I forgot something in the first post and have added it to the bottom:
Holly asked me to type "in my own words" about the Ironman 70.3 Branson trip. I'll start off saying that this isn't the real Ironman, it is only a half Ironman, or as I like to call it the Aluminum man-- a little joke for the chemists in the group (hint look at protons). None the less, this thing was very very tough!!! Okay, so the run down of the weekend.
The Fletcher team was short two for the trip as Maddy had been traveled out so Holly and Maddy stayed home on Friday. I left with a student that came as a spectator on Friday about 3pm. We had great fellowship and discussions about life, science, spiritual matters etc., and that made the trip there go very fast. We got in about 11pm and then stayed up and talked with the group tell way to late. I forgot my pillow (1 of a long list of "forgots") and my allergies caused me to scratch out my eyeballs, leaving me with my worst nights sleep in recent memory.
On Saturday we spent a good portion of the day getting ready for the race. Had to check in our bike at T1 (transition 1). We drove the bike course and that pretty much scared me to death! They say on their website it is a "challenging bike course of rolling hills through the Ozarks" but forgot the word mountain somewhere in the description! We then had to check in our running shoes at T2. Well that led to forgot #2, although I will simply chalk this up to a blindside. I didn't know we had to check our running shoes in the day before and I only brought the one pair of shoes!!!!!!! Fortunately one of my Aluminum man comrades had some sandals I was able to borrow. Oh, forgot to mention started the day off right with all you can eat breakfast buffet for 5.95! That was pretty much AWESOME! We spent the rest of the day trying to find forgot number 3....KT Tape! I couldn't believe it but the entire town of Branson did not have KT Tape and my knee is still cursing them today about it. Bought a pillow and headed to bed for the big day.
The Aluminum man starts with a 1.2mile swim. I have only swam 3 times in the last 5 or so years before this race. Fortunately a week ago Kevin, Aaron, and myself swam 1.5 miles at a lake here in DFW to see if we could do it or not. We knew we were going to suck, but at least it wouldn't be death. Here is a pic of me looking like a goof as I get ready to go in. (check out that farmer tan!)
Finished the swim in an abysmal time. I swam the 1.2 miles in 48 minutes to put me at 890th of the 1000 who finished (although there were supposedly 1500 who started and 1/3 of the participants dropped out...don't know for sure though) Kevin was about 4.5 minutes faster and Aaron about 2 minutes slower. The three of us couldn't swim in a straight line to save our lives. In fact, Aaron got tapped in the head by a kayaker with his oar to tell him he was going off course :-) The picture below is the three of us getting ready to head out from T1 and onto the HILLY 56 mile bike ride....I had never ridden 56 miles at one time before this weekend (49 was my previous long and that was with two 30 minute breaks visiting my dad and brother in it)
So the bike ride was very beautiful and this goes without saying but it was also very challenging. I now know why people spend ridiculous amounts of money on racing bikes and racing wheels. On the down hills I would tuck as much as I could and I never could get going faster than 38mph. People with really good tires would just go flying by me and their bike probably wasn't shimmering as much as mine. I would then catch them on the uphill just to get smoked on the downhill again. I'm in no hurry to go out and buy a 2000 dollar pair of racing wheels, but at least now I understand why people do it.
So for the craziest part of the whole trip. The three of us pretty much rode the bike together....pretty much. On the last loop I was going up a medium hill right before the hill we called The Monster. I took a shot of Gatorade and while trying to put it back I knocked the bike pump off my bike. So I stopped in the middle of the hill and put the pump back on. I then started up the hill and then made it up The Monster for the last time (they had us loop the bike route). After The Monster you then then made a sharp turn to complete the loop. I saw Aaron and Kevin on the other side and they were about 150 meters ahead of me. When I came around the sharp curve my bike slid out from under me and I crashed. I of course was pissed and therefore jumped right back on and started pedaling (this was mile 44). I got about a half mile and realized my front tire looked low. I had a medium downhill to go down so I went down it and realized it was reducing my control on the bike. I then went up a little hill and stopped at the top to look at the tire. I didn't have a low tire I had a completely flat tire! Unfortanately the spare tube was with Aaron who was ahead of me with Kevin. So I pumped up the tire with my hand pump so I could make it down the big down hill (the only one I could ever get 35+ on) so I wouldn't lose control or anything. The pump up job helped me stay in control but it was effecting my speed as I barely cracked 30 on it that time. I then had to go up the 2nd biggest hill of the course for a third time with a flat tire. I made it without stopping and when I got to the top I stopped to pump up my tire again. At this point I had ridden 3 miles babying my flat and decided to just ride the last 9 miles with it flat. The last 9 miles were not part of the loop they were having us do and for the most part was down hill with what I would call true rolling hills, you know the ones you actually can bike up without killing yourself.
