BHAG - Another 70.3 - Wisconsin 2025

 

Welp another one done.  This was my 5th complete half ironman.  Last year I did the swim on a relay so technically the 6th one I have participated in.

The last complete one I did was in 2019 in Boulder Colorado.  I knew going into this that I had done enough training to get through the race okay, but that I had probably under trained on the bike (story of my 70.3s).

I like this race because it is close to home, we stay with family, and have support on the course to encourage me along.  It was a bit of an overcast day which kept the temps down and that wasn't an issue until the end of the race when I was a bit cold.

I was prepared for a chilly swim so was pleasantly surprised when the water temp with a wetsuit on was nearly perfect.  I wasn't prepared for the weird shoot to get in the water so had to make a train through the masses to get up closer to the front of the swim start with a target time of around 35 minutes. Traffic in the lake wasn't terrible but a lot of people were not swimming straight.  After 40+ years of pool swimming that isn't an issue for me and I generally site and go.  The lake side swim felt strong and then we made the turn to come back along the retaining wall side and it was a bit choppy so I had to really be careful when breathing not to suck lake.  It was just cold enough I didn't have any issues with my bad shoulder and came out of the lake strong for my loopy run up the parking ramp to the bike.

I knew the bike was going to be a challenge for me due to a few things: lack of building up long enough rides to have the mileage in (longest training ride was 30 miles), lack of mental toughness on the bike, and hills... all the hills.  This is a similar course to what I did in 2016 so at least I knew what I was in for but that didn't make it any easier.  I pushed my hydration on the bike to try to get through my salty electrolyte and water bottles.  I also ate a tiny orange and some other small bites to get some food in me on the bike.  I did forget to get some salt capsules in me (had some the night before and first thing in the morning but this caught up with me later in the run). I did see Steve and my cousin Jay early in on the bike but then they were off to disc golf while I ground it out.  I also should have stopped to use the bathroom around mile 40 at the fueling station to make the transition go a tad faster to the run but it worked out.  Did the windy up the ramp to the transition and was pleased to see my friend Leslie there waiting for me.

We chatted while I got my gear sorted to start the run which is probably why I forgot my salt but I wasn't out to set any land speed records on the run.  I used the restroom on the way out and hit the course.  I was run to see several of my triracers teammates on the run even though they were finishing as I was heading out.  My goal for the run was to do it without pain and faster than the 3 hour run I did in 2016.  I did tape my knee to give my IT band and kneecap a little more stability and was glad to have it.

I mile or two in I got to chatting with a doctor who was racing and that distracted us for a 5k or so but the pace was bit faster than I should have been going so make time to stop at the aid stations as needed.  I was having a little hot spot on one foot about half way in but of course all the Vaseline I saw was at the aid stations before I needed it.  I tried to work my plan with my gels for nutrition but realized I also forgot my baggie of electrolytes (and my salt) so did the best I could with what I had.  The sun was intermittent and there was a light breeze so it was really pretty optimal weather conditions.  the last 5 miles or so I was working a run walk where I would run at a strong pace and then power walk until my heart rate went back down, and then repeated.  That kept me going and allowed me to chat with folks if the opportunity presented itself.  I even saw a guy with an ESRI jersey on (the software vendor for the tools I use to do my job) and apparently his daughter was a GIS person.

I saw the guys as I was powering up the swirls in the parking garage (the transition was on the third floor of a parking garage so to come and go we had to go round and round).  It was pretty much all up hill the last 3/4 of a mile (not a fan) so we did the best we could and managed to finish strong downhill into the shoot.

Was super grateful my body let me do another hard thing as with MS and aging that is never a given.  I was grateful to have my partner in life, cousin and tri friend cheering me on. And grateful mother nature was on her best behavior for another Ironman 70.3 finish. (1.2 mile swim, 56 mile bike and 13.1 mile run)

Of the 70.3 Ironman races I've done this wasn't my slowest or my fastest but I felt good about how it went and positive my body can handle just a little more.  I've got big goals for 2026 and am talking to a triathlon coach.  More to come on that in the next few weeks.

Until next time, Thanks for reading.