And now for the report from WDW!
First and foremost I must congratulate
TRIMOM who not only started after me in a later wave, but finished before me, and that's all I'll say about that.
The swim for me was slow as usual, as I initially had a minor goggle malfunction, but got that corrected and started trying to navigate the course. I was in wave 5 of 10 instead of 25 of 26 or whatever I was in May, so there were a lot more people to pass me. I was really listing one way or the other depending on the side I was breathing, so I was having to sight forward every 4th arm instead of every 8th, and I think that slowed me down as well. I saw a LOT of people clinging to lifeguards floaties for support. I think part of it was a LOT of people were doing their first ever tri, and 1500m is a pretty serious swim to be starting out with vs the 400 or so a sprint tri will normally have. Also watched one guy get pulled from the water onto a boat just barely past the first buoy around 2-300 meters or so, must have had a panic attack or something. Also amazing was the handicapped athlete they dragged out before the first wave who had no use of his legs. He was having a lot of trouble steering while swimming, but I guess he got around ok because I saw him later on the run.
With about 200 meters to go I spot DW sitting on a beach chair playing the DS Lite we just purchased a few days ago due to a $99 used deal at Gamestop (normally $129). I begin to have fears she'll miss me coming out completely. Lo and behold, I'm sure all the swim finish pictures will be minus my usual elated smile, as I'm staring off in her general direction trying to get her to look up. After a quick stop to point her out to someone and have them tell her that I just finished and to meet me at transition, I was off on the nicely carpeted but super long barefoot jog over to that area.
Swim: 46:58, 57/60 AG (yikes), (down to 3:07/100m from 3:09 in May, not much but hey!)
I tried to not loaf it quite so bad in the transitions this time around, and T1 went pretty smooth. I did have one of the worst bike positions, way down a row that had 3 other bikes nearly the exact same type to confuse me. But at least the bib numbers were on the stands, so it wasn't first come first serve with people cramming their bikes onto the near end like the 70.3.
T1: 4:49, (down from 6:25 in May)
The bike has quickly become my favorite leg, because it seems like it's where I make up the most ground. This was a 36 mile course, basically the same as the 70.3's 56 miler but minus the northern part of the loop. Wind was similar to that race as well out of the NE, which meant miles 16-31 or so were into it or most of the last half of the leg. Which of course meant some bilstering miles out of transition downwind on the flat resort roads and down the infamous Epcot clover leaf, averaging over 20mph through mile 16. Planning on 18mph I was excited, but not so excited once we turned into the wind. I passed a gerjillion people, but definitely got passed by some 6'6'' looking guys with legs as tall as my whole body on superbikes. I really hadn't put in the seat time to train for this one, and it showed as my butt was pretty much done around mile 26 with 10 to go. They were only giving out water at the 1 aid station at mile 20 which wasn't too convenient, but I was at least able to take my first gel there (gel+powerade = gooey mess in stomach, use water to digest properly). My goal was sub 2 hours, and with about 5 to go I realized I was going to crush that. I decided to put the hammer down anyway, and maintained that really hard pace I used for the first half since it was back downwind to the transition. I figured I'd pay for it on the run, and well more on that in a minute.
Bike: 1:54:50, 29/60 AG (top half weee!, 18.8mph over 36mi up from 17.5 over 56mi in May)
Back for T2 I tried to set a real fast time here, but had a minor malfunction when trying to remove my tri shirt to put on my WISH shirt without removing my race number belt first. That doesn't work! Eventually got it all on and switched shoes and jogged out, curious to see how I improved the time from the 70.3.
