Calgary Half Marathon
This race did not scare me. I was the most relaxed I have ever been before a race. Not sure of the reason, I will go with I was ready for the distance and knew I would finish it.
I did complete the race. I did not come in time-wise where I would have liked but did come ahead of the Police ½ (both times I’ve done that race).
Early to rise, early start which meant I had to be at the LRT for the 5:20am departure to make the 7a race start. Decided it was a good chance to experiment on the pre race meal so a piece of toast and peanut butter with a cup of coffee some sugar no cream. Worked like a charm. J
I dashed out the door and had forgotten my fuel belt (water and liquid food), which meant my lip balm as well. The belt is like Linus's blanket to him! I did ok without it and next race I will not carry it. Missed the lip balm tho, that I won’t forget!
Met a few other TTLr’s on the train, what a great feeling to know I had people to talk to enroute to the venue.
The weather was perfect, not a cloud in the sky, which was good as it was a tad chilly to start. Once the sun started to warm things up it was lovely. Pre race warm up with everyone and thanks to whoever it was that said I was “wasting away” WOW! You made my day!!! J
Headed to the start line and we were off!
In the 1st kilometer or so I was asked me when I got my capris, I said a couple of months ago why “They are completely see though, nice thong though” AH!!! I flipped my number around and continued to pull my shirt down and worried about the “view” for the rest of the race! Yikes!
Final (gun) 2:18:11:32, chip time 2:16:23:38. I'm ok with it. I still had some left in me at the end, which is great news!
As the day went on I processed the race and decided it was a good day overall. Not really keen on the time and the fact my knee flared but how I was doing when I was running was key.
Gut issues were right on cue, which means I know when they are going to occur and that is that. I thought I would get away with the last one as I hit the 18k mark but no...I thought I was done but! The best thing happened there were the port-a-potties right then and there with NO line-up! I get in I get out, works for me.
I did notice I got into more "zones" than before and when I did that I was passing people and this occurred more after the turnaround point. I took notice of the people that were beside me when I would stop for the loo or my knee flaring and I would work to catch up. These to me are good signs as I can problem solve and recover.
The knee thing is my meniscus just letting me know it's not happy when I push it so I listen and back off. Must remember to take my "vitamin I" before the race.
My legs were also tired from a very challenging 1hr53min bike ride (on my trainer) on Saturday that was composed of mostly low cadence "hill climbing" along with a time trial that I had the trainer in the wrong setting for! No wonder it was so hard! D’OH!
Early start, early finish! Got home, had a shower made myself a yummy omelet, toast, coffee and read the newspaper all by noon! Even got some errands done and when that was over had a beer and clamato juice, with some nachos on the side while sitting on the deck. I even grabbed a 20min catnap in the sun, ahhhhhhhhh :-) Beer is wonderful!
For a lovely cap of the day a barbequed steak dinner, red wine and my fav dessert after a race: small hot fudge sundae from DQ!
A great day for me, all good as I work towards that little ol’ race the end of August… J
Tuesday, May 31, 2011
Jenny's Calgary Half Marathon Race Report - May 29, 2011
My update is funny……
The start of my race was almost like one of my worst nightmares as a ‘runner’. I used to have nightmares about races where I missed the start because I was so late and I ended up having to run like a mad-woman to catch up with the rest of the runners.
Well, Sunday a.m. – I got there with only 4 minutes to spare. I have been so tired with all of my volunteer work (at my kids’ school) & work that I slept in on Sunday a.m.
I always like to have a breakfast & you know…do the bathroom thing before I leave my house. So I actually didn’t leave my house until 6:30!
My warm-up was literally running up that little hill next to Murdoch park to the start line.
I’ve always had a problem with pacing. I wanted to start off conservatively & save energy for the end. However, no matter how hard I tried, my garmin kept showing 5:10-5:13. At times, I was going 4:55. It didn’t feel like I was pushing myself though. I was pretty consistent until about 16km or so & then I started to feel the work in my legs. But this time, I didn’t give up. I kept forging ahead. I told myself words that Angie taught me….countdown to hurt. My milestones were the bridges. Heading east on Memorial….I knew that I had to make it from 14th St. bridge to 10th St. bridge. And then from 10th St. bridge to Centre St. bridge. As soon as I got to Centre St. bridge, I knew I was close to finish.
