So, last week I bit the bullet and decided to sign up for the UT half again. This is the half Ironman distance race, but put on by Race-tri so it isn't IM sanctioned. Same distance, just half the cost. Brent invited me to go with Coach Keena's group again this year to the course preview. Since I was now in it, I decided I'd better take him up on the offer! We swam 15 min out 15 min back in the boat harbor. I think I did about 1500M. They said to the rocks and back was 1800M and I tried to watch as the speedy swimmers turned there, I turned where I was so I wouldn't be the last by 10 minutes out of the water! I had my wet-suit on as well and no panic attacks and good 3 stroke breathing. Gave me confidence that I can survive a wet-suit swim again, unlike Spudman the week before. Then we hit the bikes. Brent said he had no time goals, but as the first guys set out on a speed course he followed :) Once a runner.... I met up with some others and had a good chat with Brian who had also done Spudman in 2:27 the week before. Crazy small world. He then took off with a group of speedsters. I assured him I was fine on my own and I knew there were plenty behind me too. This is where it gets tricky. See, the Ulcer (a bike race) was going on that same day. I knew the IM course and and the Ulcer were similar, but when time came to split onto a gravel road the Ulcer had a 'detour' - so I followed it! Why go on the newly chipped road when I could just take the detour? The problem is, the courses never met up again after that. I realized around mile 22 that I was headed South and not North like the IM course, but at that point it wasn't worth getting the map out and trying to figure it all out. So, I rode 28 miles of the Ulcer course, then turned around. I did see some familiar sights. The Payson 10K course (furthest West 'turn around') and the new Payson temple they're building. Not the right course, but the right distance and I didn't feel lost OR alone with the thousands of Ulcer riders I crossed as I headed back. I finished the 56 miles in 2:56:37 which is just 6 min slower than I raced it last year which felt good! I'd also only stopped time at University Ave and the turn around, so keeping 19.0mph for 56 miles with stop signs and lights etc? I'll take it! Again, another confidence booster. My cadence was only 72, which I'd like to see closer to 80. Lower gears and more speed. I'll get there. Since I'd 'gotten lost' on the bike course I got back a lot faster than the others. Paul and another speedy bike guy were there. Paul was going to run 3 and although I wanted more like 6-8 I figured it would be better to go with company than not. He said his usual AP was 8:30, so I hoped I could keep up and asked him if I could tag along. Had a great chat with him while we ran and at the end he thanked me for pushing him. What? I thought I was holding him back. We had a good laugh and he took off, but the rest of Keena's group was there so I took off with them. Brian (my spudman twin) introduced me to Jeff who also finished in 2:27! What a crazy small world. Of course their bike was faster and my run was faster. I guess I'll take it :) I lost them when I had to hit the bathroom at the turn around, but took off to chase them down the last 1.5. HA! Well, trick was on me. I finished and then as I waited around they came in behind me. I guess they hit the bathroom too and so I was chasing my own tail. Oh well, at least I got a good push in, I won't complain. splits: 8:23, 8:14, 8:17, 8:38, 8:13, 8:19, 8:00 - last .1 It was a great 4.5 hour workout and half preview. I now feel like I can finish the half and not die. Well, the run at 11AM may kill me, but I'll do my best not to die at least. Thanks for the invite Brent!!!
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