beach to battleship half ironman race report 2012

7/31/2019 Beach to Battleship Half Ironman Race Report 2012

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BEACH TO BATTLESHIP HALF IRONMAN RACE REPORT 2012

After a long season of racing, I decided to do this race because I had heard so many good things about it.

Truth be told, it really was not on my radar all year as I raced IM 70.3 New Orleans and Muncie and was

gearing up for Ironman Louisville in late August.

After a strong showing at IMLOU [6h AG, missed podium and auto Kona slot by 31 seconds] I wanted

something to complete my year. Understand that my favorite distance is the half Ironman. My last 5

70.3s ended as follows:

Steelhead Aug 2011 swim cancelled

USAT Long Course Nationals Myrtle Beach Oct 2011 Stomach virus led to a long day on the run

IM 70.3 New Orleans April 2012 Swim cancelled

IM 70.3 Muncie July 2012 race shortened due to a massive heat wave

IM70.3 National Harbor August 2012 race CANCELLED outright

So I had this huge void over the last year at my favorite distance. B2B was a race that I wanted to do but

it was sold out when I went to register in September. Thankfully, they had a few community slots

available, but at a premium price. My fear was that if I did not have a good race, I would be wasting a

lot of money.

Enter my beautiful and supportive wife.


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She told me to GO FOR IT and I might have taken the advice a bit too literally. 5 weeks before the race

I suffered a significant calf strain on the run into the water at the Portage Lakes Olympic Triathlon. I

could not run for a week and thought I just might be cursed at the 70.3 distance. Thankfully, Jason

Vickers from Concorde Therapy hooked me up and got me back on my feet.

After five weeks, race week finally arrived. We left on Thursday late morning and stayed the night in

Greensboro NC. Next morning we were off early and headed for the race. We checked into the Holiday

Inn Resort on Wrightsville Beach, it was awesome. I headed out for a one hour ride and one mile run in

my Team ER gear while Lisa headed off for a run of her own to do some island exploring.

B2B is a point to point race with two awesome transitions. The day before the race we headed to T1 to

rack my bike. Jimmy at Eddys Bike Shop really hooked me up last year with the Trek Speed Concept 7. I

love this bike!


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T2 was actually held inside the Convention Center in downtown Wilmington.

It was a state of the art race and the expo was very nice. Lisa and I spent the days before the race

enjoying the expo, the beach, and the scenery and walking to dinner along the beach every night. Lisa

said it best, This race is more like a vacation then any race you have ever done!

On race morning I was up early. Lisa drove me to T1 and I pumped my tires, loaded my nutrition and got

body marked. Then the relaxing started. I cannot think of a long course race where I was able to go

back to my hotel and chill for two hours after checking in to T1 and chill is what I did. At 8am, Lisa drove

me to the swim start, dropped me off, and then headed back to the hotel. That little cutie probably put

15 miles on her legs during race day.

I sat in the water and waited for my wave [#3] and looked out to see if Lisa made it back in time.


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She did but I missed her. At any rate, the horn went off at 8:40am and away we went. The first half

mile was with an incoming tide so the swim was fast. However, after the first turn buoy, the swim zig

zagged like no swim I have done before. Add to that some chop, and it made for a longer second half of

the swim. I finally hit the dock and looked at my watch, 26:15.whooooooooooooooooaaaaa, that was

fast. We had a really long run to T1, and I stopped at the wetsuit strippers before the timing mat so that

I would not have to deal with the wettie in transition. I crossed the timing mat for an official swim of

27:25, just under 100th fastest of the mens field. When I finally arrived at T1 after what seemed like a

mile run, all I had to do was put on my helmet, shades and shoes then off I went.

