Blog » Miami 70.3, 2011 - Half Ironman Debut
Miami 70.3, 2011 - Half Ironman Debut
I arrived in Miami Monday before the race, straight from Galveston. Miami isn't the ideal place to train, but this wasn't a bad thing as it forced a very light taper. A massive thanks to Pat Mac for hosting me and to Bevan for sorting it out. It was great having a guide to get things done and one of the big benefits of a home stay. Come Thursday though I was in to the hotel and in race mode. My mate from Germany, Horst Reichel, arrived Friday and gave me a few pointers on what to expect and how to get the most out of racing longer distance, mainly nutrition!
Race morning arrived and we were up at 4.00am. Although I hate getting out of bed that early, I definitely prefer the early start. It had decided to rain cats and dogs uncharacteristically for Miami, which threw a bit of a curve ball at everyone. We rode down to the race and arrived at 5am and were informed that it would be a wetsuit swim. I double checked this as we were in Miami and although it was raining it was still warm and the water even warmer. I was assured that it WAS a wetsuit swim by the race announcer. The reason I double checked this was because I didn't bring my wetsuit down to the race site refusing to believe it could be a wetsuit swim in MIAMI - Rookie error. A $40 taxi later and I had my wetsuit only to be approached by the announcer who then apologised for making me 'walk' back to the hotel to get my wetsuit, as he had made a mistake and it was a NON wetsuit swim. I informed him that in fact I hadn't walked, I had taxied and he owed me $40! Anyway I put that behind me pretty quickly and was happy that it was infact non-wetsuit, as I believe that every (I could swear a lot here) race should be non-wetsuit when the water is 24d and the air even warmer!
I didnt feel as good swimming as in Galveston, but opened up a lead early on and cruised through the swim exiting with about a 30second lead. This was cut to about 15 by the time I found my bike (the problems of burrowing a bike!) and got on the road. The group behind me consisted of Matt Reed, Michael Raelert, and numerous others. To my surprise I rode away from them and seemed to have opened up a decent gap by 15-20km. I was even more surprised because I was riding within myself and felt great. However, I was caught at 35km by the strongest riders who were 1.30 behind out of the swim. Bertrand a Frenchmen, Horst and Rich Allen from GBR. Rich carried on riding through and I jumped in behind for a bit before realising the others were right behind me and I then dropped back to the 'group'. Rich kept charging and lead off the bike. It wasn't until Sebastian Kienle came past about 25miles that the pace heated up with Raelert deciding to chase a bit and Matty Reed also. At the turn around we probably had up to 15 guys, but by the time we hit half way back it was at 10 and at about KM 70 someone in front of me lost a wheel and the group split. I thought it would close as it usually did and when I realised it wouldn't it was too late for me to close it. That little error probably cost me 1minute and is the only thing that in hindsite I would have changed about the race.
On to the run I was 3.30 down on Allen and Kiele. I had some good jelly legs getting off the bike, but overall the legs felt pretty decent and I ran the first lap well and was holding 8th spot and only lost a couple of minutess at the most to the lead guys. As I started to head out on lap two though a bad patch was looming and I hit a big ass wall! I slowed right up and I started thinking about the fact that I had to run another whole lap of the same. The lowest point was definitely being passed by Horst and knowing that I could not beat him and once again I would finished 1 spot outside the money.... Ahhhhhhhhhhhh.
Anyway I got to the finish line and was super stoked to get under the 4hour mark in 3.57.00 in my first half. A time that would have me on the podium in a lot of other 70.3's this year.
I think the best part of the race for me was the fact that I rode well, 2.08 and 42kmph. Long distance racing has a massive bike focus and if you can not ride your bike, Time Trial style, then you have no show in this style of the sport. Definitely a good confidence booster for the future and I am looking forward to the next one... kind of!
Thanks for all the support this season. I am really looking forward to racing Auckland ITU World Cup on 20th November. Going to be awesome racing at home and on a wickedly tough course.
Dylan
