Eagleman...1st Half Ironman!

***RESULTS***

Overall: 5:30:36
Swim: 29:14
Bike: 2:44:44
Run: 2:10:16

***PRERACE***

I hate tapering. All week I felt anxious and had trouble breathing...anticipating the race and slowing down the training was getting to me. Saturday morning Matias and I went for a quick swim with Reston Masters before heading to Cambridge where the Eagleman festivities would begin. We were on the road by 11am...no traffic/stopping...arrived at the Expo/packet pick-up by 1:30pm. Waaaa...this race is serious business and always makes me nervous from the start...all the fancy bikes, pros, serious faces, talk about crushing it, etc. cripes. Matias and I could sense each others nervousness and quickly busted outta there. We then dropped our stuff at the Victoria Gardens B&B (not sure how we ended up a block from transition...I highly recommend this place), got settled, and headed to drop our bikes off at transition. Headed back to the B&B, where Lynette, the Australian Innkeeper who shortly became our new mom, took care of us.

I think that was the best I have slept pre-race...when you wake-up and forget where you are at...always a good sign. Had some coffee, fruit, and rice cakes with jam (my new favorite GF thing). And we headed for the race. I was in transition and set up by 6:30am. My wave was to go off at 7:45am. I had time to wait in line 45min for the porta. My stomach was a mess...I went to the bathroom at least 6 times that morning. I felt pretty empty and was a little worried.

***RACE***

SWIM - I got my full sleeve wetsuit on. I had decided to go with this because 2 years ago when I had done the Aquavelo I had gotten attacked by jellyfish 3 times. I wanted to keep as much of my body covered as possible. I was HOT. But that was OK. I gathered with the rest of the dark green cappers and before long we were off. It was a big group and I struggled to break away for awhile. I kept locking arms with a girl to my right. Finally I broke off with another girl. And I could see a few others ahead but not too far. I began to pace with the girl...she was holing a good pace for me and I was able to settle into a good rhythm. At the turning back point I was feeling pretty hot and the water tasted bad making my stomach feel nauseated. Was passing a lot of the earlier waves so that made me feel better. Finally we were entering the finishing chute. I felt pretty sluggish with the heat coming out of the water.

T1 - Ran into T1 and quickly got going on Bananas.

BIKE - As soon as I started riding I had a gel...I was feeling hungry before even starting the race and the last thing I wanted was to bonk. My legs felt solid...it was going to be a good ride. My goal time was 2:45...which meant holding 20mph. I settled into this and felt like I could hold it the whole time. I actually think I ride stronger in the heat...it gives my legs a chance to warm up. In the cold I feel like I am just grinding. The bike was pretty uneventful/a snoozer...just stayed aero, came out of the saddle several times to stretch my legs. I had 3 more gels, a a Clif Nectar bar, a bottle of 2x LUNA Electrolyte drink, and some Endurolytes. The last 10 miles of this course are always rough..wind seems to always pick up. I was getting nervous for the run. Had I saved enough? too much maybe. I felt good.

T2 - Came into T2...there was maybe only one other bike back in my area at this point. This transition was abit slower so that I could grease up my feet...and I am not up on my T2 as much as T1 yet :)

RUN - So I have been running solid in the Newtons the last month or so. Took awhile for my calves/hips to be ready for them. And then I had been getting some serious blisters on my toes. I suspected that the shoes might be too small for my large feet. Matias, a blister veteran, had fixed me up with some moleskin in the bad spots pre-race. So I should be alright. I started out slow...the bike legs were not quite ready for busting it into a run yet. But I was moving and felt ok. It was freakin HOT. Good thing for Bikram yoga...the heat did not seem to bother me anymore...just gott go with the sweating. I came upon mile 1...there was a drink/food station every mile. I was still feeling pretty slow...hopefully I would feel better. Mile 2...my feet felt hot and squished and this was going to be rough. I was dreading what my feet were going to look like when I took my shoes off in the end. I felt blisters coming on the bottoms of my feet and toes were they were being squished together...maybe it would go away. yea right. Mile 3...not going away...only getting worse. I continued to run. 10 more miles...this was going to be absolutely miserable. Mile 4 and 5...serious hurt. The run was out and back...so it was keeping me going to see people I knew. I saw Shawn and shouted "How much longer...guhh I am hurtin"...he said, "Only about a mile or so." Yeah right...after 2 more miles at least was the turn around...turning HURT. It hurts to write this. Anyways, I was on the way back. Half of the race was walking...I kept running slowly...it hurt more to walk. I decided to take it 1 mile at a time...walk through the stations. The next few miles were absolutely miserable. I would walk through the station and dump the ice water on my head to get myself moving. The last 2 miles I kinda shuffled. My energy levels were good...so it was frustrating being in pain because my body wanted to go. I had 2 gels and water throughout the run. Finally, I could see the finish. I busted it to the end. I was SO happy I had chills all over. I had completed my 1st half ironman along with my 1st half marathon.

***POSTRACE***

I went straight to the hose and got a rinse and then took my shoes off...I could not even look at my feet. Matias then found me. I told him to check the feet out..."GEEEEEEZ." Ahh not good. And I am so sunburn. Matias had a GREAT race...1st amateur male...nice work. In the end it was a good day...despite the miserable run...I figure it is a long race and lots of room for error and improvement. I enjoyed the half distance and look forward to Savageman. AHAHAHA

***LESSONS LEARNED***

-Wear a hat on the run...and maybe apply some sunscreen in transition.
-Go through blister preparation (bigger Newtons, and been talking with Mary and Al on some good ideas to get my feet tougher)

Up Next: Savage Camp June 19-22, 2008, General Smallwood International with Team LUNA Chix DC June 29, 2008