The bike was a point to point and the majority of the ride was on wide open freeway or major 4 lane

highways. This made for some really nice pavement, however, due to the wide open expanse, we were

also subject to the wind. The bike traveled north, then west along a closed section of freeway, back

north again then a turn back to the south and T2. Since the wind was out of the west, north-west, we

spent most of the day riding into the wind or with a cross wind without the benefit of a tail wind for

most of the race. Regardless, I felt in a very good groove on the bike. My nutrition plan was going

perfect, with Hammer Perpetuem and Hammer Gel. The on-course nutrition was provided by Hammer:

HEED and Hammer Gelno need to carry anything on the run ( - : I pushed the pace at times and

settled into a comfortable pace at other times. From the time I left T1, I continually passed other cyclists

from earlier waves and the full Ironman distance triathlon that started one hour before the half. At the

30-35 mile mark the half distance split off from the full and the roads got really lonely. In the final 20-25

miles I reeled in about 10 15 more cyclists and approached T2 feeling good and ready to run. For 56

miles of riding I was never passed by another cyclist and I ended up with the 10th fastest bike split, just

under 2:28, of the entire field of over 1000 athletes. As I neared the convention center, the crowds

grew larger and larger, the cheering louder and louder.


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I did a flying dismount, handed my bike to one of the many awesome volunteers, and headed inside to

T2. T2 was unique, indoors as I mentioned. You ran along the walls of a giant room, picked up your T2

bag at the racks, and then ran into a change room. Inside the change room I grabbed my visor, new pair

of shades, socks and Saucony Fast Twitch race flats compliments of Josh at Ritchies Sporting Goods. I

also lathered on some sports cream to my lower back, neck, shoulders and legs. For anyone who races

long course, this is a little secret I discovered that really helps take away the aches and pains of riding

aero for so long. A few seconds to apply but worth every second!

After a quick transition, I headed out. On the way out there were a group of volunteers waiting to catch

your T2 bag for you. I cannot say enough about the volunteers and the efficiency of the race staff inhandling so many race day logistics.

My goal for the run was simple and straight forward. Run hard but not too hard and try to maintain a

high 6 mile pace and avoid any mile split that started with a 7. Leading up to the race I had done a

couple of long rides followed by fast mile repeats with my friend, Brian Stern. This really gave me the

confidence that I could nail the run. I came out of T2 ready to run and ready to leave it all on the course

if I had to!


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Ready to run!

Just need to adjust this visor a bit


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As was the plan, I went through mile 1 in 6:50. Mile two had a steep climb that I went up very ez but

still came through with a split of 6:54. Mile 3 in 6:51, all was going as planned. At mile 4 I saw my first 7,

7:05 to be exact. I was getting complacent and told myself to turn the legs over and get moving. It

worked as I went through the next two miles in 6:55 and 6:32. As I passed the mile 6 marker and

headed to the turnaround, I saw the lead runner from an earlier wave coming towards me. This gave

me a huge shot of adrenaline knowing I was not far behind the race leaders. I counted three more

runners which meant I was in 5th position. I hit the turnaround at mile 6.9 in 47:44 / 6:55 pace.

When I went through mile 7 in 6:56 I saw a younger kid from a later wave than mine roaring towards the

turnaround. He was flying and that sinking feeling began to hit me that I was now the hunted and the

young bucks from the later waves were all going to reel me in. I also had a sinking feeling in my quads,

they were beginning to complain and I was feeling the brunt of their anger.

It was at this point in the race where I came to a cross-road. I could both give in to the pain and slow

the pace, still finishing with a respectable time OR I could dig down really deep and finish this thing fast

or die trying. I chose the latter! I focused on turnover and not letting that young gun behind catch up to

me. Mile 8 saw another 7, 7:05 to be exact. Turnover, turnover and do not slow, I kept saying to

myself. Miles 9, 10 and 11 came and went in 6:54, 6:51 and 6:48. The kid behind me was STILL behind

me and I reeled in one of the runners ahead of me. The majority of the race field was now on the course

heading out to the turnaround and many of them were screaming at me, GO, you are in 4th place!

There were so many of them I lost count on the number who high fived me or yelled words of

encouragement.

The final 2.1 miles were so painful. I was beginning to cramp up and I hit mile 12 in 6:57. I came

through the final aid station at a major intersection and the volunteers were all cheering wildly. The

police officer who whisked me through the intersection again reminded me of where I was in the race.

Great job, Mark [name is printed on your bib], you are in 4th place and you are almost home!