When I got to T2 Kevin and Aaron where no longer there. I couldn't really blame them as I was 15 or so minutes behind at this point. I was however ready for some revenge and made it my goal to catch them on the 13.1 mile run. For the run you ran the same loop 3 times. This would normally be a little annoying but I didn't mind it this time and it helped me to know if I was gaining on them or not. I caught Aaron halfway through the second loop and Kevin about 3/4 through the 3rd loop. When it was all said and done I was ranked 289th in the run overall. Oh, forgot to mention with my flat I was ranked 880th overall.
I finished the race with a time of 7 hours 12 minutes (and who's counting) 9 seconds for a finishing place of 728. I really thought I would break 7 hours and have to admit wasn't impressed with my finishing place, but considering the incredible lack of training I did I can't complain. I'm just glad I finished and didn't drown in the first 1.2 of the 70.3. I have to admit I already want to do another and put a little more training into it and see if I could get under 6.
Here is the three of us at the end. We are all smiles, but we are insanely sore in reality. In case you couldn't tell I am the scrawny one in the middle.
Amendment #1
I forgot to mention that on Saturday while we were driving all over the place Kevin and Aaron sang all kinds of songs and silliness. Anyway one of the songs they sang was based off this YouTube video. They should me the video and it is hilarious!!!! So I wanted to share it with you. Watch the two links in order. The first link is the actual news cast
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=KJVwfJs8Eqo&feature=youtube_gdata_player
The second link is the song that somebody created based off of the news cast. The first minute is the song....the second is the guy who wrote and he sucks so just listen to the first minute.
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=YEvNS5TzvwM&feature=related
Holly asked me to type "in my own words" about the Ironman 70.3 Branson trip. I'll start off saying that this isn't the real Ironman, it is only a half Ironman, or as I like to call it the Aluminum man-- a little joke for the chemists in the group (hint look at protons). None the less, this thing was very very tough!!! Okay, so the run down of the weekend.
The Fletcher team was short two for the trip as Maddy had been traveled out so Holly and Maddy stayed home on Friday. I left with a student that came as a spectator on Friday about 3pm. We had great fellowship and discussions about life, science, spiritual matters etc., and that made the trip there go very fast. We got in about 11pm and then stayed up and talked with the group tell way to late. I forgot my pillow (1 of a long list of "forgots") and my allergies caused me to scratch out my eyeballs, leaving me with my worst nights sleep in recent memory.
On Saturday we spent a good portion of the day getting ready for the race. Had to check in our bike at T1 (transition 1). We drove the bike course and that pretty much scared me to death! They say on their website it is a "challenging bike course of rolling hills through the Ozarks" but forgot the word mountain somewhere in the description! We then had to check in our running shoes at T2. Well that led to forgot #2, although I will simply chalk this up to a blindside. I didn't know we had to check our running shoes in the day before and I only brought the one pair of shoes!!!!!!! Fortunately one of my Aluminum man comrades had some sandals I was able to borrow. Oh, forgot to mention started the day off right with all you can eat breakfast buffet for 5.95! That was pretty much AWESOME! We spent the rest of the day trying to find forgot number 3....KT Tape! I couldn't believe it but the entire town of Branson did not have KT Tape and my knee is still cursing them today about it. Bought a pillow and headed to bed for the big day.
The Aluminum man starts with a 1.2mile swim. I have only swam 3 times in the last 5 or so years before this race. Fortunately a week ago Kevin, Aaron, and myself swam 1.5 miles at a lake here in DFW to see if we could do it or not. We knew we were going to suck, but at least it wouldn't be death. Here is a pic of me looking like a goof as I get ready to go in. (check out that farmer tan!)
