2012 Kansas Half Ironman Report
This event always seems to have wind, heat, water and humidity issues. During race check in they basically already determined that this was going to be a non-wetsuit legal race and you could here the hushhhh go over the crowd as people panic. I was not really concerned since I felt confidence in my swimming ability.
Race Morning 1 am did a Ensure, woke up a 3:30 and did another Ensure along with a small bowl of oatmeal and packed and off to the Venue. This is a split T1-T2 which I actually like since it allows for more room in the transitions. They came over the speaker that water temp is 76.8. I set up T2 Shoes and running visor and head down to T1 about 1/2 mile away. I set up T2 and then we waited for the start.
My goal was 5:30 but knowing this was non-wetsuit legal I knew my goals were unreachable along with the wind gusting at 25-30 and the temperature over 90 Degrees and the humidity high as well.
Swim: The swim was ok still fought the normal 1-2 ft wakes as last year but was ready this year for that. Finished the swim in about 46 minutes which was a 5 min improvement from last year with a wetsuit.
T1: This was easy since no wetsuit but I had to run my bike basically all the way through the transition area with my bike shoes on T1 was around 2 minutes.
Bike: Headed out on the bike course wanting to take in 3 bottles of gatorade with gatorlytes and 1 bottle of on course IM perform and doing 4 bottles of water with 3 Gu gels. This all went according to plan but did my 2 bottle of gatorade and 1 1/2 bottles of perform and only 2 Gu's. Bike course was very windy and there were some big climbs. My goal watts was 185 for the first 30 min and 190 after that and stay below 210-215 on hills. I knew I was doing things right according to the EN plan because everyone was passing me on the uphills and I was passing them on the downhills as I figured. The last 10 miles on the bike I downed 2 bottles of water to hydrate for the run. Coming into the park there were about 1.5 miles till you get to the crowd and i had to pee and I have never did this before so I said here we go and IT WORKED i was so proud of myself 
Felt good coming off the bike at around 2:53 and legs felt good. 2011 I did a 3:02 bike split. My final bike numbers were NP190 TSS 202 and my IF .835 so I hit exactly what I was trying to hit.
T2: Shoes on and go out in 1:30 or close to that.
Run: O boy here we go. My goal was to come out and run 9 m/m and then try and drop to 8:45 for 7 this changed after mile 3. I did do my 9 m/m for the first 3 but felt like I was melting from the inside out. I stopped and walked at every aid station and I felt good for a 1/2 mile then overheated again and again and again. I had no chioce but to slow down or I was going to blow up totally. At mile 7 I got a left hamstring cramp that darn near put me down but I stretched it out and continued on. Mile 8-9 I hooked up with a guy from New York and we ran together and he was a miserable I as was. Run time was about 2:12 and 2011 was 2:02.
Summary: In 2011 I did they course to me in much better conditions than in 2012 in 6:02 This year I did the course in 5:55
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