Festival of HOT!!!

Well the race morning started out good with me and my buddies heading down to Greenwood,SC around 515AM or so. We just chilled and listened to some music until we arrived. We got to Greenwood State Park around 645 and got our minds prepared for the hot day before us. So the first bit of news was that the water temp was around 81 degrees and the biggest bit of news was that this would be the hottest temp for this event ever. So that was great. I was worried about a tire popping or getting knocked out during the swim but now I had to worry about DYING!!!! HA HA No I wasn't really worried about. Usually when I race I just think about 2 miles ahead of where I am and what I need to do to get there. Seems to be a good strategy most of the time but sometimes I get into a slow mindset instead of hammering it.

The swim was OK. I felt as if I was zig-zagging the whole time. I was really pissed about that. I couldn't seem to get my bearings right the entire swim. I guess that just means I need to do some more openwater swims. Also after the half way point my left big toe started to cramp. NO GOOD! I relaxed and didn't think about it and it went away. I finally got to the T1 after having a bunch of girls pass me. AHHH! Just kidding they were in the wave behind me and they were flying!
Get to the T1 and get my shoes on and helmet and gloves and take off. OHH YEA I FORGOT MY GLASSES, OHH YEA I DIDN'T NOTICE UNTIL MILE 12 ON THE BIKE!!! Ohh well it didn't seem to be to big of a deal with the rolling terrain. Wasn't to hot but you could feel the heat off the road, especially that section of road that was newly paved. THANKS SCDOT!
Get to T2 and take the helmet off and switch shoes, grab my fuel belt and take off. Did you notice what I forgot there? GLOVES! That is great to run in in 96 degree temps. Stuck those up the leg of my shorts and took off. Then I realized that my fuel belt felt like it weighed half a ton but I kept that. Mile one was good because I passed one of the guys I came down with. NOTE I NEVER GOT PASSED ON THE RUN! He looked horrible and I asked him if he was ok and he said yea and I told him PEACE!!! Then I saw my other buddy about 1/4 of a mile ahead so I went after him. (Note: mile 1 to 2.5 is in the wide open with no breeze) Before I got to mile 2 I passed him which was a challenge but I did. I figured just passing them would make them try to stay with my pace and make them really tired. Get to this turn that has shade and I was figuring it would feel great running in there and I would be able to pound it. COUNTED MY CHICKENS... It was hotter in there. I guess the shade was trapping the heat from the road. It was hot and humid in there which made for a tough 3 and 4 mile. I took my shirt off at mile three. I don't know if it was the heat or myself but a lady passed out at the same moment! HA HA The only saving grace at this moment was pouring cold water down my back (GASP!!!) and sloshing it on my front. I felt like I was hydrated enough, yet again the fuel belt was no help! My Latino Friend and myself was having this very discussion on Friday before the race about how the fuel belt fluid gets hot and I said it really wouldn't matter as long as you are getting the hydration! I WAS WRONG MY LATINO FRIEND!!! It was like the gatorade in those things was boiling when I would try and take a hit. So I stuck with the free COLD water but I was carrying what felt like a 10lb fuel belt. So I get to 3.5 and I am back in the open, see note above. It felt even hotter now and I picked the guy in front of me to pass. It took a little bit but I finally got him and just kept focusing on the guy or girl in front of me just trying to not throw up at the same time. Which I caught most of that in my mouth! I get to mile 5 and the last aid station and try to hang on for as long as I could. I kept picking people off as I went and finally make it to the last turn and up a nice little hill! Thankfully they had a tent that was spitting out water over head otherwise I may have passed out. This is one of the toughest events I have ever had to do. I also want to do it again next year to see how much I can improve. My final time was 2 hours and 25 mins and change. They haven't posted official results yet but I came in 5th in my fat boy group, which I was hoping for another 1st based off of last years times but some of the big boys pounded it out there. I believe the fat boy winner was 2:15. That is smoking. I will post some images when they become available. I asked someone what the temp was when I finished and the guys watch said "Hot as Balls!" I swear! No it was 96 and he made a statement saying that it was around that about and hour before then so it was blasted hot. I have more appreciation for the Hawaii Ironman finishers more then ever.
Today I am sore but nothing unusual so I will soak again tonight and hopefully everything will get back to normal. I am going to start a weight training plan this week and do that for a couple of months during my Ironman training. I hope it isn't that hot in Nov in Florida. If it is I can at least have an idea of what I need to do.
Hope everyone has a good week and I will talk to you later. PEACE!!!