Race Result

Racer:	Matthew Talbot
Race:	Eagleman
Date:	Sunday, June 8, 2003
Location:	Cambridge, MD
Race Type:	Triathlon - Half Ironman
Age Group:	Male 30 - 34
Time:	5:08:30
Overall Place:	434
Age Group Place:	100

Race Report:

I thought Id post a report for the first time ever - my Eagleman - 2nd 1/2 Ironman, first here in the US. I enjoyed it a lot more than the Australian 1/2 Ironman at Tuncurry/Forster in NSW.

My build up involved many miles on the wheels and the shoes, and I had been swimming 2 - 3 times a week for months.
Over winter I got to know the inside of the garage very well as I sat there spinning for countless hours. I was pretty excited about the race, had everything planned and was ready. So the Monday before the race I went to work without my house keys. I got home and had to perform a rather tricky leap and scramble to my balcony - result a very sore backside as I tore a muscle. Luckily it didnt hurt when cycling and by race day was just a background annoyance.
But that wasnt all. On my last swim practice on the Thursday I had a massive calf cramp and half drowned as I screamed in pain. Same leg. Not my favourite appendage. Looking back I didnt drink enough that day. All I could do was hope the two injuries wouldnt affect the race too badly. And they didnt at all.

Come race day, the rain had actually stopped just like they
promised. I had a great transition spot, near the bike exit, so
hardly any distance to go with the bike. I decided to change tactics and put the bike shoes on before I left transition - better the outsides get muddy than the insides. Good decision.

I was in the second mens 30-34 wave start, it felt like the race was half over before it was our turn. But it did mean we could watch the earlier waves walk for 1/4 mile before it was deep enough to start swimming. So at the gun, I got moving early did a number of dolphin dives and immediately had clear water. I swam consistently throughout, loved every second of it, and at the end was passing a number of people from my wave, so I actually sped up. I exited the water in 32 mins and was surprised at how slow it was, but figured everyone had to endure the same so ran through transition and jumped on the bike. Apparantly I came out 13th or so in the wave, so pretty happy about that.

The whole bike was a blast, I was going 1-2 miles faster than
planned, but wasnt putting in as much effort as planned either so I just went with it. This in spite of it feeling like I was going into a headwind the whole way - that wind was very deceptive. The scenery was amazing for parts of it, the road was flat and smooth, and I didnt puncture. What more can you ask for? I was consistently with a group of similarly paced riders who kept passing each other which was amusing, especially those who thought they'd dropped me but hadnt. You cant just speed up to pass someone and then slow down again and expect it to be over!! My bike split, at 2:35, was a good 10 minutes quicker than anticipated but I felt strong heading out on the run anyway. Perhaps too strong mentally. I really felt the sub 5 hr was within my grasp. (Can you tell where this is going?)

I usually run off the bike very well and this was no exception. I got underway with a couple 8 minute miles and was feeling great.
Then I started making mistakes. I passed this runner who had a very annoying breathing pattern - and I let it get to me. Unfortunately he chose me as the one to stick with so I couldnt shake him - and I started not running my own race - I sped up to try and loose him.
Then at mile 4 I noticed I was 2 minutes up on my time and I think by then I had already blown it. I still felt great at mile 6 but just after the turn around, I crashed. The heavy breather soon passed and I resisted the urge to trip him. Im regretting that now.
Actually the lesson I learned was to focus on my race and tune out non-important things. I did do that after a while but not soon enough.

So by the time I reached the 7 mile mark my race was essentially
over. Id done the first half in 46 mins, but the last 6 miles took me 1 hr and 11 mins, much of it walking. All those people I had left far behind, now passed me again. Naturally as I got closer and closer to the finish I kept recalculating the speed I needed to go to break 5 hrs, and at about 2 miles I knew it was all over, so I saved up everything I had in order to run the finishing shute. Total time 5:08.

Now that Im over the dissapointing 1/2 of the run and have begun to focus on the good parts Im really happy with most of the race and I'm making sure I learn from my mistakes.

Finally a question for the organizers:
1. What happened to the rock band they promisd at the half way ofthe run? I had my requests all ready!

Oh and where the heck is Annie Oakleys house?