My chip time said 1:52. It’s faster than my last half, which was Last Chance half. So I feel pretty good, but my goal this year is still to finish in 1:50 or under. I’ve done it before & I know I can do it again!
After the run when I went to get the refreshments, I had the WORST charlie horse cramp in my calf when I was going up the hill from the park to street level. I thought that if I were to straighten my leg my calf would burst. So I collapsed at the steps going up from Murdoch park. I couldn’t believe it when this fellow runner came by & said, ‘…..excuse me…but where did you get the food?’. I thought to myself…..’I’m dying here & you’re not even going to help me?’. One of the race crew members saw me & said she’ll get me medical help. A physiotherapist came to help me up & helped me walk over to the medic tent where I got some ice treatment. It was weird as I don’t usually get Charlie horses. It took a while for that cramping to go away.
Overall, a pretty good day. Now I’m trying to decide whether or not to do Footstock Du and I think I’m going to try for that sub 1:50 at the Stampede Roadrace in July (hosted by Strides Running Store).
Thank-you Angie for your programs. You always push me & challenge me. One of these days I hope to accomplish my goals. I know I can get there!
Jenny
The start of my race was almost like one of my worst nightmares as a ‘runner’. I used to have nightmares about races where I missed the start because I was so late and I ended up having to run like a mad-woman to catch up with the rest of the runners.
Well, Sunday a.m. – I got there with only 4 minutes to spare. I have been so tired with all of my volunteer work (at my kids’ school) & work that I slept in on Sunday a.m.
I always like to have a breakfast & you know…do the bathroom thing before I leave my house. So I actually didn’t leave my house until 6:30!
My warm-up was literally running up that little hill next to Murdoch park to the start line.
I’ve always had a problem with pacing. I wanted to start off conservatively & save energy for the end. However, no matter how hard I tried, my garmin kept showing 5:10-5:13. At times, I was going 4:55. It didn’t feel like I was pushing myself though. I was pretty consistent until about 16km or so & then I started to feel the work in my legs. But this time, I didn’t give up. I kept forging ahead. I told myself words that Angie taught me….countdown to hurt. My milestones were the bridges. Heading east on Memorial….I knew that I had to make it from 14th St. bridge to 10th St. bridge. And then from 10th St. bridge to Centre St. bridge. As soon as I got to Centre St. bridge, I knew I was close to finish.
My chip time said 1:52. It’s faster than my last half, which was Last Chance half. So I feel pretty good, but my goal this year is still to finish in 1:50 or under. I’ve done it before & I know I can do it again!
After the run when I went to get the refreshments, I had the WORST charlie horse cramp in my calf when I was going up the hill from the park to street level. I thought that if I were to straighten my leg my calf would burst. So I collapsed at the steps going up from Murdoch park. I couldn’t believe it when this fellow runner came by & said, ‘…..excuse me…but where did you get the food?’. I thought to myself…..’I’m dying here & you’re not even going to help me?’. One of the race crew members saw me & said she’ll get me medical help. A physiotherapist came to help me up & helped me walk over to the medic tent where I got some ice treatment. It was weird as I don’t usually get Charlie horses. It took a while for that cramping to go away.
Overall, a pretty good day. Now I’m trying to decide whether or not to do Footstock Du and I think I’m going to try for that sub 1:50 at the Stampede Roadrace in July (hosted by Strides Running Store).
Thank-you Angie for your programs. You always push me & challenge me. One of these days I hope to accomplish my goals. I know I can get there!
Jenny
Shannon's Calgary Half Marathon Race Report - May 29, 2011
Despite the fact I am not finished my Ironman Canada race report, I was compelled to get the race from yesterday completed so it actually is off the plate of things to do.
I woke up Sunday morning and thought of 5 different reasons I would tell you I was not going to race. I did not want to race AT ALL. Not sure why I have felt like this last 2 races but it’s how I have been feeling. Part of it this time was probably just getting over bronchitis and wondering how my breathing would cope during the race. Part of it is the stresses of a sick father-in-law and work. After lying there for 10 minutes I decided I need to get a long run in anyways so might as well do it with the team. Once I was on the road heading to Calgary, I started to feel better.
