Key learning from this race is don't run a 30km road race the week before. On race day it was 85 degrees F, actually a very nice day. In my AG 45-49 we were the third last wave of 16 to leave. This meant I was up at 4:45am, in transition by 5:45am and by the Race Directors orders had to be out of transition by 6:45am. My wave wouldn't leave until 8:20am, so a 90 minute wait, which i'm not good at.
The swim took place in Lake Pontchantrain, point to point about 25 m from the shoreline. My goal was to complete the swim in 38 minutes but finished in 42 min. Slightly dissappointed, looking back i think i fell back into some of my old habits not paying attention to my technique enough. Nevertheless improvement was made however slight. Took advantage of the wetsuit strippers. Big plus. Lay on my back side, rip it off. T1 i was so fast that i forgot my gels & sport beans.
The bike was windy. The one part of the race i was a little worried about since all my training had been in my basement on my trainer. Turned out to be the best part of my race 2hr:50m holding a 31kph avg. On one section of the bike ride which went through alligator country, orders were given to State Park Wildlife Patrol to shoot if they saw any encroaching on the riders. I think everyone's average speed picked up a little in this section. Three times i dismounted my bike endeavouring to fix the magnet on my spoke that came lose. So with the swim, t1 & the bike ride finished 3 hours 35 minutes had elasped. Later i heard Chris McCormack had completed the same distance in 2 hours 30 mins. All i had to do was the run. I figured ok, allow 1 hr 40 mins to cover off 21 km and Jamie you should complete this 70.3 at about the 5 hr 15 min mark. Maybe faster if i squeeze off a few more minutes. The problem, my legs did not want to run. Then i just got caught up with the crowd walking/running (repeat). My run was the slowest i have ever run 21km. It took me an embarrassing 2 hrs 6 mins. C'est la vie. Lesson learned. Final time 5 hrs 47 mins.
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