Half Iron Tri race recap

[juliabug]

I'm going to try to keep this brief, but it was a long race. My goal going into the race was 0:40 swim, 3:30 bike, 2:10 run and 10 minutes for transition, bathroom break and anything that went wrong.

The week leading up to the race it was raining ash in my city and the air quality was too poor to exercise outside. I got in one OWS and that was it. I was over rested and feeling unprepared.

The weather forecast was beautiful for the race: cool, overcast and a high of 74.

There were about 200 participants in the half iron distance, 2 large waves in the swim. It was a little rough to start, but not bad. After the first 500 yards, a woman passed me who was swimming perfectly a bit faster than me. I got on her feet at the turn around and drafted off of her for the rest of the swim. It felt effortless and wonderful.
Swim- 39 minutes

T1 was a about .2 miles. I knew from the night before to run on the grass along the sidewalk to save my feet.
T1- 3 minutes

The 56 mile ride had about 2600 ft of climbing. It was a really nice ride and totally overcast until the last half hour.

The last 10 miles were a long slow climb. When I got to the last 8 miles, it felt so hard and I couldn't wait to see my family in transition. A woman in my age group passed me and that sucked. When there were about 3 miles left, I discovered that my back tire was crazy low. It had been slowly leaking air for who knows how long. This is exactly what happened at my last 70.3 (though much earlier in the race last year) so I was dumbfounded at my bad luck. There were only about 3 miles left so I thought that I could quickly add a little air. Even more bad luck, the valve was totally stuck and I couldn't pry it open. I couldn't change the tire because there was too much air left, so I decided to suck it up and slog through the last few miles.
Bike- 3:36

My family was supposed to show up for my run and had planned to meet me at T2. I was devastated that they weren't there when I get to the rack. I was really down about my tire and wanted to see my kids and husband so badly.
T2- 1 minute

I saw the woman who passed me early in the run as she ducked into a porta potty. We leap frogged each other- she was faster but doing a run/walk. It was full sun now, the run course had over 1000 ft of elevation and it was getting tough.

There were 2 loops on the run and I was praying to see my family at the turn around. When they weren't there I realised that my husband hadn't come and I was crushed.

I was running near the girl in my age group and a much younger woman. I struck up a conversation with her, she was a personal trainer and asked about my goals for the race. When I told her, she was determined to see me to my 6:30 goal that was just barely still in reach. She convinced me to stop at an aid station for vasoline and I am so glad she did, my underarms were raw.

As the miles ticked by, my new buddy was getting dehydrated. She told me not to give up but she had to drop off. I had 31 minutes left to run a 5k. I dug deep. Somehow I passed 3 girls in my age group who were struggling at miles 11 and 12. 400 yards from the finish, I saw another girl in my age group walking. I sprinted. I lost my favorite hat, but kept going. I turned the corner to enter the long finishers chute and spotted my husband and kids. My 6 year old son ran the length of the chute and cheered me on. I burst into tears when my 4 year old daughter came around the finish line to me. The shuttle made them miss me at T2 and my husband somehow missed that the run was 2 laps.
Run- 2:10
Total time- 6:29:19

I was totally exhausted and couldn't stand up any longer after I stopped. A volunteer got me an icy towel and a chair. I eventually got up for a finish line photo and went to get my results. 2nd in my age group of 11 women.

I'm totally beat, even today. My stomach is still sick, I have chaffing sores in my arm pits, blisters under my toenails and my muscles ache. I wouldn't change a thing though.

[cinco]

Congratulations on hitting your goal and the AG award! Fantastic work on a tough course!

[jreeds]

Congratulations!!

[wawa]

You are amazing!! Way to totally hit that goal despite a bitch of a tire. How incredibly frustrating to have that happen again, but you overcame it like a freaking champ and kicked ass.

Seriously inspirational!

[scm1011]

CONGRATULATIONS!!! Way to meet your goals despite some set backs! I'm so glad your DH and kids were at the finish; I can only imagine how disheartening it would be to not get that moral boost when you were expecting/needing it.

[cole]

Congrats on hitting your goal and your AG place, you are amazing! I love the pic of your family

[bostonmichelle]

Congratulations on hitting your goal and your AG award!! You are amazing! I can't believe you got a slow leak again.

[sassystace]

Way to dig deep and hand in there!!! Congrats on the 2nd place AG finish! Woo hoo!

[emilyj]

Wow, awesome!! Congratulations! Way to gut it out to the finish!

[laurack]

wow! Fantastic job! congratulations!

[lilypad1126]

Wow, congrats! That's so awesome that you hit your time goal, got 2nd in your AG, and all with a flat tire and less face time with family than anticipate. Way to go!

[labbie]

I love the family pic! You are amazing, congrats on a smart run race and the grit to dig deep at the end to meet your goal. Way to go!!

[irene adler]

Congrats! It's been so fun to follow your training, and I'm glad the race was awesome – plus an AG podium! Way to go!

[moreace01]

Congrats on kicking ass and hitting your goal!!

[sweetptater]

You made me tear up! Congratulations!!!

[mrschach]

Congrats on a great race!

[mrs.jacinthe]

Congrats!!! I can't believe you rode who knows how many miles on a flat tire. Bad. Ass.

[sadlebred]

Congratulations!!

[ktzmoh]

Congratulations!!

[hurricanedrunk]

Fantastic job!! I love that you found a supportive running mate at the end. Congrats on you AG and beating your goal time.

[mysticmuffin]

Congratulations on hitting your time goal and AG podium!

[Vally]

Amazing job! I was so glad to read your family found you at the end

[taratru]

Congratulations! What a great day you had, in spite of the setbacks and troubles.

[shauni27]

Woah! That's incredible! Congratulations!!!

[melmel48]

WOW!!!!  Congrats! You kicked ass! I am so glad your family was able to be there at the end. 

[libbygrl109]

Amazing job digging deep to meet your goal! Congrats!