Pigman 70.3 August 22^nd 2010.

Race day started out foggy.  The race was supposed to start at 7:30am but they postponed it until 8:30 or so.  Standing around in my wet suit the temp started to rise.  I probably lost a quart of fluid between sweat and the portajohn.  The fog thinned and the race was on.  The fog came and went as the racers got into the water in a time trial (1 every 3 seconds) start.  The first set of bouy’s were hard to spot but as you turned at the end of the first leg it got much better. The Water was clear and calm and I felt good.  Swim total 36:08.  T1 was smooth at 3:44.

I got on the bike and felt strong.  The sun was fully out and the temp continued to rise.  Later found out that the Heat Index was 96F.  I had a plan to follow my HR on the bike and the run.  The bike was to be 145 to 155 bpm.  After the first mile I checked my HR and it was 170.  I looked at my speed and I was at 26mph.  So I slowed down and recovered my HR.  The plan on the bike went well but the heat seemed to come in waves off the road.  The ride was full of rolling hills with a few flats and 1-2 steeper climbs.  Bike finished at 2:50:15.  T2 3:36.  Did I mention it was HOT!!

Started the run feeling decent.  My plan was to run tough but watch my HR and keep it around 155-165BPM.  After the first 2 miles at a pace about 9:30, my HR was 175.  I slowed to recover but every time I recovered and picked it back up I would go right back up to 175.  So I decided to interval.  I would jog up to 175, and then walk it down to 160.  I think the heat was getting to me after a while because at mile 10 I noticed wasn’t sweating anymore.  I joked with a fellow racer that I didn’t need anymore salt tabs because I could just lick my arms.  I did my best to hydrate and resalt as I kept moving.  I changed my HR plan to jog to 170 and walk to 160.  At mile 12 I just stopped checking the HR and kept jogging.  The end of the Pigman run is brutal  almost all up hill until the last .1mile.  finished the run 2:37:36 (about 11:50 pace I think)

Total time 6:11:17.  MY PR!!!!!

This was my first year with MSM.  I really enjoyed training with everyone.  I hope to build on this base next year.  Take care and race safe.