Patriot Half Iron, Freetown, MA

Long Pond swim course

Last year Melissa and I had both raced the Aquabike Division of the Patriot Half Iron and really enjoyed the course and the entire race day.  Coach Matt of Blueshift Multisport had always said it was a good warm up for IMLP, so we put it on our calendars again for 2012.  We left PA Friday morning with everything going smoothly.  About an hour into our ride, I realized that I didn't pack my PowerBar Ironman Perform drink mix.  The race serves HEED and I had bought a packet of mix to try to get my palate used to it, but I just don't care for it.  My plan was to use my PB drink on the bike and go with HEED on the run.  Melissa quickly went into action with her I Phone checking for stores along our way that carried my mix.  She really is amazing with that phone!  We ended up calling Landry's Bicycles who is the event cycling support and I was able to purchase the mix over the phone.  They would send it along with their bike tech in the morning and I could pick it up outside of the transition area.  Ahhhh...all is good again.  The rest of our trip went smoothly and we got to the race venue to get our packets, do a short bike and run, tour part of the run course and get all of our gear set up for the morning.  

transition

PowerBar Ironman Perform!

Race morning was beautiful and clear.  Temps were a little cool, but very comfortable.  We set up our transition areas and I headed out for a warm up run.  When I got back we both went in for a warm up swim and headed to the swim start.  Melissa's division was in the last swim wave, but mine went off second at 7:04.  The water temperature was perfect, but the wind had picked up and brought some chop along with it.  I felt good on the swim, but couldn't really find bubbles to stay with for very long.  I know I will do a better job of drafting in Lake Placid....or as Mike calls it..the "toilet bowl effect".


Out of the swim and through T1 with no problems.  I took a little time to settle in on the bike and get into a good pace.  Traffic control was great and the aid stations were ready to serve.  I felt good on the first loop and at aid station #3 tossed my water bottle for a replacement.  The Poland Spring bottle actually stayed in my bottle cage until about mile 45 or 50 then bounced out onto the road.  I kept pedaling and hoped I didn't get a penalty for littering.

photo by Coach Matt

The crowd support at the bike/run in and out is really wonderful at this event.   I didn't know it until I started out on the run but Coach Matt and Sue were there cheering on his Blueshift crew.  It was great to see them and I appreciated their cheers!   I felt really good on the run and followed what my plan for IMLP will be.  I walked through the water stops and on a few of the hills.  I was still happy with my time even with walking! 

Close to the finish

When I was close to the turn for the finish area I saw Melissa with her big smile and heartfelt cheers.  From that point it was about 1/4 mile to the finish.  We found each other there and made our way to the transition area to get my recovery drink-PowerBar Ironman Restore.  I thought it made sense to pack up my things and drop them at the van before going back to the finish area.  That is when I discovered my wetsuit was missing and someone else's was hanging over the bike rack bar.  I couldn't believe it-especially since I ended up wearing Melissa's and she wore mine.  We have the same Xterra suit and didn't realized we had switched them until we were zipping each other up in the morning.  Now I was really concerned since it was HER wetsuit that was missing!!!  We spoke with security and handed in the other suit and were told to email the info when we got a chance.  Long story short......an hour or so later we were asking the race director where the results were posted.  Melissa told him we were the ones  whose wetsuit was missing.  He held up a wetsuit he had draped over his arm and said "is this it"?  It was!!!!!  We were thrilled and asked how he got it.  He said it was magic.  So all was good again, including the post race food.  Very yummy!!!!!!  We picked up some Muscle Milk and headed back to our hotel and later that evening met our good friends Lisa and Nancy for dinner.  After dinner we went into the restaurant's bar to listen to some live music.  The guy was terrific-great voice and very good on the guitar.  His name is Craig DeMelo-check him out if you get a chance.

Melissa and Kate

Melissa had a very good race and bettered her time from last year saying that she felt good in both the swim and the bike.  We have learned in triathlon that it is difficult to compare times from year to year because of how conditions can be so different.  This year's swim was definitely more choppy than last year, but overall temperatures were much better this year.


For various reasons (swims being cancelled, knee injury) I haven't completed an entire half iron since Timberman back in 2009.  It felt great to complete this race and also post my best time to date.
S 43:42   T1 3:53  B 3:29  T2  4:37  R 2:21   Total 6:42
Now it is about another month of training and on to Ironman Lake Placid!!


Overall, we both rate the Patriot Half Iron as two thumbs up!!  Great venue and race course, super volunteers and delicious food.  We will be back!!