1.2 mile swim. 56 mile bike ride. 13.1 mile run. The Half Ironman
It was finally time.
After signing up for my first 70.3 back in January of 2019, it was finally time for my first official race on my 4th attempt (1 dropped out for surgery, 2 due to Covid)
An unofficial solo race back in October of last year helped ease the worry but as I stepped up to start my nerves were going.
7:14 AM, I dove into the water (forgetting to start my watch tracker)
I swam, alone with my thoughts, trying to keep a relatively straight path around the course, no idea how fast I was going.
As I approached the finish I look up and see 7:50 AM.
Holy shit, I finished in 36 minutes, 4 minutes faster than my goal.
I run to the transition area and struggle to get my wetsuit off and all of my gear ready for the bike ride.
(It took at least a minute to fit my gels in my triathlon kit, the struggle was real)
5 minutes later I’m on my bike and beginning the 56 mile ride.
Short thoughts on the ride: wet, mostly flat with annoying 15% climbs dotting the ride. And I didn’t bring enough water. I made conversation with some people on the ride but all in all it was a very solitary experience, with luckily no crashes or flats.
3 hours and 5 minutes later I’m done. 10 minutes faster than my goal! I was cruising
Then the run…. the damn run.
I had injured my knee a month before. It was not healed.
On my training run three days before the race I made it one mile before I had to pull up. I went to multiple doctors, got pain meds and stretched but I knew it was in serious trouble
And so I ran. and walked. and ran a bit more. Pushing myself harder than I thought possible. My legs were cramping, but my legs more tired and sore than they had ever been.
Then the last two miles I fought through as the knee pain started to make it through the pain meds.
And finally I finished the run in 2 hours and 12 minutes. 12 minutes below my goal time but so much better than I thought I was going to be able to do given the injury.
6:04:53.
Waiting at the finish line were my girlfriend, my buddy who beat me, and my friends Nathan & Matt. Helping me celebrate the hardest thing I had ever accomplished.
Next up a marathon… then the Ironman