Walking from the C-train, I heard my name and looked up to see familiar Team Trilife colors on Kelly. Great to see her and Mitch and to meet Jill, Kelly’s sister-in-law. Tried to find team at the starting line – no luck. Heart sunk a little – went to go run a little to warm up and wouldn’t you know there was the team. It was great to see everyone even for a few minutes. Chatted with Nola for a while and found out she was taking it easy as she had been sick and her back was causing here issues. We decided to run together and that was the best thing that could have happened. We started out slowly, slower than I wanted but I really wanted the company. My legs were trying to pick up pace but Nola kept saying, “I am going to slow it down, go ahead if you want”. Part of me wanted to, but more of me wanted to stay with Nola. It was a great run – Nola kept my mind off the time and we had a great visit. You know how bad I am with nutrition. At one point Nola said she was taking her gel. I decided I would to. Without her, I would have skipped the gel. With 2 km left, my stomach started to ache and I wanted to stop more than anything. Nola kept talking to me and helped me get through that feeling and we made it to the end. It wasn’t a PB on the clock (although pretty good time for me all things considered) but it was a PB race for me on the satisfaction scale. I got to spend a great morning with a fellow teammate and friend, I only walked 3 times at water stations, I actually took in some nutrition and I did not blow up in the last 5 km as I always have in the past.
I am taking a few things from this race to use moving forward:
1. I need to pace myself properly. I have tried in the past unsuccessfully. Much more satisfying to start out slow and finish strong.
2. I think nutrition is helpful – LOL
3. Running with a friend is extremely helpful. I train a lot of long distances on my own. I need to find more training partners to help the long bikes and runs.
4. At different times in training there are different circumstances. Adjusting races to these issues and focusing on execution is not only smart, but very rewarding.
Thanks Nola for a great run – you made my day.
Shannon
I woke up Sunday morning and thought of 5 different reasons I would tell you I was not going to race. I did not want to race AT ALL. Not sure why I have felt like this last 2 races but it’s how I have been feeling. Part of it this time was probably just getting over bronchitis and wondering how my breathing would cope during the race. Part of it is the stresses of a sick father-in-law and work. After lying there for 10 minutes I decided I need to get a long run in anyways so might as well do it with the team. Once I was on the road heading to Calgary, I started to feel better.
Walking from the C-train, I heard my name and looked up to see familiar Team Trilife colors on Kelly. Great to see her and Mitch and to meet Jill, Kelly’s sister-in-law. Tried to find team at the starting line – no luck. Heart sunk a little – went to go run a little to warm up and wouldn’t you know there was the team. It was great to see everyone even for a few minutes. Chatted with Nola for a while and found out she was taking it easy as she had been sick and her back was causing here issues. We decided to run together and that was the best thing that could have happened. We started out slowly, slower than I wanted but I really wanted the company. My legs were trying to pick up pace but Nola kept saying, “I am going to slow it down, go ahead if you want”. Part of me wanted to, but more of me wanted to stay with Nola. It was a great run – Nola kept my mind off the time and we had a great visit. You know how bad I am with nutrition. At one point Nola said she was taking her gel. I decided I would to. Without her, I would have skipped the gel. With 2 km left, my stomach started to ache and I wanted to stop more than anything. Nola kept talking to me and helped me get through that feeling and we made it to the end. It wasn’t a PB on the clock (although pretty good time for me all things considered) but it was a PB race for me on the satisfaction scale. I got to spend a great morning with a fellow teammate and friend, I only walked 3 times at water stations, I actually took in some nutrition and I did not blow up in the last 5 km as I always have in the past.
I am taking a few things from this race to use moving forward:
1. I need to pace myself properly. I have tried in the past unsuccessfully. Much more satisfying to start out slow and finish strong.
2. I think nutrition is helpful – LOL
3. Running with a friend is extremely helpful. I train a lot of long distances on my own. I need to find more training partners to help the long bikes and runs.
4. At different times in training there are different circumstances. Adjusting races to these issues and focusing on execution is not only smart, but very rewarding.
Thanks Nola for a great run – you made my day.
Shannon
Monday, May 16, 2011
Scott's Ironman St. George Race Report - May 7, 2011
Ironman Saint George (IMSG) May 7th Race Report
Pre-race
Three months prior to the race I decided I needed something big to help push me off the couch, so I signed up for IMSG (thinking it should be big enough, yeah it was and then some). The family road trip stopped in St. George a week & a half pre-race for a few days. Swam in the infamous cold Sand-Hollow, where the front gate said it was 64 F but the water felt much colder closer to 60 F (15 C). Water was really clear and a great sight with the blue splashing up against the red rock. Ran ¼ of the run route (one way 10k) in the heat of the day 25 C to experience the hills, yes they are ugly (and all of the 2.6 times elevation climb I expected coming from IMC to IMSG) but so far both the swim & run seem doable.
