I had a successful race! The weekend trip was worth it. As I am writing this on the plane flying back to HCMC, this post is more about my own reflection and how I can do better than tips and tricks for those who do the same race.
The organizer’s decision to shorten the swim course messed up the race dynamics. Instead of the usual 45-50 minutes, I completed the swim in 14 minutes. This change, if compared to my past races, basically cut off 30 minutes from my realistic completion time.
The last-minute changes, including the start time delay, gave an interesting insight. Some participants were already disappointed before the race began, and the delay only added to their restlessness. This situation underscored the importance of staying calm and focused, even in unexpected circumstances.
My overall time was 5 hours 21 minutes. As described earlier, if the swim had not been shortened due to the strong current, my finish time could have been 5 hours and 50-ish minutes. It’s probably still a sub-6 half-ironman. My last two races were 6 hours 15 minutes (the same place, Danang, a year ago) and 6 hours 11 minutes (Phu Quoc, 6 months later). Notably, my run time was the same in all 3 races: 2 hours and 11 minutes.
Many were frustrated that they came here to score their new PB (Personal Best) overall time, but the altered course robbed them of that opportunity. I’m sure the organizers had a tough decision to make. The strong sea current put lives at risk. There were newbie swimmers out there. I notice the deteriorated quality in other aspects of the race, from sponsorship, race atmosphere, attendance, and race rules, such as tackling drafting violations. As for me, I’m happy that I recovered quickly after the race. I achieved my PB on the bike. My run is consistent as before. Now I think about the full Ironman in the Philippines in 3 weeks. I need to start writing down my expectations and set some specific targets.
As I looked back on the numbers, I compiled data from my past half-ironman (aka Ironman 70.3). Due to past pre-race and in-race incidents, I did not manage to do the best I could have done. It’s interesting that looking back, on paper, I’m demonstrating a gradual improvement. Life is fair! External factors outside your control are important to be included in your own results. My first 70.3 was over 7 hours on a sprained ankle, and I’m proud of it.
| 2024-05 Da Nang | 2023-11 Phu Quoc | 2023-05 Da Nang | 2022-09 Langkawi | 2022-05 Da Nang | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Swim | 0:14:23 (shortened) | 0:54:02 | 0:50:11 | 0:48:28 | 0:53:35 |
| T1 | 0:05:08 | 0:33:25 | 0:07:02 | 0:05:45 | 0:08:53 |
| Bike | 2:47:02 | 3:02:24 | 2:57:43 | 3:36:03 (crashed) | 3:08:48 |
| T2 | 0:03:01 | 0:04:16 | 0:05:05 | 0:09:52 | 0:10:36 |
| Run | 2:11:29 | 2:11:01 | 2:11:15 | 1:58:14 | 2:52:21 (sprained ankle) |
| Total | 5:21:03 | 6:15:07 | 6:11:15 | 6:38:21 | 7:14:13 |
| Age Group Rank | 31 | 38 | 74 | 43 | 137 |
| Gender Rank | 161 | 202 | 361 | 230 | 544 |
| Total Rank | 185 | 233 | 407 | 265 | 606 |
| IM Points | 2024 | 1654 | 1544 | 1061 | 700 |
| Bib | 285 | 141 | 385 | 1198 | 1001 |
| Weather | heat | windy | extreme heat | flood | rain |
A race is not just about the result. I’ve come to appreciate all things around it. Yes, first and foremost, it’s a medium for me to push my limits, physically and mentally. I am so blessed that my family gave me the freedom to train in my own space and the support and celebration when I hit new milestones. A race is also a distraction from work. I’m grateful to have my cofounder doing all the races with me so far and my coworkers who do great work with clients and cheer us on.
Next: Home Schooling