So the Utah Half is finished.
I finished.
Swim 00:51:06.600
Bike 03:22:05.900 (16.6mph, ick)
Run 03:37:06.300 (16:34mph, even worse)
Let me explain.
Arriving early (5.30am) on site, to get ready and situated. Everybody started getting bit by mosquitos. And not just any mosquitos, but what seemed to be quite a large clan that took up residence around the Transition area. It was painful, everybody got bit. I got sprayed by one of the guys at check-in, but it didnt seem to help much.
Swim was fine. It was in the harbor. Two loops. I wasn’t the last. As I got out one swimmer gave me a fist pound and said “good job”. Fun thing was the ramp was full of algie (however you spell it). SO getting into the water one would slide down the ramp.. getting out was a little difficult until you reached the carpet.
Bike was ok. I had a bike issue where my rear wheel popped out of the fork. So I lost my momentum. Felt like a small headwind both ways. Oh and it stunk out by the provo lake on the south side.
Run was well, it sucked. I walked most of it. My knee was acting up on Tuesday at the gym, and I thought if I didnt push it, it’d be fine.. but it was hurting most of the run. I have blisters on both feet on the ball of the foot. It was tiring and painful. I really need to work on running more. That’s for sure.
I wasn’t the last one to finish, but darn near close. I think there were five after me still walking.
Anyway, I’m done. Off to replenish those 8100 calories I burnt today at Tucanos.
If I can walk, that is.
Utah Half is this Saturday. 6:45am is the start. I need to be done by 3pm. Doable? I think so.
I have 4 hours to finish the bike and 3 hours to finish the run.
1.2 mile swim? Doable in 45 minutes.. maybe 50.
56 mile bike? Doable.. hopefully in 3 hours and some change. I hear it is pretty flat. Praying for no wind.. or a tail wind both ways.
13.1 mile run? This will be the difficult part. I guess I can walk most of it and hopefully finish in time.
*fingers crossed*
Yesterday was the IronMan Coeur D’Alene. Pete Lasko did it and finished. So I think to myself, I’ve had this goal to do one before I’m 30. Registration for next years IMCDA opened today.
So I just registered for the IMCDA that is next June 21st 2009. Pete said it is possible if I just train.
2.4 Mile Swim
112 Mile Bike
26.2 Mile Run
$551.00 later.
I’ve had a goal to do one before I’m 30 for the last couple of years and this will be a few weeks before I’m 30. So there.
So this morning was the USG. I have spent a bit of time at the gym, running and biking… except for this week, I only swam once on Friday, since I was up in SLC all week long.
Anyway, I did rather well. Beat my SGTri time by quite a bit, as well as last years. Plus, I didn’t crash when coming down the hill like last years USG! That’s always a bonus.
SWIM: 19:57
T1: 4:15
BIKE: 50:11 (14.9mph)
RUN: 38:59 (12:34 minute miles)
TOTAL: 1:53:24
Not tooo shabby. But I still have a bit to improve on before the Utah Half.
If you didn’t get it from the previous post (the one that had some cool waiver stuff), I just registered myself for the Utah Half. $106.44 total. Not too bad. I guess I could’ve offered to host their site for free in exchange for free entrance.. maybe next year.
Now I just need to be able to run 13 miles without dying.
Well..part of it..
1. I hereby represent that (i) I am in good health and in proper physical condition to participate in the Event; and (ii) I am not under the influence of alcohol or any illicit or prescription drugs which would in any way impair my ability to safely participate in the Event. I agree that it is my sole responsibility to determine whether I am sufficiently fit and healthy enough to participate in the Event.
2. I understand and acknowledge the physical and mental rigors associated with triathlon, duathlon, or other multi-sport events, and realize that running, bicycling, swimming and other portions of such Events are inherently dangerous and represent an extreme test of a person’s physical and mental limits. I understand that participation involves risks and dangers which include, without limitation, the potential for serious bodily injury, permanent disability, paralysis and death; loss or damage to property; exposure to extreme conditions and circumstances; accidents, illness, contact or collision with other participants, spectators, vehicles or other natural or manmade objects; dangers arising from adverse weather conditions; imperfect course conditions; water, road and surface hazards; equipment failure; inadequate safety measures; participants of varying skill levels; situations beyond the immediate control of the Event Organizers; and other undefined harm or damage which may not be readily foreseeable, and other presently unknown risks and dangers (“Risks”). I understand that these Risks may be caused in whole or in part by my own actions or inactions, the actions or inactions of others participating in the Event, or the acts, inaction or negligence of the Released Parties defined below, and I hereby expressly assume all such Risks and responsibility for any damages, liabilities, losses or expenses which I incur as a result of my participation in the Event.
I love it.