T2: 2:24 (down from 4:40 in May)
Ah, the run. Not my favorite leg. This time I got about .5 miles at a good place into the 10k, and the quads started cramping. Thus began a "run" very similar to the last 10k of the DW Marathon this year. Jog anywhere from .3-.5, cramp up like crazy. Have to limp to the side and struggle to lift the legs to stretch the quads, 30 seconds each. Start walking to shake it out for about the same distance. Feel good, start to jog .3-.5, cramp up like crazy. Rinse, repeat. I ended up walking even longer sessions later, as it got really hot, and I just really wasn't feeling well at all. Sub 4 hours became impossible and I even turned a 15:59 mile as my longest at one point. Around mile 3.5 Trimom passed me up, recognizing me by my shirt and that gave me incentive to jog a bit to catch up until we both walked together through a water stop. Boy does dumping cold water on your head feel good during these things. She was a woman on a mission though and soon after was running to the finish while I continued to hobble. Late in the run it started to rain, and a couple lightning cracks forced them to close the course early right around the bike cutoff time, saying anyone on their first loop of the run course would only run 1 of 2 and be redirected to the finish. The time cutoffs were pretty generous but I'm sure this affected some finishers. Eventually came in with a smile. Compare time with my signature and PR pace and share a good laugh with me. These triathlons certainly aren't made to be easy...
Run: 1:29:31, 54/60 AG (ouch 14:24 pace for 10k, up from 13:47 in May for the HM)
So there you have it, I eventually finished. And snagged the whole point of the excursion, the WDW Triathlon medal. Check it out at other Disney race expos, it really stands out from your typical medal based on size and shape. I also ended up with some random blisters between my toes, an area I've never gotten before, I'm thinking due to running in wet socks for quite a while, and the lenghty fast paced walking which I'm not used to.
Total: 4:18:30, 50/60 AG, 651/922 OA
Up next is likely the Moss Park Triathlon in Orlando on 10/6 and the RFTT with DW on 10/7, and then it's still looking like I'll be deployed prior to ToT although she'll be down there for that one. Although it's only two weeks away, anyone who has a vague interest in triathlon and will be there for RFTT might want to give it a shot, the swim at 750m is half the length of DW, the bike is 12 miles so 1/3 of the length, and it's a 2.75 mile run or so, less than a 5k. They also have a "MyFirstTri" version of the same lengths but only a 400m swim. Easy way to double up your races that weekend...
You and I share an exact same finish time, as last weekend I skipped a 5 mile race for which I was pre-registered as it was absolutely pouring and I didn't have the motivation to leave the house in the rain at 6:00 am.
- it would have been @2:30). Well, by this time I realize another mistake - the long sleeve coolmax shirt started to get really warm as the temp rose. I pulled my sleeves up as much as I could, but I still felt warm. I decide to start a run/walk pace - still another rookie mistake, I decide to ditch the 4/2 I trained with, I decide on a 6/2. It soon became 5/2 then 4/2 then 3/2. By the time I hit mile 18, I was walking more than running and not using my watch, but how I felt. When I hit mile 21, it became more painful by the way of cramps in my calves to run than walk fast - which is what I started to do. I ran for the cameras, but walked after they got their shots - I asked one of them if he got the pain in the pic, but all I got was a blank stare (C'Mon sport can't you smell the sarcasm?!?) I started pacing with this guy in front of me with his girlfreind as they seemed to be moving as fast as I was. When I pulled alongside, the guy nodded at me in a show of comraderie and said "Not much longer" I replied.."This sure is the longest 5K if ever done". Again the blank stares (C'Mon people, I am wearing the same color bib as you....these are the jokes people). I hit mile 25, then 26. I decided that I am going to run it in. I started to jog, then run toward the finish line. I crossed at 5:27:20. Not the sub 5hr I wanted. When I did my 20mile LR I beat 3 hrs, and felt cocky that I could beat 5hr. Wrong. But I finished. I got my medal, my beloved well deserved medal. I met up with my DW and her Mom. Darcey decided after the CDC that 13.1 miles are just too long so she opted to do the 5K today and had a PR of 39:44. On the way home I hear on the radio that the temp was 91 deg. This just happens to tie the record high for this date here in the Quad Cities. I could have run naked and still felt really warm.
You finished!! and a sub 5:30!!! in 91 degree heat!! FANTASTIC! The route looked really interesting when I checked it out. You didn't mention hills? Was there crowd support? Well, other than people not getting your humor. We would have!! 
Anne
I think it's just part of the territory and if you learn from them, then you'll be that much better off for the next round. 
"I am not worthy." 
Congratulations to you. I am very proud.
- (which I hope to avoid on Sat.) Live and learn, I suppose! Wear your medal proudly and congrats again!