The next day I biked the 80k loop once, this is where the confidence started to waver. What should have been a ~3h ride turned into 4, the hills were like steps but with false flats after the climbs, then a relentless wind that robbed me of all downhill rest. Hit a 14% grade to climb only ~1k, survived it, then a 3.5k long climb called the wall (17% grade), this hurt, but I survived only to crest into a head wind that punished me to no end. Now I did do my homework but looking at maps, elevation gain/loss and reports of previous riders told me I would be dealing with 30% more climbing on the bike in IMSG compared to IMC, now it was becoming a reality as to how much more this means, add in strong winds that change mid-day making it a true riding into the wind the whole time can be a reality. I was a bit shaken, doing the math and figuring that if race day were like this I might not make the bike cut-off. The following week I go back to the lake to do another swim, only to see the IMSG pole signs torn to shreds by the wind, then I see the 1 ½ foot white caps, I go in anyway, ice-cream headache was instant, water was way colder. I could barely swim 15 minutes as breathing and sighting was impossible, so I swam enough to know I could finish the swim, but was likely not going to like it. On shore I was chatting with a few others preparing and one guy produced his own thermometer and it showed the water at 56 F (not the 62 the entry booth was displaying).
To recap, super cold swim expected to rob me of strength for the start of the bike, super hard bike & run, lots of wind and only 3 months of training, most of which was indoors. My saving grace was the realistic race goals I had to: 1. Finish, 2. Not hurt myself and 3. Get myself off the couch.
The Race
4:30 am get up; get to special needs bag drop and then need to board a bus out to the swim. On the bus some young girls (early 20’s) were talking 90 miles a minute and drinking Rockstar, so not good for getting mentally prepared, but they were clearly nervous. I was so glad to be off the bus, got ready and see Cindy by the fence of transition (spectators had to take a different bus to T1). My bike was directly across from the men’s change tent so no hunting expected. I find out later that the tent design also provided some entertainment for those that were waiting after the swim as the flaps for the tent and changing habits offered some interesting (peep-show) entertainment.
Swim - They called us to the water, I went straight in and swam the 100 meters to the deep water start, was near the front and spent the time getting my face wet to calm the ice-cream effect. Water was calm and back to 62 F, very doable. I look to shore and there is a stream of swim caps that are not entering the water, waiting for the last second or stuck behind lemmings afraid to enter the water, then bang the canon goes, we’re off. Sucks to be those in line, but oh-well might have been their plan? Swim was a bit rough between swimmers but after 1600m I broke to the inside (with 10 feet) of the markers and had nice water. Since the swim course markers never went in before the race and pre-swimming was less than enjoyable, I failed to set sighting markers. The swim markers were not as nice as the ones I was accustomed to for GWN or IMC, they were hard to differentiate from the swimmers. First leg was fine, second leg was hard, into the sun but short, third leg was 1800m nothing really on the horizon to sight either, last leg to shore was fine but I had to re-enter the masses and they were still a bit pushy, I think the cold water was getting to the swimmers. I hit shore and transition went smoothly, I saw 1:15 on my watch, later I also see that I swam 450m extra, not sure where, but maybe the route was a bit long.
T1 - Took my time and made sure I didn’t miss sun screen this time (a step I did miss in IMC), later Cindy tells me I stopped for a massage and manicure instead of sun screening. They were slow & thorough, getting my arms, legs, neck, chest, hands, nose, cheeks, ears … I have a lot of body and these were the screeners that got a lot of free entertainment outside the change tents. 6 m 31s transition, so OK the rub down (uh I mean screening) didn’t take that long.
