WOW….What a GREAT Race!

Yesterday, I competed in the MuncieMan Triathlon in Muncie, IN home of the Muncie 70.3.

The MuncieMan was a 3K swim, a 61.8K Bike and a 15K Run.  The temperature was a typical Muncie Triathlon Day in the middle 80’s with plenty of sunshine and limited shade.

The swim stared out with a two 1,500 meter laps in beautiful Prairie Creek Reservoir, the elite wave went off first and the race was on.  The water was beautiful for wetsuit swimming and I came out of the water in the top 5 with a solid swim of 46:36.  It is a long run up the grassy hill to the transition area to get ready for the bike in a T1 time of 2:58.  I am going to spend some time working on T1, I need to shave about 40 to 45 seconds off my time.  The bike course was rolling hills and headwind for most of the course or so it seemed.  My first two laps of the three lap course went according to plan.  I was staying in my heartrate zone and knocking out the miles with a 22.5 average.  I was feeling pretty good.  As I started the last lap, I was starting to make the first left hand turn when my bike kicked out a bit and I thought I had a flat tire.  I looked at the tire as I was riding and it seemed fine, so on I went.  The last lap was hard, and I completed my bike leg in 1:45:41 about 3 min slower than I had hoped.  I averaged 21.8 mph.  I had a GREAT T2 and off I went on my 15K run.  I tried to get into a rhythm running in my heartrate zone and the miles started clicking by.  To my surprise, I was running all by myself.  One competitor passed me on the run within the first quarter-mile and he was long gone.  He had a fantastic run, second fastest of the day.  Once he passed me, I was all alone to run the 15K.  I had a solid but uninspiring run with a 7:16 average to finish in 3:43:41.  That finish time was good enough for 1st place in the 45-49 age group and 7th place overall 45 seconds behind 6th place and 8:10 ahead of 8th place.

This is a GREAT race and a must do for anyone who wants to prepare for Muncie 70.3

Don’t worry about the long swim, it is a good test and will give you a good measure on your swim fitness.  The bike is challenging and the rolling hills will make you appreciate the state highways on the 70.3 course.  The run course is like no other.  Get READY it is ALWAYS TOUGH.  The rolling hills and heat will test your limits and give you the confidence to know you can complete the Muncie 70.3.