sorry it's a bit lengthy. In a nutshell...good race. Learned lots of good stuff I'll need to do for the whole enchilada at 5430. Don't know that I'll do an aquabike again, unless I use it as a training tool.
I know I've done some pretty early morning races, but this was the first one I wish I would've brought a headlamp to. Luckily there were plently of volunteers with flashlights running around helping people find thier racks as they marked specifically where on the rack you put your bike. I still had to rumage through my bag and set things up by feel. Headlamp added to the race bag checklist.
The first wave of the swim was off just as the sun started to come up. 30 min later I was in the water and off swimming. Decided to try a different strategy this time. Usually I try to "bust a move" in the swim, because it's my strongest event. This time I went with the idea that I can put in a darn solid swim with little to no effort. So I just did my thing and took it easy. I came out of the water with a good mix of the previous two waves. Felt good!
Did my best not to rush through the transistion as 56 miles is a long time to forget to put your sunglasses on or someother stupid mistake.
First 30 miles of the bike felt pretty darn good. The hills aren't what everyone makes them out to be. They're just that...hills. When most of the course is relatively flat, they feel pretty darn good. Change things up and get out of the saddle. The last 26 miles I started to fade. The little things were starting to take their toll. I cut my aerobottle straw too short, so I was using the hand up bottles instead. One of the twiggies that held the race number on my bike came undone and the darn thing was flopping in the wind and rubbing my leg. I eventually took off the number. I know I shouldn't have, but it was that or debate the remaining 20 miles whether I should or shouldn't. Still haven't mastered the art of eating real food and biking at the same time. I was getting pretty hungry towards the end and gel just wasn't cutting it. The only hill I'd complain about was the very last hill at 55.5 miles. It's steep, everyone is crawling up it and there's a dang photographer capturing this kodak moment.
Amazingly when I got off the bike, I didn't feel too bad. (except for some chafing issues, will also add vaseline to my transition list. screw body glide, that crap came off) Another aquabike guy finished just before me and we were laughing at all the other poor souls who were putting on their running shoes :o)
I don't think aquabike is going to be a wildly popular event. It serves two purposes: 1) a training tool for those of us who want to do the whole thing. 2) for those that can't run due to injury or what not. Let's face it, the glory comes from doing the whole event, not part of it.
40 days until I attempt the glory of the 1/2 IM at 5430.
ah...to answer the question of if you get to ride across the finish line Lance style...nope. You have to dismount and cross like anyone else going into the transition. Nobody but you knows that you're done, so no cheering. Rather anti-climatic. It's on your honor to go to the "real" finish line and turn in your timing chip.
sorry it's a bit lengthy. In a nutshell...good race. Learned lots of good stuff I'll need to do for the whole enchilada at 5430. Don't know that I'll do an aquabike again, unless I use it as a training tool.
I know I've done some pretty early morning races, but this was the first one I wish I would've brought a headlamp to. Luckily there were plently of volunteers with flashlights running around helping people find thier racks as they marked specifically where on the rack you put your bike. I still had to rumage through my bag and set things up by feel. Headlamp added to the race bag checklist.
The first wave of the swim was off just as the sun started to come up. 30 min later I was in the water and off swimming. Decided to try a different strategy this time. Usually I try to "bust a move" in the swim, because it's my strongest event. This time I went with the idea that I can put in a darn solid swim with little to no effort. So I just did my thing and took it easy. I came out of the water with a good mix of the previous two waves. Felt good!
Did my best not to rush through the transistion as 56 miles is a long time to forget to put your sunglasses on or someother stupid mistake.
First 30 miles of the bike felt pretty darn good. The hills aren't what everyone makes them out to be. They're just that...hills. When most of the course is relatively flat, they feel pretty darn good. Change things up and get out of the saddle. The last 26 miles I started to fade. The little things were starting to take their toll. I cut my aerobottle straw too short, so I was using the hand up bottles instead. One of the twiggies that held the race number on my bike came undone and the darn thing was flopping in the wind and rubbing my leg. I eventually took off the number. I know I shouldn't have, but it was that or debate the remaining 20 miles whether I should or shouldn't. Still haven't mastered the art of eating real food and biking at the same time. I was getting pretty hungry towards the end and gel just wasn't cutting it. The only hill I'd complain about was the very last hill at 55.5 miles. It's steep, everyone is crawling up it and there's a dang photographer capturing this kodak moment.
Amazingly when I got off the bike, I didn't feel too bad. (except for some chafing issues, will also add vaseline to my transition list. screw body glide, that crap came off) Another aquabike guy finished just before me and we were laughing at all the other poor souls who were putting on their running shoes :o)
I don't think aquabike is going to be a wildly popular event. It serves two purposes: 1) a training tool for those of us who want to do the whole thing. 2) for those that can't run due to injury or what not. Let's face it, the glory comes from doing the whole event, not part of it.
40 days until I attempt the glory of the 1/2 IM at 5430.
ah...to answer the question of if you get to ride across the finish line Lance style...nope. You have to dismount and cross like anyone else going into the transition. Nobody but you knows that you're done, so no cheering. Rather anti-climatic. It's on your honor to go to the "real" finish line and turn in your timing chip.