Half ironman

A good day - was 65th, I think out off just over 1500 (with 20 pro's)
Learnt a lot

Swim - 32mins 1.2miles (chaotic start - should have seeded myself nearer the start instead of the back!)
Cycle - http://connect.garmin.com/activity/37781027
Run - http://connect.garmin.com/activity/37781030

Great weather as you can see.

Camping was a good idea - right at the start line so more sleep. However really cold overnight - shivering all night long in normal clothes and duvet - had to sit in the car for half an hour with the engine running. Kept thinking wasting a fair bit of stored carbohydrate.

Swim start as above - i've always started in the middle. No point in getting swum over at the beginning but this year should have maybe gone fast for 5mins at the start to get in a good draft before settling down to normal pace. Instead I was stuck in the washing machine with no where to go. Felt comfortable and just followed someone's feet to the finish - 32mins. May be time to develop some proper open water skills.

T1 Run up hill from lake to T1, bent toe back on a tree root - odd as I was thinking the day before that part looked a bit dodgy. Two things to improve here - know how i'm going to take wetsuit off instead of messing around doing various dances. Running in bike shoes on grass is never the fastest option - need to get used to having them on the bike. Had number belt waiting on bike - bit of a fuss to put on as were gloves.

Cycle - heart rate high and feeling ok going to fast - need work on slowing down and building through the bike. Pretty flat and fast for first part of loop - major descent at the bottom of loop. Aero bottle straw rattling around, very annoying. Northerly second half of loop pay back with some steep climbs - no one smiling anymore. Lots of support where road climbs to meet southern end of lake. Second loop easier as knew what to expect lots of drafting going on as everyone would bunch up on the climbs. Ate well not much nausea. End of bike descent very fast - good opportunity to stretch legs. 3hr01min

T2 - pretty good transition - could maybe speed it up by having everything grouped together grabbing it and sorting it out whilst running???

Run - Hadn't researched this and wasn't prepared for this. Really hilly, nearly all off road. Elastic laces not up to the job feet sliding around. Favoured the light runners with good strength. Very steep downhill on first lap - cramped up in hamstrings - thought there was no way I would be able to tackle it 3 times - walked a bit thought about the mechanics of it and ran down backwards which kept it at bay - seemed to find my legs as the race went on - again like the bike need to contain my enthusiasm and build into it. Could have benefited from a bit more fuel. Seemed to manage with drinking at the aid stations better than usual. Lost 2 places at the end as couldn't overtake as camera man in the way. 1hr38 

Had a good day - not sure if i'd do that every year.