Bike - Stayed calm took the first portion easy, everything seemed good wind wasn’t too bad 20km to town, average speed was putting me in a happy place, Ok Swim check, bike might not be as bad as my pre-ride. I hit the 80k loop that I have to do twice, not bad, 30, 40, 50k all is good, then the heat went up over 30 C as I hit the hills, and I dropped a bit of speed to avoid exploding later in the day. This is the point I changed my race plan to listen to my body to try to keep the #1&2 race goals achievable. Stayed slow & steady up the hills, heart rate did spike, but luckily the wind was not yet as bad as last time so I could rest on the false flats and few descents. Started the second lap and had moderate confidence on finishing the bike, then a wind advisory was issued (easily hitting 35km/h plus gusts). It was getting harder on some parts but it helped in others. Leading up to The Wall was nice but then doing a 17% climb into a headwind at 34 C was brutal. I recall passing 8 bikers that had passed me earlier trying to hide in the shade, hanging their head on there bars stopped or laying on the side of the road, clearly done for the day. I have never seen so many ambulances busy around a course, lights on, and people to help. Like any race I asked myself many times, ‘Can I go faster?’, often the answer was yes, but I qualified it with a question ‘Should I?’, the answer was no. Finally get up to the top of the climb at 4700ft (again) and am greeted to a wind that robbed me of 10-15km/h compared to the first lap, no free speed, I actually still had work to do even with the 1850ft descent to T2. Added to this not riding outside enough made holding my head up hard at the 140k mark onward. This all said and done I had a 7h 33m bike glad to have the chance to add to the time needed for the run as I knew I would need it.
T2 – Slower than T1, I stopped for another sun screen massage, and had poorly tied my run bag making getting into it tough. Hey 8m 49s was lightning compared to some of the 31, 41 or 52 minute transitions others took (OK so these people still beat me on the race so maybe I should have gone out for a nice diner or had a nap, then started running might have helped).
Run - Happy to be off the bike, actually feeling not too bad (for the first 200m), then I hit the first hill and in the heat and the dry wind I realized I was going to overheat very quickly and likely not recover. Started grabbing 3-4 sponges at each aid station, and then from both sides of the road (aid stations for those on the returning leg) it was strange, soaking the hat, shirt, shorts, bandana carrying sponges and water nothing was working. I would be bone dry before the next station. I guess strong winds, 34 C and 19% humidity does that to you (oh while shuffling through a marathon). The race video has I guy comparing the run to going through a hair dryer, likely the best descriptor I can think of. Some of us did try running down the hills (if you call a death shuffle running). Here again I focused on listening to my body and it was a totally different experience. I could go faster and at times did. It was not the body complaining about the effort but just balance of fluids, fuel, and heat that made the decision. People were dropping like flies, again lots of emergency vehicle traffic and racers just stopped, finding shade or losing the will/ability to continue. The run route goes through a tortoise reserve; they told us the ‘Turtles get right of way. Runners can't touch them but they can jump over them’. I thought they were kidding, but instead all the racers were like turtles so I tried to not touch them and only had to jump over one. I along with everyone else out there in my lap was simply unable to run up any hill, walking was a huge accomplishment at this point of the day. The times I did push a bit harder something would complain, like gut cramps, head-ache, overheat/dry-out or foot blisters, I found I was able to adjust and address each of these (except the blisters) but it made for a very long 6h 18m run/walk through a red-rock super heated oven.
Really happy to see my family cheering and thanks to Cindy for braving the route to catch me more than once. I know the heat & hills you had to overcome to do this, and she was ‘Dried out like beef jerky.’ Many thanks to, Kelvin for the race wheels, Sarah for fixing my almost broken parts (and poking me with needles, still determining is this was for fixing me or her entertainment), Angie for doing such a great job helping me get there, Alfred (yes … Alfred) for putting me on to the amazing ice bandana, I thought of you lots in the run and how you saved my life out there without even knowing, all the Iron Girl harem you don’t realize that helping at your race was the best thing to help me stay calm & prepare for my race, and most of all my lovely girls (Ashton, Ariane & Cindy) for their support and encouragement through the training and the race.
I would definitely recommend IMSG to anyone that likes a challenge and has race goals that are realistic (no matter how awful I make it sound above). It was hard and I accept that only 3 months of training was, umm, stupid … or at least short. I realize that if at any time in this race I chose to use a time/speed/pace/place goal I would have blown up and likely lost accomplishing any goals that I had for this race. Will I go back? Yes, I hope to decide this with at least 4 months notice next time ;-) (I know how hard 3 months was for Angie to build programs for me). Is this harder than IMC? Definitely yes, but I think so many things can change race to race that this race could be great one year and punish the entire field the next. The fact that they had 20% DNF ratio which is worse than 2010 (~13% I think) was surprising. IMSG definitely taught me renewed and greater respect for the IM distance as nothing is a given.
