IM St Gerorge Race Report
After a good winter of training and no injuries/infections very frustrating to arrive in USA with flu ! Took all medication that was available (probably good I wasn't drug tested !) and thought would be ok as head had cleared by race day.Coughing in the swim was most uncomfortable and had a slow swim by my standards.Plan on the bike was to average 20 mph which with an FTP of 330 is very doable and I knew from doing the course loops I would only average about 18 mph up hill but get is back onthe downhill.Race day first 22 miles ok but I didn't really have much in the legs --no surprise---apologies if I coughed on anybody when passing or being passed.Bike course isn't easy but by no means the toughest and that was my 22nd IM.So had to just manage expectations ,be sensible and came in just over 6 hrs.The run is a tough course without doubt and probably toughest run I've done in terms of hills in an IM but realistically if you went out fresh you wouldn't really consider it as such.I kept up the coughing,not helped by the dust clouds generated by the race vehicles driving up the hard shoulder,managed to run all first half but had to take a few extended aid stations last third.Came in 12 hrs 19 mins and 12 th in age group--about an hour longer than I think I could have done fit--nevermind --don't get mad get even --roll on Canada in August.
But best race I've done for scenery and organisation --and I thought Canada was good--this is even better.My son did 10.47 and finished togther with his friend from University.
Eric Blakie
Comments
Good to meet you Eric and to see you out there.
Good placing regardless. Being sick and having to deal with the heat as a big man were double whammies.
Hope to get back to Canada Ironman someday. Have fun up there.