More iron lung than Ironman

Well it was looking like a good weekend. I was nice and relaxed pre-race. I had done enough training and my times on the run were looking good or at least quicker than last time out. However the gods of triathlon had other ideas.

Pre race checks - The bike arrived safely in and we got it back together in one piece. then a quick stroll to transition and get it all racked and my bags hung in the best places possible, last rack and at the end. Sadly things went a little wrong at this point as when we returned the following morning my rear wheel had fallen out. Not sure how this happened but i found it before I started the race so i thought all way set, big mistake.

Swim - Very happy with this, came out in 40min which put me bang on target. More importantly the swim was messy a classic washing machine of flailing arms and legs and whilst I didn't manage to free style it all the way but the bits I did I was faster than the people nearest to me, making up places until I got hit again.

T1 - Straight out of the water and up to T1 only a little crisis when the belt fell apart, then out on to the bike with no worries.

Bike - this is where is all goes wrong people. I started all excited and powered up the hill out of T1 and hit the flat. then people start passing me, fine I had done well in the swim so a strong biker would pass me. then more people pass me, this is odd and to be honest it felt hard to get the power out, I was pushing hard but not getting much reward. So i go through my checklist, am i eating? yes, am I drinking? Yes, is there a flat? no. So I keep peddling and I suffering. I continue to spill time and after i get passed by a lady on a mountain bike at 45km who must have started at least 20min after me I decide that there must be something more wrong than i first thought so make the choice to get off the bike and have a proper look. it take me about 30 seconds to realise that my rear break is rubbing on the rim of the wheel. I think what had happened is that when i put the wheel back in at transition it had banged in my haste and just moved the brakes 1mm one way or the other creating a nice permanent brake. So with this fixed I get back on the bike swearing like a trooper and head back up the hill, of course I had stopped 1/2 way up a hill to check this. my race changed at this point, well the bike did, I think the damage was done at this point. I start passing people and get into a good fight with a couple of other racers and knock about 3min/5miles off my time for the rest of the ride. I role into transition 2 about 25min behind target but i think if we average out my later 1/2 of the ride and since even when i had extra brakes i felt good i was on target for the 3 hours I was hoping for.
As a side point i think that i fed and watered well and have now got my fuelling strategy planned out for the full in oct.

T2 - No drama here, straight in and out and all is well for the start of the run. well fed and watered.

Run - the run was bloody, brutal and a sweatfest. I swear the weather was perfect until i hit the run and then it pops up 10c and gets all sunny. great for the crowds not so good for us.
As per normal i set off quick and then died but felt like i worked hard throughout. I ran my way up about 60 slots from the end of the bike to the finish and can claim that as a good result. I have learnt that I hate Red Bull, it's to sweet and just does not suit me. Coke is ok but i think for Maryland I will stick with water and electrolyte drink and then cubes (Mule bar) and bananas for the fuel.

Now for the important bit, the numbers:

- the results are ok, i am not happy with my placing in my age group, I am better than that but if you look at 20min higher on the official results i am much closer to mid field which i am happy with.

The other bit that i am pleased with is my swim, 120 out of 196 is pretty good especially since I can honestly say that a more aggressive swim is possible and with a bit better placing at the start I could avoid some of the fights and just get ahead of it.

If I make sure i put my bike together properly and work hard then i think i can manage the bike numbers better, thought the speed that some of the guys were doing, i'm not so sure. I'm not being negative, but those guys were flying, maybe a new bike would help.

The offical Ironman numbers tell a similar story to the Garmin.

though with different splits. If you look at 50km split you see where the damage is, 2-3km/hour loss over 50km is a bit. Nevermind though it's all a learning experience.

Just so you can see that i did some training during the week before.

What I learnt.

1. Fuelling well helps
2. getting the details right mean i can ride quicker
3. My times my not have been great but i think they show i'm in the right area for Maryland.
4.  training over the next 90 days will need to focus on distance mainly
5. i must swim more
6. the odd bit of speed work is needed.

Its been a great weekend, and now its time for a holiday.

see you in a month.