Saturday, May 12, 2012

Wildflower Race Report

I just posted a PR and got on the podium at the Wildflower Half-Ironman Triathlon in California...with a:

26:46 Swim - Thanks to the Paul at SwimSmooth, I learned to look slightly forward, keep my fingers closer together, and exhale underwater - and this allowed me to break the 27 minute barrier for  a half IM swim, although I had zero drafting opportunities during the swim...

Nutrition/Gear notes:
-Day before: Millenium Sports Somnidren GH for sleep
-2 hours pre-swim: 4 LivingFuel SuperBerry 
-Wetsuit: Synergy Hybrid
-Google: Blue Seventy Helix

2:37 Bike - This was my first chance to do a long course race for Team Timex on the Quintana Roo CD0.1 and it is a sick bike indeed. This turned into quite a lonely race, as I was by myself on the bike the entire time as well (it's always tough to self-pace and not have some others to play with on the bike). Pretty much stuck to a gel every 20 minutes the whole way through, and drank to thirst, at about 30oz water per hour.

Bike notes:
-Shoes: Louis Garneau Tri-Speed shoes
-Helmet: Gray Aero helmet
-Wheels: Shimano C-50
-Tires: Challenge Triathlon
-Groupo: Shimano Dura-Ace
-Seat: Adamo ISM Road Saddle
-Sunglasses: Native Eyewear

1:28:56 Run - As usual, the Wildflower run freaking hurt, and once again I was on my own the whole time. Per my usual strategy on a half-marathon, I held back slightly on the first 10K of the course, then gradually began to increase pace for the next 10K. I had a gel at 5K, 10K, and 15K, and a sip of water at the aid stations where I grabbed a gel.

Run notes:
-Shoes: K-Swiss K-Ruuz

4:36:32 Overall Time

But...


...10 days before the race, I was dangerously close to being overtrained...


So here's an interesting article about how exactly how I dug myself out of that overtraining hole.

And a big thanks to all my sponsors. Check them all out here.



3 comments:

Joe said...

Hey Ben, congrats on the fast WF time. Maybe I missed it, but what Gels did you end up taking? After your various nutritional podcasts you have shaken up my strategy...so now I'm experimenting... thx, Joe.

Unknown said...

Powerbar...it's in my contract... :)

Marc said...

that doesnt sound like a vote of confidence for powerbar... :) more of cuz I have to