mens bathroom, "yes."
I walked to the trans area with my helmet, water bottles, and then I realized my bike shoes were in the back of the car. And didn't have a clue where Kristin was. I borrowed a phone and no answer, so I started down to the area she talked about parking in. And saw her about 5 mins before they were closing the trans area and Kristin took off running to the car. She got back with no time to spare and was sweaty. I ran in and sit my stuff down and headed to the beach.
Then I had tons of time because they were starting us in waves. And my age group was 18 to 29, most groups were in 5 year increments, but I guess there aren't as many young crazy people that want to do iron events. So we start very last about 7:40 after the pro's went out at 7:00am sharp.
Swim 1.2 miles
My wife said, "was that you on the far left swimming out to sea at the beginning?" And yes that was me, and then again at the beginning I got in a group of guys to stay in line on the course and keep an eye on them. Then a little bit later I look up and I am back out at sea with about 6 guys! I didn't get frustrated, I just laughed. I kinda of expected this going into the race. All that was in the first 300 meters and after that I settled in and swam really smart: relaxed and straight. I normally want the swim to be over at 800 meters. But today I felt really good in the water and felt like I could have kept swimming.
Swim Time: 38 mins
Bike 56 miles
If you know Branson well you know the bike course. Bryan Fields said he emailed them about course elevation change and said it was 3000 feet something. But I felt like it was more, the road bike was great on the course, glad I wasn't on a tri bike. They were flying pass me on the down hills but I had a big advantage on the uphills with a comfortable ride. I hit mile 20 at 1:05 and then mile 40 at 2:09:30, so I was on a great steady pace and was still feeling like I could push it at any moment at the last and I focused on control and started thinking about the run.
I got to mile 54 and we got on a flat section... The first all race! And there was a sign that said "no passing." But it was wide and I am growing inpatient with the 2 girls riding slow ahead of 6 guys. So I get around everyone and a guy starts yelling at me that I am not suppose to be passing in this area. And turn around and ask the girls if they mind if I pass and they said no. Then I look down to see I am going off the path and now crashing hard into the pavement. Lots of skin is gone on my right side of my body, but worse I had a flat tire on the front. So I hopped back on the bike and catch the group with blood going everywhere. Then I get to a sharp left turn. And if you don't take anything from this race blog take this! You can't turn without air in your tire! I was stupid and forgot this fact, and took that sharp left turn and my bike slid out and ate it now on the left side of my body. I screamed like a little girl in pain. Hoped up and slowed down a ton the rest of the way in.. Several yards ahead of that last crash a worker said "does someone need help back there." I said no that was me crashing and crying. Oh another note, you can't climb fast at all with no air in your front tire!
Bike Time 3:03
Trans 2 (Super slow, don't know where the heck my shoes were but they weren't by my number... I was frustrated when I finally found them.)
Run 13.1 Miles
I felt good going into the run. And it was clear I felt to good when I looked at my watch and it was a 6:15 first mile... I thought the course was wrong but I just went out way to hard. So I pulled back and kept a 7 min pace for the next 4 miles. I then started slowing down, when a girl with thunder thighs is setting the pace for you something is wrong. But she was fast and I shared that with a lot of dudes that we were passing. 4 Laps at the Landing of Branson was a lot of fun. I failed to add the fact that it rained cats and dogs the complete run time! The paths and roads were flooded, at one point I thought I was going to loose my shoe! I was hoping for a 1:35 run time but I will take it, there is always next time.
Run time 1:42
Total time 5 Hours and 33 Minutes
Don't ask me about a full ironman until a few days after my hands and rest of road rash get a little better. Overall I feel good about the race and feel like it is my first endurance tri and just like my first marathon it was a learning experience and will come back fastest and stronger in every event from now on and I will not pass in the no passing zone again. I apologized the the old man that yelled at me for passing as I flew past him on the run.. He said, "it's ok, but you need to put your top back up on your jersey."
I will start with yesterday's weather. There was a chance of 10% rain yesterday and we had great intensions of going to Silver Dollar City with the family. It never stopped raining and never stopped thundering all day long! That evening I was beginning to worry about the weather, I don't worry much about races but they were talking about canceling the swim (which I was glad but then it is not a half iron). I also had to set my bike in a trans area the day before the race and put my run stuff at the Branson Landing 8 miles away. in the pouring rain! Then watched the sooners kick some butt while my wife was sleeping on the couch and then we went on to bed. I woke up about 10 times last night and listened for rain and thunder but never heard any.
