A few more tri comments:1) Other than sending off a handful of elite athletes, our old man wave was the first group out at 7:00 a.m. While waiting on the beach for five minutes, they had some Eminem blaring over the speakers. I was really getting into it ..head down, eyes closed, bopping to the beat. Good thing they didn't have the older ladies in our wave, 'cause I'd have done one of 'em right there on the beach. I was totally jacked. Throw in some heartfelt comments from the race director (our freedom to be on the beach to race on a Saturday morning while our troops protect that freedom around the world), a stirring national anthem, and a great morning sunrise and the day started well.2) The swim was a straight, plow ahead 1.2 miles. I had incredibly little traffic/congestion, so I just worked it the whole way. Yet, as mentioned, I just felt kind of tired. Despite the lack of any issues, my swim time was 1 1/2 minutes slower this year.3) I gotta get a better bike or find a way to train on some hills or something. I pushed hard the whole 56 miles, but the crowd was just cruising by me. I'm not racing them, really, but I at least need to be in the same league. I'm sure I'm losing a couple miles per hour on the race average, which translates to 15-20 minutes. My time here was a couple minutes slower than last year. Not enough base because of the winter/spring marathon training, maybe.4) I've been preaching about the exhale while running, so it was interesting to note during the run that during the second mile, I distinctly remember passing some guys and thinking 'they must think I'm a noisy runner 'cause of this strong exhale.' But I also distinctly remember that in the latter miles, my exhale was not noisy because it wasn't strong - and that's when I wasn't running well, either.5) The run started well - mile two was about at about 8:15 - but then bogged down, physically and mentally. After the last fluid station at mile 11 1/2, I knew I needed to push it to beat six hours. So the last stretch, with no stops, was again good ...the final mile was probably around 8:15/30 with a push to the finish line. I'm just disappointed for letting myself down through the middle of the run.6) I will forever worship the sponge gods. Food and fluids were appreciated, but nothing compared to cold, wet sponges during the run. Water over the head or down the back, wiping off the face ...it was all good.
I kept running, except for water stops, basically, knowing I was accountable to you.
... you just knocked out another sub 6:00 1/2 IM!! Congrats, GB!
I forget what kind of bike you're on... it has aero-bars at least, right? I'm guessing it's probably about some fatigue on your part, and maybe needing to hit the hills, and/or push the big gears harder, as you're saying. Either that, or do like me and swim like crap, so you spend the rest of the race passing people on the bike and run- it's a nice pyschological boost.I feel like every 1/2 I've ever done, I've hit some kind of problem during the run- usually at around mile 8 or so- so I can kind of empathize. You were definitely in great shape going in... maybe you were just worn down? Too amped up? Not enough of a taper? What do you think wore you out?And #6... preach, brother... PREACH! I got into wearing full caps (not visors) almost entirely so I could slam one of dem icy-fresh sponges under it (plus one on the back of the neck and one to wipe the pits with).I'm still envious as hell, and a mite proud of your efforts this weekend. Another 1/2 IM in the books!
But I can tuck down on the handles and ride it well, so that's not a big problem. (Besides, my tummy still felt kind of 'full' for the first 20 miles and I doubt I'd have wanted to go to a full tuck.) And probably half the riding was in the big ring. I'll probably stick with this for now ...I need a new indoor trainer, which will allow me to rack up a lot of winter miles that I didn't last year. I'll think about this more later in the winter or early spring.
I couldn't imagine trying a half Ironman, let alone a brick. What you guys accomplish continually impresses and inspires me.
Since no one said it...that new soreness will work out pretty quick. You're body is going to adjust to the better foot position. Then the stride will feel much better and more natural.
Way to tough it out!
) on Saturday. I should have checked my training calendar closer, as I was supposed to have run 9mi this time, and 7mi next Saturday. 
Oh well, I ended up helping my mom move some of her stuff to her new place, so I think the combination of a couple dozen back and forth trips carrying boxes, half of 'em up a flight of stairs, that might have equated another 2mi. 
