Oceanside Half-Ironman

So I am a little late posting this and I can't remember everything that went on. All I know is that I went pretty slow, I got smoked on the bike, and it was very, very long. Here are my final stats:

Swim Place: 1741 / 1965
Bike Place: 1722 / 1965
Run Place: 1234 / 1965 (I suck the least at running)
Overall Place: 1640 / 1965
Division Overall Place: 140 / 151

Swim Time: 48:03 (2:25 per 100 meters)
Transition 1: 1:59 (I think this is a timing mistake)
Bike Time: 3:43:32 (15 miles per hour)
Transition 2: 9:06
Run Time: 2:10:38 (9:59 per mile)
Total Time: 7:03:33

The winning time was a bit ridiculous (Andy Potts), these are Olympic class folks.

Swim Time: 22:13 (1:07 per 100 meters)
Transition 1: 1:58
Bike Time: 2:18:46 (24.2 miles per hour)
Transition 2: 1:20
Run Time: 1:14:07 (5:40 per mile--after all that!)
Total Time: 3:58:22 (and he beat #2 by only 3 seconds)

Everything you need to do a triathlon.



Start of race.

Still looking a bit creepy sleepy.



Map of 1.2 mi swim.

Picture of 1.2 mi swim. start on far right, swim left out to mid way where it opens up, get nailed by 3 foot surf, and swim back to the buildings at the edge of the photo.



I took off running right out of the water. Unfortunately, I couldn't feel my feet after 50 minutes in ~55 degree water. I ran over pavement for 300 yards and by the time I got to the transition area, my feet were bleeding everywhere.

I stopped when I got to the transition area to document it for the fans.



Map of the bike.

Altitude.

Pic of the bike. Basically head north way out of the picture, go up into the mountains past the second ridge and then cruise back through the valley you see one ridge over.



There was also some of these--no good. Although, the one point on the bike where I made up time was the steep uphills--strong quads, but no cardio here.



Running my bike out of the transition area and then my first few turns. After this it was 3 1/2 hours of just slogging it out. I think I drank my two bottles (32 oz) and 3 other 32 oz bottles and was still thirsty. I ate a whole packet of beef jerky, a bag of mangoes I brought back from the Philippines, and 4 or 5 gels. I just couldn't get enough fuel in there.

Transition again. I am not looking my best--tired, bored, and out of focus.



Map of run.

Altitude. I couldn't exactly put my quad-advantage in play here.

Pic of run. The run was very well supported--aid stations every mile with pretzels, coke, gatorade, water, gels, sponges, ice, juice, bananas, etc. The only problem is that running a half marathon in a loop is a bit depressing.



I think this is my first lap. (And yes, to the left, though not always. You can't change out of bike shorts folks.) Finishing up (I started ~12 min after the clock). Walking it out.

Picking up my junk after getting my spiffy new shirt and a free pizza lunch (the herd you directly into a tent post-race and make you eat a ton).