Almost home with a little over a mile to go. I looked behind me to see where the kid was and one of the

athletes heading out yelled to me, about 100 yards back and holding pace with you! I made the left

hand turn onto the steep hill we climbed up at mile 2. Now it was time to run this steep downhill and

my quads would have no part of it. I had to slow so as not to seize up and it was at this point I was

finally caught. The young kid who had been chasing me for almost 6 miles finally reeled me in. He

ended up being the overall race winner and had the fastest run split of the day at 1:22 and change. Id

say I was with some pretty good company. He gave me a shout of encouragement and then we made

the right had turn onto the main finish chute. I went through mile 13 in 6:56 and was now 13 miles

down and 1/10 to go with only two miles over a 7 pace.

The final 200 yards were a blur. The street was lined with spectators yelling, cheering and ringing

cowbells. Something about those cowbells they give away at triathlons that always make me think

about those crazy downhill skiers flying down the slopes on a razors edge. I guess the same can be said

about long course triathlon. You walk a razors edge between having a good race and going too hard

and blowing up. Today, I was able to walk that line and race hard and not blow up. I crossed the finish


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line knowing I left everything out on the course. My finish time: 4:30:49, a new PR with a new PR run

split of 1:30:18. My run was the 5th

fastest of the entire field and I negative split the final 10k at a

6:52pace.

As she always is, Lisa was there waiting for me with a big smile and words of encouragement. I cannot

say enough about her. The love and support she gives to me before, during and after the race is

amazing. Seeing that beautiful person at the end of a long day makes all the pain go away in an instant.

She is one in a million.

The two of us hung out post race for about an hour. We talked to other athletes and cheered on the

people just starting the run. The unofficial results were posted on the big screen; I ended up finishing 7th

OA out of a field of over 1000 and was the top Master. Although it would have been fun to stick around

for the awards ceremony and jam with the band/hit the street fair, we headed back to the hotel. After

all, we were at the BEACH and it was 80 and sunny out. We did manage a few post race shots-


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With my A#1

We spent a lot of quality time hanging at the beach post race with a few well earned frosty frescas. I

also had more than a few of the hotel guests inquire about the race. Many were unfamiliar with longcourse triathlon and asked how long the race was. When I told them 1.2 mile swim, 56 mile bike and a

13.1 mile run you should have seen their jaws drop. It was pretty funny.

That night Lisa and I headed back to our favorite Wrightsville Beach restaurant, King Neptunes. The

owner and servers were all so nice and very gracious. We walked home along the beach after a nice

dinner and a cold beer. That night I fell asleep rather quickly to the sound of the waves crashing on the

shore below. We awoke early and headed for home; we were on the road by 4:15am and arrived home


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in less than 10 hours. Grandma and Grandpa did a wonderful job watching the kids, and we wanted to

give them some free time to enjoy their Sunday.

I will conclude with a few shout outs. To the best long course training partners an athlete could ask for:

The King of Epic Friday Rob Reddy, Ed Slovenkay, Mark Durno, Jim LaMastra and Kevin Rowles. To my

late season long course compatriot Brian Stern; thank you so much for those last few long bricks. To theJRG boys Scott, The Kiwi Andrew, Matt and James; many thanks for the final ride one week out. A

special thanks to Jason Vickers for helping me out of a dire situation with my calf and for all your work

with the Club Vickers run crew. I always know that on Weds mornings I will push myself harder than any

other weekly run, especially when Beth shows up. To my 5am swim buddy, Paul Lenz; thanks for all the

early morning swims and of course the running, too.

I cant say enough good things about my sponsors, Team ER and Hammer Nutrition. A HUGE thank you

to my parents for allowing Lisa and I to travel kid free and get a little Q time. Speaking of Lisa, the

biggest thank you of all goes to you. Everything you do is so much appreciated and I am so blessed to

have you as my wife, cheerleader, travel agent and best friend forever. I love you!

A few more photos, here is one of the award. Very unique, I actually now own a piece of the history as

the award is made from the original decking of the USS North Carolina

Results:

http://www.setupevents.com/files/_Web_Half_Male_AgeGroup.HTM
http://www.setupevents.com/files/_Web_Half_Male_AgeGroup.HTMhttp://www.setupevents.com/files/_Web_Half_Male_AgeGroup.HTMhttp://www.setupevents.com/files/_Web_Half_Male_AgeGroup.HTM


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So long from the beach, it was a great way to end a long race season.


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beach to battleship half ironman race report 2012

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