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Soigneur
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 Posted: 01/12/03 - 18:40 Post subject: Half Ironman Team Race Report
We tried not to wake our fellow campers as we crept about getting ready, as it was an early start with the teams briefing at 6.20am. We watched the individuals line up and it was an impressive site in the harbour with a cruise ship overshadowing the athletes and the helicopter overhead. The weather was perfect - almost no wind and warm but overcast. Unfortunately this later turned to hot and muggy, but I guess we couldn't have it all.
Team swimmers set off at 7.20 and our 14 year old swimmer was outstanding, coming in just ahead of mid pack. Pretty exceptional given that she doesn't swim in a wetsuit and hadn't swum in such a big pack before. She gave my hub a great start on the bike, and he quickly picked up a large number of the other team riders, and only got passed by two. It was a four lap 90k bike course along the beachfront road, which also included a number of speed humps in one section  . He had a sub 2:30 bike time, putting him in the top 10% of team riders which included some rep and former Commonwealth Games cyclists  . Not bad for an old guy  .
I gave him a kiss and headed off on the run course, which was a 2 lapper around a dirt track and then out and back along the ocean front. It was a beautiful scenic course, but it was sooo hot and muggy by 10.30 and I found myself really struggling even on the first lap. Having gashed my foot on a rock while swimming Christmas Eve (I did wonder if that was my punishment for boasting about my summer holiday  ), I only had one run between then and the race, and in spite of doing some cycling instead, I was feeling pretty underdone. I seemed to be getting passed by everybody, but I just had to ignore that and try and settle into a rhythm. My heart rate monitor decided to not work properly, so I didn't know if I was feeling so crappy due to a high heart rate or it was just one of those days. I thought my mid way split of 1.03 seemed pretty good for how I felt, and I crossed the line with 2.13 on my watch. Being a 9min improvement on my first half, I was pretty happy in spite of everything. So you can imagine i was darn annoyed to find out a few hours later that not only did my heart rate monitor not read properly, it also must have stopped a time or two, as my actual time was 2.20  . But this was still a 2min improvement, so it wasn't all bad  .
We finished somewhere about 120/150 teams which was okay, but I couldn't help but notice that had I run as fast as the average runner in the field, we would have had a top 20 finish, possibly even a top 10  . But we finished the race and enjoyed ourselves along the way, so I am sure with some speed training and help from my cyber buddies, we'll be right up there next year .
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AlaninTX
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Joined: 14 May 2002
Posts: 6582
Location: Austin, Texas
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Posted: 01/12/03 - 18:45 Post subject:
Wow! Sounds like a fun race and that a good time was had by all. Congrats to you and your teammates.
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copteacher
Adjunct
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Joined: 08 Jun 2002
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Location: Teaching in the Halls of Justice
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Posted: 01/12/03 - 19:06 Post subject:
Very nice report. Don't be to hard on yourself. It was a team effort.
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purple hayes
Frightened Inmate #2
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Joined: 14 May 2002
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Location: ON YOUR LEFT!
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Posted: 01/12/03 - 21:53 Post subject:
Sounds like a fub race. Glad you had a good time.
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Cappy
Excelent
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Joined: 16 May 2002
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Location: Spreadsheetylvania
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Posted: 01/13/03 - 05:49 Post subject:
Great report, good team effort
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genie
Master of Prissface
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Joined: 14 May 2002
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Location: Finding serenity one day at a time
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Posted: 01/13/03 - 10:56 Post subject:
Good job to all of you, Rache!! That sounds like fun! I have given up the idea of being a triathlete but I'd love to do the run on a team like this!
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runswithscissors
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Joined: 15 May 2002
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Location: In a badger state of mind
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Posted: 01/13/03 - 12:47 Post subject:
Way to go, Rache! Sounds like you had a great time, despite the weather.
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coachmarkos
my boys could swim
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Joined: 14 May 2002
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Location: 1st in AFC West
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Posted: 01/13/03 - 13:22 Post subject:
Great report.
To improve your time in tough conditions is always good!
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shelee
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Posted: 01/13/03 - 13:33 Post subject:
Oh my gosh! Does that ever sound like FUN! Where do you find team members? I'd love to do something like that! Great job, you and your husband!!! Way to go!!!!! 
Shelly
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jrjo
Gone Fishin
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Joined: 15 May 2002
Posts: 16451
Location: Lake Wobegon, MN
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Posted: 01/13/03 - 15:26 Post subject:
Good goin' Rache. Not running since xmas, I can't imagine. You've got some guts! Thanks for the report, it's good stuff as I think about the running leg of a triathlon team I'm in this spring. Good motivation when you're "on the team" 
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flarunner
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Posted: 01/13/03 - 17:25 Post subject:
Great job, Rache! Negative splits too!
Triathlons are just so much fun!
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