Vineman 70.3

[tribogota]

Arg, every muscle and fiber in my body hurts today. And as I heard many people on the run, it was swim, bike, hell. And it was.
I'll start out with the bad and get to the good. I started the run at noon with 95 degrees and ended at 100, all in the sun, no shade, and out on HOT black asphalt through fields, no breezes. I could feel the heat through my shoes. Needless to say, there were mostly walkers and a few crazy folks running by. I jogged at a slow trot, the first 15k and then walked the last 5k, my brain was fried and I couldn't keep my thoughts straight. I drank myself silly at every aid station plus ate the fruit and gels and cookies, the only thing NOT on hold was my stomach I guess. It took me 2 hours and 40 minutes to finish, slow. I would not do that again, and now know that I would not enter an Ironman, I just can't stand the hours of pounding and much much less in the hot hot hot heat of midday.

On the bike, well I had to borrow a bike, and it didn't fit so well and wasn't very good for this, on top of being old and unmaintained. I had not one, not two, but three flats. Only had ONE tube with me, so it was a slow process. I rode on them flat to the aid stations, where I was able to change and buy new tubes. Luckily after the first flat, everyone in my category passed me, so I wasn't too upset by number 2 and 3 and had decided to just enjoy the scenery, which was stunning. Green green grape vines contrasted to brown brown hills.

On the final tire change, in which the bike person, meaning it was a much better job than me, also cleaned out the glass that was flatting everything, I rode like a bat outta hell to recuperate my own time. I was pretty happy on that part, I passed a lot of people, the hills were nothing, even without a low gear since I was on a criterium bike, and so finished the bike in good spirits and not tired.

The swim, that was a piece of cake, wetsuit legal, and I float really well in my wetsuit, so well I don't even need to kick. I was always in the first group of my wave, so I got out with the top swimmers of my group. Which of course had me pumped for the bike.

But alas, that was not to be. I finished 99 out of 124 for my category, which in my mind is just not very good, but finished 439 out of 1141 in the race, which is ok! The slow bike and the dead slow run walk, well, I finished in 6:56 (My goal was to finish UNDER 6, so finishing barely under 7 was a readjustment in attitude). The race was beautiful and well organized. But I wouldn't do an HIM again and now know NO ironmans. I just can't deal with the run, so back to olympics, and maybe a century on the bike, when I get a chance!

[salsabike]

Wow! That run sounds just GRUELING. I actually think you should be pretty proud that you finished that race. Ugh, three flats, too! Sheesh. I'm glad there are parts that felt good, but more than that, I'm impressed that you stuck through that whole run and that you're okay.

[Tri Girl]

Wow- what a day! Don't rule out any more halfs (or fulls). That's a tough course. If you choose one that's shady, and not so hot- it's all good.
Sounds like you really had some tough times out there on the bike- 3 flats? Yowza!!! I always say my full/half runs are more like a zombie death march than a run. I'll never be the fast runner with a good run time.
You did the best you could given the conditions you had. GREAT JOB!!!!

[tribogota]

zombie death march, laughed out loud, that was what it was, and with all these other zombies in silly shorts and tops, people didn't look good out there.
THANKS!

[colby]

Congratulations, tribogota. You did it!!!! You stuck it out through THREE FLAT TIRES and terrible heat and might not have made your goal time but you made it! Days like that often lead to a lot of DNFs (and some people that don't even START).

I too loathe running in the heat. You ran more than I probably would have. Bring on the clouds!

[Urlea]

I'm sorry this race had so many challenging obstacles between flats & the heat. But, like the other ladies have said YOU MADE IT & toughed it out when a lot of other ppl. wouldn't have or didn't. Kudos to your determination, that is awesome!!

As far as not doing another 70.3 or ever considering a 140.6 unless you've tried it's hard to know what your distance preference is. Now you know where your strengths/preferences are and can build off of that, which is great.

Have a happy recovery, take care of yourself!

[Alex]

Congrats on overcoming so many obstacles, tribogota! That sounds like one brutal race.

Alex

[OakLeaf]

Wow, congratulations for finishing under those conditions! You did great!

[Veronica]

I think that's an awesome time give all the crap you had to deal with. That heat is brutal.

Enjoy your recovery.

Veronica

[Pedal Wench]

3 flats? I don't know about you, but that would account for not finishing in under 6 hours. Time to slow down and realize you had a flat, time rolling into aid station to change it, time changing it, time to get your legs moving again after stopping to make the change, etc. -- I would say you probably would have beat your goal time without that!

[Running Mommy]

I used to live literally a BLOCK off the run course. I only ran that route when I felt the need to torture myself!! I felt your pain when I was reading your report. There is literally no shade, and that part of the course has lots of nasty little steep climbs. IMO it is a horrible course, but my guess is they are trying to keep La Crema winery- a major sponsor- happy by running through their winery. I used to run an aid station on the run course every year, and I also got to enjoy a day of baking in the sun.
Anyway, sorry the race wasn't all that you wanted. And the bike mess, but hope you at least got to enjoy the area.

[Alex]

http://www.examiner.com/x-2490-Endur...eman-Triathlon

Freak accident at the Vineman Tri.

[Running Mommy]

I had heard about that, but didn't know anyone had been hurt. Scary!! And what a way to end your race! All that training... and THAT!

[tribogota]

yep, saw the tree that fell and the bikes that were down, they really had a bad day!

[colby]

http://www.examiner.com/x-2490-Endur...eman-Triathlon

Freak accident at the Vineman Tri.

I guess that's one of those "well, I guess my day could have been WORSE... I wasn't hit by a tree!" lessons? I can't even imagine what I'd do if I saw a tree toppling in front of me, short of a lot of expletives.