Steelhead Redux

It's been a while, but I thought y'all deserve to know what happens when you don't train for nearly 4 months and then race in a half-Ironman. It hurts like hell, that's what happens.

My time in yesterday's Whirlpool Steelhead half-Ironman was around 6:10, nearly an hour slower than last year's 5:23, but in many ways it was a more satisfying race. Since April I'd done a grand total of 3 runs, 2 swims and, maybe, 6 medium length bike rides (40-80 miles.) There are lots of reasons, er, excuses, but none of them really matter. What matters is I showed up on race day. I focused on maintaining an easy pace, hydration, nutrition and having fun.

CoachKaryn told me not to think of it as 4 months of slacking off. Instead, consider it the world's longest taper! Right.

I spent the first half of the swim fighting the "Holy Shit! I don't belong here!" demons. Then I got tired of being swam over by all the waves behind me and settled down. The demons resurfaced in the bike's first 20 miles. I fought 'em off again. I finished the bike with enought time in the bank that a 10:00 minute per mile run pace would've produced a sub-6:00 time. I was dead on that pace until mile 10 when the heat brought it all crashing down. But I wasn't the only one walking. I saw more carnage on the course yesterday than in any other race I've ever done.

Anyway, another vertical finish. Today I hurt like hell. But maybe I got my mojo back too. We'll see.