I owe myself a quick race report on Ironman St. George 70.3. It is important to capture the days events so I can learn from my mistakes or repeat what went well.
Wake up: Woke up at 0400 to get everything out of the hotel room and into the car. Woke up the wife and kids and headed down to the lobby for breakfast that consisted of bananas and bagels. Threw in a cup of coffee to get the body going.
At the City Center: Wife and kids dropped me off at the Ironman Village at the city center; I wish it was a little better marked for the crew, but after meeting up with other confused athletes we eventually made it to the right place. I dropped off my running gear and headed to the bus.
Bus Ride: Get there early and don't sit near the wheel well; I didn't think they were going to pack us in like sardines with the amount of buses there, but that is what they did. Not a comfortable ride there but made it non the less.
Transition Set up: First race I've been to where they wouldn't allow you to "set up" your transition area. Everything had to stay in the bag, your helmet, your shoes...everything. The only ones that could set up their transition area was the Pros...
So if you race here there really isn't a reason to get to transition early unless you want to view the sun rise over the mountains, which is beautiful, or freeze your but off while waiting for your swim to start.
Swim: I love half ironman swim starts because they are usually in waves. I had a great swim and the best sighting I've ever experienced. Probably my best open water swim ever.
Transition: Could have been faster, but didn't expect much since nothing was set up the way I like it. Had to rip everything out of the bag, and the put all my swim crap in the bag before I could take off.
Bike: The course was well marked with excellent support. To say the course was tough would be an understatement. I am sure that even the best prepared struggled at some point on that course. My "come to Jesus" moment was up a 5 mile hill that never seemed to end. That hill was the first time I've see participants get off their bike and start walking. As I slowly pedaled past them I was think that "hey, that's not a bad idea" but fought back the urge to join them and kept powering up the hill. I think it took me 30 minutes to get up that beast and 8 minutes to get back down. All in all the course was beautiful, allowed me to take in the sights during the tough times to try and take my mind off the burning in my legs.
Transition: Not bad, a little long due to a bathroom break stop.
Run: The run, for me, was terrible. It was too hot for a guy that had to train in 20 - 50 degree weather. My body was not ready for the heat, nor was I ready for the massive hills that seem to never stop. At one point on the run I had to sit down at one of the stations and just pour ice down my shirt and drink water. I wanted to make sure I finished and that 5 minute break was critical to ensure that happened. I toughed it out the rest of the way and crossed the finish line. Always a great moment knowing that you completed something 99% of people you know couldn't...or wouldn't try.
Finish: Once you finished there was no directions on where the food tent was...so just like the start of my day I ended up
Over all thoughts: Great race, with excellent vollunteers. I wish they would mark the morning drop off and after race food better but other than that it was a great experince.
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