Eagleman 70.3

theres no better way to kick off a 70.3 than waking up in a dingy hotel room at 4:50am with paul goldstone. we drove down on saturday for the pre-race registration and bike racking, and got in a little ride, run, and swim at the venue.  the water was a little bit choppy saturday but my nerves were calmed by getting in there before the race start.  i had been nervous about a no-wetsuit 1.2 in the river but felt confident after getting out there.  its more like a bay than a river and, if there was much of a current pulling, i didnt really feel it.

race day morning i think i was in the 6th wave and paul was a few waves before me.  i started the swim nice and calm and found some open water quickly.  i found a nice smooth pace but the swim seemed longer than 1.2 to me.  saw paul on the way out of the water too.  my swim time was about 38 minutes but official times have not been posted yet.

onto the bike course.  this was a really nice ride.  there was a bit of a headwind on a few stretches but mostly it was at my back or a nonfactor.  very flat and fast, i had no problem holding a good pace and the scenery was beautiful.  i could feel the heat kicing up so did my best to stay hydrated.  zero suffering on the bike was a good thing and i felt strong going into transition.  i think my split will show a minute or two under 3 hours on the bike.

then i went out too fast on the run.  i was a little distrcted by the early finishers hammering out their last mile or so.  plus i was thinking i would bang out a 2 hr half and finish in about 5:40 which would be 25 minutes faster than my only other 70.3 finishing time.  when i checked my heart rate at mile marker 1 it was jacked.  i could really feel the heat so slowed the pace but i knew at that point it was going to be a brutal run.  i ran from water station to water station and walked while i drank and dumped ice down my shirt.  nautious until about the turnaround, i managed to pick up the pace a little on the back half.  i think i finished the run in about 2:10 for a total time around 5:50.  pretty fricking awesome.

i had a great time, lots of fun on this course.  it was well organized and supported, and the locals were great too (hosing people down on the run and partying).  the heat was brutal on the run but i think i'll do it again...