This morning sure enough it was soaking wet outside but it wasn't raining and it was dark dark! We went to Table Rock lake and I took a big dig behind a retaining wall and had just enough TP. Then walked up to see no line at the mens bathroom, "yes."
I walked to the trans area with my helmet, water bottles, and then I realized my bike shoes were in the back of the car. And didn't have a clue where Kristin was. I borrowed a phone and no answer, so I started down to the area she talked about parking in. And saw her about 5 mins before they were closing the trans area and Kristin took off running to the car. She got back with no time to spare and was sweaty. I ran in and sit my stuff down and headed to the beach.
Then I had tons of time because they were starting us in waves. And my age group was 18 to 29, most groups were in 5 year increments, but I guess there aren't as many young crazy people that want to do iron events. So we start very last about 7:40 after the pro's went out at 7:00am sharp.
Swim 1.2 miles
My wife said, "was that you on the far left swimming out to sea at the beginning?" And yes that was me, and then again at the beginning I got in a group of guys to stay in line on the course and keep an eye on them. Then a little bit later I look up and I am back out at sea with about 6 guys! I didn't get frustrated, I just laughed. I kinda of expected this going into the race. All that was in the first 300 meters and after that I settled in and swam really smart: relaxed and straight. I normally want the swim to be over at 800 meters. But today I felt really good in the water and felt like I could have kept swimming.
Swim Time: 38 mins
Bike 56 miles
If you know Branson well you know the bike course. Bryan Fields said he emailed them about course elevation change and said it was 3000 feet something. But I felt like it was more, the road bike was great on the course, glad I wasn't on a tri bike. They were flying pass me on the down hills but I had a big advantage on the uphills with a comfortable ride. I hit mile 20 at 1:05 and then mile 40 at 2:09:30, so I was on a great steady pace and was still feeling like I could push it at any moment at the last and I focused on control and started thinking about the run.
I got to mile 54 and we got on a flat section... The first all race! And there was a sign that said "no passing." But it was wide and I am growing inpatient with the 2 girls riding slow ahead of 6 guys. So I get around everyone and a guy starts yelling at me that I am not suppose to be passing in this area. And turn around and ask the girls if they mind if I pass and they said no. Then I look down to see I am going off the path and now crashing hard into the pavement. Lots of skin is gone on my right side of my body, but worse I had a flat tire on the front. So I hopped back on the bike and catch the group with blood going everywhere. Then I get to a sharp left turn. And if you don't take anything from this race blog take this! You can't turn without air in your tire! I was stupid and forgot this fact, and took that sharp left turn and my bike slid out and ate it now on the left side of my body. I screamed like a little girl in pain. Hoped up and slowed down a ton the rest of the way in.. Several yards ahead of that last crash a worker said "does someone need help back there." I said no that was me crashing and crying. Oh another note, you can't climb fast at all with no air in your front tire!
Bike Time 3:03
Trans 2 (Super slow, don't know where the heck my shoes were but they weren't by my number... I was frustrated when I finally found them.)
Run 13.1 Miles
I felt good going into the run. And it was clear I felt to good when I looked at my watch and it was a 6:15 first mile... I thought the course was wrong but I just went out way to hard. So I pulled back and kept a 7 min pace for the next 4 miles. I then started slowing down, when a girl with thunder thighs is setting the pace for you something is wrong. But she was fast and I shared that with a lot of dudes that we were passing. 4 Laps at the Landing of Branson was a lot of fun. I failed to add the fact that it rained cats and dogs the complete run time! The paths and roads were flooded, at one point I thought I was going to loose my shoe! I was hoping for a 1:35 run time but I will take it, there is always next time.
Run time 1:42
Total time 5 Hours and 33 Minutes
Don't ask me about a full ironman until a few days after my hands and rest of road rash get a little better. Overall I feel good about the race and feel like it is my first endurance tri and just like my first marathon it was a learning experience and will come back fastest and stronger in every event from now on and I will not pass in the no passing zone again. I apologized the the old man that yelled at me for passing as I flew past him on the run.. He said, "it's ok, but you need to put your top back up on your jersey."
