5430 Long Course Triathlon

I wasn't planning on racing any half ironmans this year but then I had a 5 week gap in races, and 5430 Long Course was only 40 minutes away....so I decided to give it a go.
I haven't been doing the long runs and rides that I'd need to go into a half 100% but when are you 100%? I've been in very good race shape so figured that wold carry me through.
I flew from Jersey the day before but felt fine and the travel didn't take anything out of me. The 5430 Sports races are always roasting but miraculously the temp was only supposed to hit the low 80's.
Race morning was good and it was actually easy to get up at 4:00am since I was on East Coast time. I had a bagel with PB and a banana on top and I was good to go.
I swam extremely lazily, not sure why, just didn't get after it. Match that with what seemed a long swim and I was out in 31min. I swam 28min at Clearwater World Champs last year while being in way worse swim shape so either that was short or this was lengthy.
Onto the two wheeled machine. I had tucked my spare tubular into my seat bag and it was fine like that for my hour ride the day before but now 5 min in I see my shadow and the tire is flopping around! I pulled it out and tucked it into the chest area of my jersey. Got more into the bike and my legs felt ok but not great. I hunkered down and kept the rpms high at 100 where I like them and worked away. Passed a few guys and towards the end of the 1st loop and I ended up around Lars Finanger, Kirk Nelson, and another guy. We were all going about the same pace so were able to work off each other well. I'd feel good and try to take off then one of them would feel good and I'd just try to keep ahold of them. Once we got halfway into the 2nd loop they got some time on me then I was working alone. I had split 1:05 for the 1st loop, solid but not great. I knew holding down that pace would be some work. I just kept working away and came in off the bike in 2:10 for a 25.8mph avg. For once I didn't get the horrible cramped and overworked feeling I usually get in a half at the 40 mile mark. I was able to stay steady and was actually able to stay pretty close to Lars and Kirk which was good. I had 3 gels and 1 Sport Beans on the bike along with 1 bottle of Perpetuum and 2 bottles of Gatorade.
Onto the run and...my legs felt great! I wanted to run right around 6:00 pace but 5:50's felt like a breeze. I wasn't even pushing it and considered going faster but my smarter half told me to just hold it and work the 2nd half of the run. I split 5:50, 5:46, 5:48, 5:38, 6:02, 5:50. It felt too easy then all of the sudden 6:32. Cripes! From there my work was cut out for me. I had to work and keep focus to run 6:02, 6:17, 6:17, 6:22. I had 2 gels on the run, maybe more would have helped. With a mile to go I knew my PB of 4:03 was within reach so I went for it. I had been feeling like a leg cramp could strike at any second so I was running a bit scared at this point. I was getting little tremors like a full out cramp was about to erupt. When I picked it up this got worse but I managed a 5:40 then 0:55 for the final little bit. 4:02:07 final time, good for 9th.
All in all I'm happy with this race. It would have been nice to catch a great day like at the Peak and potentially get into the top 5 but I was able to work hard while not feeling great and still pull out a result I'm proud of.
Full Results Here
Inside Triathlon Recap Here
Slowtwitch Recap Here