What an experience running a relay team in the triathlon … It was a hot day, and overall our team did pretty good. We didn’t come in last in any of the ways we could have, so I give us a lot of credit. Results are posted here (you can also see them in my finished races section).

I have to post my split times, they were kind of all over the place. The 2.25 mile hill on MountainView road really slowed my pace down, but overall, I made up position and time coming in 32 out of 51 in the run.

Split times:

Mile 1 – 8:06
Mile 2 – 8:20
Mile 3 – 8:46 (hills)
Mile 4 – 8:16
Mile 5 – 8:37 (hills, ouch!)
Mile 6 – 8:46 (hills, ouch!)
Mile .83 – 9:23 (?)

Overall, my time was 1:00:18, not too bad despite the conditions.

It really was different running this instead of just running a race, because even though I passed people, I never knew what wave was which, who was where and all that. I wish the logistics of how teams worked was a little better, I was upset that they never told us the bike-transition area is closed once the first person comes through. I was kind of there, unprepared and un-warmed up. I expected to get out for a half-mile run here or there, and I didn’t, so I was totally cold going out … I also got some killer sunburn from standing there like I did without sun-block, and worst yet, racoon eyes.

Either way, its pumped me up for running and racing again as the excitement builds for Steamtown. I have a difficult week ahead in running, I increase my easy runs to 5 miles now (there really are no easy runs now), plus I goto 18 miles this weekend. I am considering running part of the Steamtown course (the downhills) just to get a feel for what they are like and prepare my legs for it. Problem is that I have to run up the hill first, which might not be too bad, I’ll certainly appreciate the downhills after that fact, guess we’ll see though ..

On a health point of view, i’m getting a little banged up at this point. My left hammy is a little sore (tingly like), but not hurting me. I did run the race yesterday with it like this and did no damage. Today is just a cross-train day, so I should be okay for tomorrow. I’m still dehydrated from the weekend, and I have cuts all on my sides from the fuel-belt plus i’m just downright tired. I have to get ahead in my sleep one of these nights.

I’m halfway through this venture, and overall I think i’m holding up well. The hardest weeks are upcoming now, I do 45 miles this week, 48 next week and the 50 the following week until I slow down again for the New Hampshire half-marathon on Labor day weekend … its going to be rough, but I know we can do it!