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Brian Hagan - Grand Rapids Half Iron Race Report 9-June-2019

Brian HaganBrian Hagan
in Racing Forum 🏎

My Finish Time and Place (Overall? Age Group?) 

5:16:20 10/35; 56/209

My Race Goals / Expectation

1) 2:30 Bike (actual was 2:35:56)
2) 1:50 Run (actual was 1:52:10)
3) Solid swim - no freak out, good sighting (actual 1:40/100 yd pace; very good for me)

How Did the Race Unfold?

The swim (37:16 per my watch; 39:49 per race time) went great. I took off steady and sighted every sixth stroke as practiced. I maybe had a 10 second break where I did breast stoke to gain composure, but swam steady 1:40/100yd pace the whole way. I set my watch to auto lap every 500 yards and I actually show getting faster 1:46, 1:40; 1:38: 1:36: and then 1:43 for the last 200 yards. I am very pleased with the swim.

T1 - (3:00) Used wet-suit stripper and then long run through all sprint and olympic bikes to get to mine. It was rainy so lots of stuff covered in plastic bags. No issues. I was the first person to my rack, so I had to be careful not to mess up my neighbors

Bike - 2:35:56 - My gel flask went flying out of my pocket in the first few miles and I decided to let it go. I drank four bottles of GE on the bike. NP 218 - VI 1.03 - 21.5 MPH
That was the best VI of my life! I road steady the whole way! My power never had a drop off. The roads were crappy at the turn around (miles 25 to 33), so that's the spot where my power dropped a few watts. I was hoping for 220 NP and I averaged 218, so pretty darn close.
I was solo most of the way. This effort was all me. No drafting. This race used to be a crowded draft fest, but the numbers have fallen. When I got close to T2 I was in the middle of the blob of the olympic racers. I was passing through them like crazy. It was somewhat motivating to see how many I could pass. This is the 5th time I've done this race, I don't recall ever catching up to this many of the Olympic distance racers. Even though I did not get the 2:30, I gave everything I had and road a really good bike.

It rained the last 30 to 40 minutes, so I turned my visor upside down so I could see.

http://tpks.ws/6GWWIKEPYOACA7RSW5F546QSJU

https://www.strava.com/activities/2437052697

T2 - Had to get shoes out of garbage bag and socks out of zip-lock, but I wanted to start with dry shoes, so I did not mind the extra time.
Run - (1:52:10) PR run for this race. Again, this was my 5th time doing this race. I averaged 8:39 pace. I slowed on the second loop, but not too much. I could have pushed a little more, but I was pushing as hard as I could the last three miles. It rained the whole run, but I love running in the rain.

http://tpks.ws/ZA44HAJYMIHHUJ5XXLD6C4TQ7M

https://www.strava.com/activities/2437041203/overview

IMG_4880.jpg


What Would You Do Differently Next Time?
Swim - Nothing
Bike - nothing except maybe eaten something. I know I let the gel flask go, it would have maybe helped the run to have another 100 to 200 calories.
Run - Taken gels at the early aid stations to maybe help push the pace up on the second loop.
What Should Your Teammates Know About this Race?
Although it was not a PR; it really was a PR. My PR by time was aided by a lot of drafting on an over crowded bike. The number of participants has fallen and made it a much better bike as far as drafting goes. I have never ridden that fast for that long in my life without the aid of someone's wheel. I am very proud that effort.
I really like the plan you put me on after Wisconsin. I know Rattler was in play for a bit, but RD => OS => Half bike focus was great. I am looking forward to Half run focus!
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