So today I was thinking about this goal of mine.. do an IronMan by age 30.. I have like 14 months left and I’m not ready. No where near being ready. So I say to myself.. “how hard can it be? I just need to train like every day”. Then I get into my head how I can get ready for said IronMan next year…the best way might be to do the Utah Half. I mean how hard can it be? hah
Only 1.2 mile swim, 56 mile bike and 13.1 mile run. I have 9 hours do to it in. Can it be THAT hard? Yeah, probably.. if I dont train. It is August 9th, so I have a little under three months to do it. I’ve already been swimming three times this week during lunch and been to the gym three times as well. Eating better, eating less and making sure I keep drinking all the water like I have been.. I’ve lost about 7 pounds in the last week. Down to 243. w00t.
So anyway.. random thought.. To Half or not? I think I will. It’s two weeks after the Spudman in Idaho..and Spudman is going to be olympic in length, so that’ll be a good warmup for me to do the Half, I’d say. We’ll see.. but I thinking of registering soon.
T1: 00:06:13.370
BIKE: 01:00:43.410 12.3mph
T2: 00:02:37.040
RUN: 00:42:45.760 13:47 minute miles
Total: 01:52:19.58
So my bike dropped by 8 minutes (I blame the horrendous wind), and my run improved by 3 minutes.
Next up (I think) is USG in June. Hopefully I’ll drop my run down to ~35minutes and my bike down too.
So I just got back from the 2008 SGTri. Actually, it was more of a duathlon for me. Here’s the scoop on my take.
Olympic folks started a little after 7am.. my wave was supposed to start at 7.30am. There was wind. And not just any wind. A LOT OF WIND. I’m probably exaggerating, but it felt very windy. Enough about the wind. So the three olympic waves went.. and it before the 3rd olympic wave got going I was in the water trying to get used to the cold. Yes, it was cold. And not just any cold.. COLD with WIND. I had to keep my feet moving so I didnt lose any feeling in my feet. It was pretty bad. So 7.25am rolls around, we get out of the warmup area and proceed over the Milliseconds timing line so they’d record us. Then we wait in the water for what seemed like an eternity. While we wait a helicopter flies overhead a bunch of times recording what is supposed to be the start of our swim wave, they hover pretty low hoping to catch us in action, but no such luck today. Also, the Search and Rescue boat brought about 8 swimmers back to shore each trip. I saw them make two trips… So it turns out they ended up canceling the swim portion. Yes it wasn’t fun at all being in the cold water for 30 minutes..with wind blowing.. waiting for something.. and then finding out swim portion has been cancelled, but better to cancel it than my legs cramp up or hands lose feeling or whatever.
So with the swim portion cancelled we all made our way back over to the ramp where people come in from the swim.. our wave hung out at the bottom and then had to race to the top like we finished the swim.. people were confused..in the way of our wave..very unorganized, but what did we expect with the swim being cancelled.
The bike, well was windy too. There is a portion where you cross through the sand dunes.. with the wind blowing, it was blowing sand across the road.. into the riders faces.. (note to self: must not breathe in when biking through blowing sand). The scary hill was well, scary.. pain in the but to climb up with the wind blowing in my face, but I did it.. mostly. The ride down was quite scary for me.. since I had crashed crossing the cattle guard my last race on this course. So yeah, I was nervous that I’d do it again.. I’ve had many a nightmare that I crashed again, etc… coming down the hill I noticed two ambulances and a cop car and another vehicle.. all with lights blazing.. so I figured someone met the same fate I did today, only not as lucky to land in the sand on the side as I. I slowed waaay down when crossing the mats.. just out of fear.
The run for me was ok after half way through. My quads kept feeling inflamed and it made it hard to run on the sand.. but after climbing the sand hill of death, the rest was flat, smooth and easy. Easy to keep a nice steady jog on that part. The first half though, was impossible with my ankles to keep a steady run.
So there you have it. The St. George Tri/Du..err..whatever. Would I do it again? Of course. Do I know my times yet? Nope. Later this afternoon though.
Looking back on my last years races I have come to the conclusion… I sucked. Two years before I ran quite a bit, and remember at the Utah Summer Games my run time was quite better than it ever has been.
Last year my SGTri time was: 2:04:29. Sad. I usually am under 2 hours..but not last year. Thanks to the deathly painful hill of sand and the 45 minute run/walk.
Ideally, I’d like to break last years sad time and get under 2 hours.. I’d like to get under 1hr 50min if I can… Might not be doable for this race, but for USG it is possible if I get my act together and keep running/biking/swimming.
For the record, last years SGTRI time was:
SWIM: 19:33
T1: 4:20
BIKE: 53:02
T2: 1:50
RUN: 45:46
TOTAL: 2:04:29
We’ll see tomorrow how I do.
