What a day it was. Yesterday was hot, humid and
water temps at 80 degrees. Had a little rain last
night that made the morning air heavy with
moisture & fog. Race started on time, and then a
short distance in the bike we got rain, more rain,
thunderstorms, some lighting and even more rain.
The skies cleared and many ended up suffering in
the heat on the run.
Still some very fast times today with all the rain.
I believe the winner was in the low 4 hour range.
Even with the massive rain, congrats to all you
who raced. This was one of the best run races
I have witness. You all raced pretty clean today
and sure made my day as the Official.
Thanks to Muncie staff and the 2 F.A.S.T. club
members that helped me out on I-69. I owe
you guys …big time. Your kindness will be repaid
next time I see you.
Yes, in spite of the rain on the bike it was pretty fast day. Very good day. And it might have been the cleanest race I’ve been in in a long time. Bama, I bet there wasn’t many penalties, were there? It might have been your stern pre-race talk.
Here’s a big time “atta boy” to my friend Michael Smith. Smitty was 4th overall. At 40 (ish) he’s stompin’ on guys half his age.
It’s enough to give one pause…and hope.
Congratulations to everyone who raced today. What a steam bath.
Yeah, that was nuts on the bike. Really pouring down hard. Last night I took out the seatpost on my bike and proceded to pour water out of the frame. That prompted me to then take off the cranks and bottom bracket, but the bb shell wasn’t bad. All my clothes were soaked, but I was glad that my cell phone and digital camera were okay in my transition bag.
Anyways, about the race- it was my first 1/2 Ironman and my goal was to break 4:30 and get into the top 15. My splits ended up:
Swim: 29.53
Bike: 2:18.51
Run: 1:30.32
Total: 4:22.24, and 8th place overall (1st in age group). I think I may have overcooked it a little bit on the bike because my legs were toast for the last half of the run. Just absolutely dead. I think for my next 1/2 I need to put a bit more emphasis on my run training, and be sure to hit those long workouts. Overall, though, I’m very pleased with the result. There was only one Pro at the race, and he got 5th.
Edit: The race support was excellent. Lots of volunteers and overall a very well run event.
It WAS a clean race. Cleanest I’ve witnessed in a long time. I started in the last wave and came out in 46:xx ouch! Had a 2:37 on the bike and passed quite a few. No drafting and only one blocker and they probably just had a mental lapse. Ya just gotta love those newly paved roads, man that was sweet. Props to Nancy Mcelwain the overall fastest female, but not the winner…still does not make much sense to me? Apparently you have to reg elite/pro to be eligible as “The Winner.”
Squid - I hope I was not to hard at the pre-race
meeting but was making sure everyone new the
rules and how they were going to be called on
race day. I just made sure everyone new how
it was going to be, a bit stern but direct. Made
my day to be able to look over and see many,
many athletes walking the bikes and the ones
on the bikes…having the helmet on.
Chris W. - Mike Smith is becoming a favorite racer.
Very nice guy and truely enjoy talking to him
at the races. Just glad he is not in my age group
for a few more years. Tell you a story here, last
year he won the Mideast Region Championships
overall, recieved his award, got his picture taking
with the Colts cheerleaders and then I look over
as he left, he gives his overall trophy to my litte
3 1/2 year old daughter. Could not believe it and
he would not take it back. She still to this day will
carry it around and she is proud of it. Mike Smith
…you are a class act in my book.
Chappy - Nancy Mc E. is fast. I got to know her over
the last 4 years as a Board member and had nice
talks with her. Hated to see her go onto coaching
but she is very good and fast and super nice.
Jaretj & Mark Squires - again THANKS. I have already
told a few club members that “if it is going to
happen…it will happen to me”. That had to be
craziest thing to happen to me in a long time and
you two saved me. I was tired from talking to all
of you athletes at 6 meetings, 4 hours of sleep,
chasing you all day in the pounding rain (getting
hit by rain at 30mph+ does sting) then feeling the
heat when the sun came out, the I-69 incident.
It was nice getting home for some rest and back
to Muncie this morning all day for the kids race.
Again…you two will get a dinner on me at
either Steelhead, Sylvania, Tri America, Columbus
Int., or Mideast Region Championships. It is the
least I can do for you guys.
But remember…every race, same speech.
Thanks guys and to all of you athletes in Muncie.
Ya looked good, raced cleaned and laid down some
fast times in a torrential rainstorm.
Mark - fantastic pre-race speech. I didn’t see any drafting on the course and I give you a lot of credit for that. (“I probably know a third of you in this room, but tomorrow I don’t know any of you.”) Thanks for your efforts.
Greg - congrats on a solid race! I spoke to the Roark folks at the expo and am excited to see how your bike turns out. I’m definitely moving a little slow today!
I had a great day (for me) - averaged almost 24mph on the way to a 10 minute p.r. Time for another bowl of ice cream!
I am glad she went into coaching, except each week when I look at the training schedules she prepared for me. Nancy is awesome, we went to Lyle Lovett St night and she said she won because she didn’t stop for lightning and the pros did. She is too modest.
