Crowie and Muppet; Brierman Half Lite RR

Crowie and Muppet

Ironman Hawaii (Kona), the annual championship for the Ironman triathlon took place earlier in October. IM distance - Swim 2.4mi, bike 112mi, run 26.2mi.

Chrissie "Muppet" Wellington won last year as a relative unknown and backed up that win with another this year. She came out of the water a few mins behind and shortly rode her way to the lead on the bike before spending 10mins on the roadside dealing with a mechanical and watching other women fly past. Once back on the road she powered back to the sharp end of the field then ran away with a 2:57 marathon. She has never lost an IM distance race. Perhaps the most impressive triathlete alive right now.

Wellington

Swim - 56:20 (11th Wpro)

Bike - 5:08:16 (21.8mph) (2nd WP);

Run - 2:57:44 (6:48) (1st WP, 22nd overall)

Australian Craig "Crowie" Alexander, long time dominator of the Half Iron and shorter distances took the men's win. He finished 2nd in Kona last year in his first visit. This year he executed smartly and moved up to the top of the podium. Stayed near the leaders out of the water, a strong bike but no gambling attempts to break away or catch the uber bikers riding to win it on the bike. He closed the gap to the leaders during the last portion of the bike, then ran through them, taking the lead mid-marathon and holding it.

Alexander

Swim - 51:43 (14);

Bike - 4:37:19 (24.2mph) (16);

Run - 2:45:01 (6:18) (1st pro, 5th overall)

Brierman Half Lite RR
Never too late for a race report, eh?

Brierman Half Lite Tri 10-12-08 - My Final Tri for the year.
.85mi swim; 40mi bike (two 20mi loops); 9.3mi run (out/back course)

As a first yr race the field was small. Under 100 entrants for the Half, maybe 200 for the Sprint distance tri.

Unending hills (course profiles below). Toughest run course of the year, likely ever, for me. Toughest bike course, next to Savageman. The body held up fairly well, for my 3rd race in 5 weeks. Competitively, middlin race results. Nevertheless, a satisfying challenge and a fun 4hr+ day, esp with the ideal weather. One of those spectacular early fall days. ~50F at the start, high of ~70F at noon, no wind, no clouds, no humidity. Scenic country views, which included more McPalin yard signs than I've seen anywhere else.

Def did not have my A game, physically or mentally. The well of race day adrenalin low at this point. Seems I successfully peaked physically and mentally for Nation's Tri back on 9/14. Could not "hold the peak" thereafter. Wouldn't be a "peak" then would it? Racing after Nation's was all gravy anyway. Pure enjoyment of simply being able to do it, racing against the course and myself more than the field.

Lake swim. Nice. No chop or currents to deal with. No chance to loosen the bike legs up, out of T1 it's straight into a steep climb out of the park. Hills all day thereafter on the bike and the esp the run.

The ruthless terrain had me craving a flat-to-rolling course tri with a lake swim. Something I can (comparatively) tear up when fit and fresh. Picture portly Homer Simpson, face plastered against the glass window of Mr. Donuts, drooling over the rows and rows of baked goodness, aaaaaaaaaghha, gaaaaagh. That's me, as I envision Diamondman Half in DE, flat and fast. Must have traced that course a few times over in my mind.

Brierman Details - Greenbrier State Park, MD, ~1hr drive north of DC.

Swim 30:30 (34th/67 overall) (51%)
T1 5:25 (64th out of 67) (96%)
Bike 2:19:18 (~17.2mph) (16th overall) (24%)
T2 2:20 (overall 53rd) (80%)
Run 1:10:35 (7:36) (7th overall) (11%)
Final 4:08:07

14th/67 overall (21%)
13th/54 male (26%)
5th/10 35-39 AG

Splits for the 35-39AG winner (age 39):
S: 26:26
B: 2:00:11
R: 1:14:42
T1+T2: 5:25
Finish - 3:44:11

All ten 35-39 AG finish times:
1. 3:44:11 (39)
2. 3:51:07 (37)
3. 3:53:34 (39)
4. 3:57:48 (37)
5. 4:08:07 (yours truly)
6. 4:26:22 (35)
7. 4:43:09 (39)
8. 4:50:09 (35)
9. 5:05:46 (36)
10. DNF

Run Course Profile

Bike Course Profile
Do this Loop 2x, Twice the Fun