Sunfish Triathlon 2009

I went to Meridian, Mississippi yesterday for the Sunfish Triathlon. This was the 23rd running of the race....and this year there were a record 330 entrants (including 60 from the Jackson area). Great turn-out by the Mississippi Heat.

We took this photo after the race, waiting for the awards ceremony. In the front row are Brandon Wilmoth, Alisha Wingerter, and Melanie Harrell. In the back row are Amanda Cassell, Matt Cassell, Matt Johnson, me, Sam Self, and Charlie Murray.

I spent the night in Meridian before the race and had pre-race dinner with Mel, Charlie, Alisha, and Brandon. Saw several others from Jackson at the Cresent City Grill, too.

The race took place at Bonita Lakes Park....1/3 mile swim, 17 mile bike, 5K run. The swim was a time trial start (I started 251st) in a triangle shape. The bike left the park and headed out-and-back over big rolling hills to the north of the park. The run happened around one of the lakes in the park, partly on the road and partly on paved running trail. It was typically hot and humid, but didn't seem nearly so bad as 2 weeks ago at the Race of Grace.

For me, it was a much better effort than 2 weeks ago. The swim was uneventful and intentionally slow. The bike got off to a poor start, though, with a rear flat in mile #2. Once again, it was a struggle to get the tubular off the wheel! I suppose I'm learning. My biggest worry as I was changing the tire was....I started 251st, there are only 330 racers, 12 racers started the swim each minute....and I could be LAST on the road if I don't hurry up! The rest of the bike ride was steady. The run was also pretty steady. Thankfully, no total meltdown in the heat today!

Like I said 2 weeks ago, it ought to be easier to put together an ultra-short swim, 17 mile bike, and 5K run. Someday! Soon? Next up....Heart O' Dixie Triathlon on July 25th. Back to the training routine....

Long Day at the Races

IM Brazil 2009 is in the record book!

It was a long day at the races, though....and I set new personal bests for slowest IM run and slowest IM race....and came pretty close to slowest IM bike, too! It's always a little sad when the highlight of your Ironman race day was a strong T1!

I truly appreciate all the well-wishes before and after the race. I told coach Justin on race night that it would take a while for my spirit to recover, but having ample encouragement from family and friends has helped.

I've shared some of the race day stories already, and any short account is an over-simplification, but here's how it went down....

The swim went reasonably well. The conditions were very rough, though (the worst I've ever tried to swim in, really). Because of the conditions, the race probably got off to a rather slow start....and this helped to avoid some of the typical fray at the beginning. I made it around the 2 loops in 1:02, thankful I didn't drown, but having spent much more energy than the swim usually takes....and much more energy than I'd like to have spent.

There was intermittent rain on the bike ride, the skies were cloudy, and the temps were in the 60's. It turned out to be a record-setting bike split for the winner, though, so conditions were pretty good. I got off to a rough start with a flat in mile #2....and it took me (and eventually, a mechanic) forever to change the tubular. I had troubles with high HR and low power output for the entire ride. The ride took 6:46 and finished with a 2nd flat. Looking back at the PT and Garmin files, it was a constantly decelerating ride, with ever-lower HR, too. I didn't have specific nutrition problems, but Justin and I were wondering now about dehydration. Who knows?

I set out on the run, determined to run to the finish, but lasted only the first hour or so before having to walk. I really wanted to finish, though, so it was a long (and eventually pretty lonely) evening on the run course. When I spotted the clock at the finish line, I had to sprint the final 50 yards to make it just under 15 hours.

Sometimes after a poor race, it's easy to point at one factor or another that was responsible. I'm not sure that's the case here, though. Training had gone well, I felt well rested at the start, conditions were good, nutrition seemed to work out OK, but somehow it didn't all come together at the race. So....I'm not sure yet what to learn from the IM Brazil experience.


We enjoyed a celebration dinner with the EST group at a Brazilian steakhouse on Monday after the race. Good food and good company....Gerd from Kona and Ron & Dina from Portland.

Looking ahead....

On Saturday, I'm doing the swim leg for a relay with Bobby S. and Lesley R. at the Heatwave Triathlon here in Ridgeland. I haven't been in town for this race the past 2 years, so it should be fun to race AND cheer for my friends as they finish the race.

And next Sunday, I'll be doing the Great Chesapeake Bay 4.4 mile swim. I'm looking forward to the weekend with family in DC/Annapolis and the chance to do a great open water swim on Sunday.

Then it's back to the training routine. I'm planning to do 3 shorter triathlons and finish the season with IM Florida in November.


Onward....

Ironman Brazil Trip

Thanks to everybody for the many well wishes for my upcoming Ironman Brazil trip. Many of you have asked about the trip details....

The race is on Sunday, May 31st.

I'm traveling to the race with the help of Endurance Sports Travel (EST), a tour group that specializes in travel to triathlons....along with a large group of triathletes from all over the U.S. EST handled our ground arrangements for last year's Ironman S. Africa trip and they did a terrific job.

The trip is long....but not nearly as long as the trips to N. Zealand or S. Africa for the previous Ironman races. I'm heading from Jackson to Charlotte, then on to Miami to hook up with my sister, Lori (from Washington, DC), and parents, Larry and Lee (from Hilton Head Island, SC). Then it's the long overnight flight to Sao Paulo, Brazil where we'll clear customs and connect for a short 1-hour flight to Florianopolis. With any luck, the luggage--especially the gear bag and bike box--will also make the trip!









Florianopolis is a resort island off the southeast coast of Brazil, nearly as far south as Uraguay. We're staying at a new hotel, the Il Campanario Resort, right on the beach, about 1km from the race swim course, transition area, and finish line.




It's May....but May in the Southern Hemisphere is approaching winter. Temps should be in the 70's and humidity should be in the 70% range on race day.


During race week, EST will provide support in a variety of ways:

b At each of 4 hotels, there is daily breakfast and dinner

b Bike mechanical support

b Daily group swim, bike, and run workouts on the course

b Translators!

b Activities for the non-athlete members of the group

b Local transportation


The race course sounds relatively easy. The swim is 2 separate laps (picture swimming in the shape of a capital "M" shape, with a short turn-around on the beach). The swim takes place in the relatively calm waters off Jurere Beach. The bike also has 2 laps along the western side of the island. The course is nearly flat, with only 4 short hills of about 100-150 feet. The run course has 3 laps: a first lap of 21km followed by 2 shorter laps of 10.5km on the same course (with a closer turn-around). The run is also essentially flat, with only 2 hills of ~85 feet during the first lap.

We're planning for a recovery day on Monday following the race and then the trip home on Tuesday, June 2nd. On the return overnight trip, we have stops in Rio de Janeiro, then Miami. And it's back to Jackson on June 3rd.

On race day you can follow my progress at IronmanLive. If the cell signal permits, we'll also provide some race-day Twitter updates. And I'll do my best to provide periodic updates here at the blog.

Looking forward to the trip!