Finished the swim in an abysmal time. I swam the 1.2 miles in 48 minutes to put me at 890th of the 1000 who finished (although there were supposedly 1500 who started and 1/3 of the participants dropped out...don't know for sure though) Kevin was about 4.5 minutes faster and Aaron about 2 minutes slower. The three of us couldn't swim in a straight line to save our lives. In fact, Aaron got tapped in the head by a kayaker with his oar to tell him he was going off course :-) The picture below is the three of us getting ready to head out from T1 and onto the HILLY 56 mile bike ride....I had never ridden 56 miles at one time before this weekend (49 was my previous long and that was with two 30 minute breaks visiting my dad and brother in it)
So the bike ride was very beautiful and this goes without saying but it was also very challenging. I now know why people spend ridiculous amounts of money on racing bikes and racing wheels. On the down hills I would tuck as much as I could and I never could get going faster than 38mph. People with really good tires would just go flying by me and their bike probably wasn't shimmering as much as mine. I would then catch them on the uphill just to get smoked on the downhill again. I'm in no hurry to go out and buy a 2000 dollar pair of racing wheels, but at least now I understand why people do it.So for the craziest part of the whole trip. The three of us pretty much rode the bike together....pretty much. On the last loop I was going up a medium hill right before the hill we called The Monster. I took a shot of Gatorade and while trying to put it back I knocked the bike pump off my bike. So I stopped in the middle of the hill and put the pump back on. I then started up the hill and then made it up The Monster for the last time (they had us loop the bike route). After The Monster you then then made a sharp turn to complete the loop. I saw Aaron and Kevin on the other side and they were about 150 meters ahead of me. When I came around the sharp curve my bike slid out from under me and I crashed. I of course was pissed and therefore jumped right back on and started pedaling (this was mile 44). I got about a half mile and realized my front tire looked low. I had a medium downhill to go down so I went down it and realized it was reducing my control on the bike. I then went up a little hill and stopped at the top to look at the tire. I didn't have a low tire I had a completely flat tire! Unfortanately the spare tube was with Aaron who was ahead of me with Kevin. So I pumped up the tire with my hand pump so I could make it down the big down hill (the only one I could ever get 35+ on) so I wouldn't lose control or anything. The pump up job helped me stay in control but it was effecting my speed as I barely cracked 30 on it that time. I then had to go up the 2nd biggest hill of the course for a third time with a flat tire. I made it without stopping and when I got to the top I stopped to pump up my tire again. At this point I had ridden 3 miles babying my flat and decided to just ride the last 9 miles with it flat. The last 9 miles were not part of the loop they were having us do and for the most part was down hill with what I would call true rolling hills, you know the ones you actually can bike up without killing yourself.
When I got to T2 Kevin and Aaron where no longer there. I couldn't really blame them as I was 15 or so minutes behind at this point. I was however ready for some revenge and made it my goal to catch them on the 13.1 mile run. For the run you ran the same loop 3 times. This would normally be a little annoying but I didn't mind it this time and it helped me to know if I was gaining on them or not. I caught Aaron halfway through the second loop and Kevin about 3/4 through the 3rd loop. When it was all said and done I was ranked 289th in the run overall. Oh, forgot to mention with my flat I was ranked 880th overall.
I finished the race with a time of 7 hours 12 minutes (and who's counting) 9 seconds for a finishing place of 728. I really thought I would break 7 hours and have to admit wasn't impressed with my finishing place, but considering the incredible lack of training I did I can't complain. I'm just glad I finished and didn't drown in the first 1.2 of the 70.3. I have to admit I already want to do another and put a little more training into it and see if I could get under 6.
Here is the three of us at the end. We are all smiles, but we are insanely sore in reality. In case you couldn't tell I am the scrawny one in the middle.Amendment #1
I forgot to mention that on Saturday while we were driving all over the place Kevin and Aaron sang all kinds of songs and silliness. Anyway one of the songs they sang was based off this YouTube video. They should me the video and it is hilarious!!!! So I wanted to share it with you. Watch the two links in order. The first link is the actual news cast
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=KJVwfJs8Eqo&feature=youtube_gdata_player
The second link is the song that somebody created based off of the news cast. The first minute is the song....the second is the guy who wrote and he sucks so just listen to the first minute.
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=YEvNS5TzvwM&feature=related
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