Pre-race
Three months prior to the race I decided I needed something big to help push me off the couch, so I signed up for IMSG (thinking it should be big enough, yeah it was and then some). The family road trip stopped in St. George a week & a half pre-race for a few days. Swam in the infamous cold Sand-Hollow, where the front gate said it was 64 F but the water felt much colder closer to 60 F (15 C). Water was really clear and a great sight with the blue splashing up against the red rock. Ran ¼ of the run route (one way 10k) in the heat of the day 25 C to experience the hills, yes they are ugly (and all of the 2.6 times elevation climb I expected coming from IMC to IMSG) but so far both the swim & run seem doable.
The next day I biked the 80k loop once, this is where the confidence started to waver. What should have been a ~3h ride turned into 4, the hills were like steps but with false flats after the climbs, then a relentless wind that robbed me of all downhill rest. Hit a 14% grade to climb only ~1k, survived it, then a 3.5k long climb called the wall (17% grade), this hurt, but I survived only to crest into a head wind that punished me to no end. Now I did do my homework but looking at maps, elevation gain/loss and reports of previous riders told me I would be dealing with 30% more climbing on the bike in IMSG compared to IMC, now it was becoming a reality as to how much more this means, add in strong winds that change mid-day making it a true riding into the wind the whole time can be a reality. I was a bit shaken, doing the math and figuring that if race day were like this I might not make the bike cut-off. The following week I go back to the lake to do another swim, only to see the IMSG pole signs torn to shreds by the wind, then I see the 1 ½ foot white caps, I go in anyway, ice-cream headache was instant, water was way colder. I could barely swim 15 minutes as breathing and sighting was impossible, so I swam enough to know I could finish the swim, but was likely not going to like it. On shore I was chatting with a few others preparing and one guy produced his own thermometer and it showed the water at 56 F (not the 62 the entry booth was displaying).
To recap, super cold swim expected to rob me of strength for the start of the bike, super hard bike & run, lots of wind and only 3 months of training, most of which was indoors. My saving grace was the realistic race goals I had to: 1. Finish, 2. Not hurt myself and 3. Get myself off the couch.
The Race
4:30 am get up; get to special needs bag drop and then need to board a bus out to the swim. On the bus some young girls (early 20’s) were talking 90 miles a minute and drinking Rockstar, so not good for getting mentally prepared, but they were clearly nervous. I was so glad to be off the bus, got ready and see Cindy by the fence of transition (spectators had to take a different bus to T1). My bike was directly across from the men’s change tent so no hunting expected. I find out later that the tent design also provided some entertainment for those that were waiting after the swim as the flaps for the tent and changing habits offered some interesting (peep-show) entertainment.
Swim - They called us to the water, I went straight in and swam the 100 meters to the deep water start, was near the front and spent the time getting my face wet to calm the ice-cream effect. Water was calm and back to 62 F, very doable. I look to shore and there is a stream of swim caps that are not entering the water, waiting for the last second or stuck behind lemmings afraid to enter the water, then bang the canon goes, we’re off. Sucks to be those in line, but oh-well might have been their plan? Swim was a bit rough between swimmers but after 1600m I broke to the inside (with 10 feet) of the markers and had nice water. Since the swim course markers never went in before the race and pre-swimming was less than enjoyable, I failed to set sighting markers. The swim markers were not as nice as the ones I was accustomed to for GWN or IMC, they were hard to differentiate from the swimmers. First leg was fine, second leg was hard, into the sun but short, third leg was 1800m nothing really on the horizon to sight either, last leg to shore was fine but I had to re-enter the masses and they were still a bit pushy, I think the cold water was getting to the swimmers. I hit shore and transition went smoothly, I saw 1:15 on my watch, later I also see that I swam 450m extra, not sure where, but maybe the route was a bit long.
T1 - Took my time and made sure I didn’t miss sun screen this time (a step I did miss in IMC), later Cindy tells me I stopped for a massage and manicure instead of sun screening. They were slow & thorough, getting my arms, legs, neck, chest, hands, nose, cheeks, ears … I have a lot of body and these were the screeners that got a lot of free entertainment outside the change tents. 6 m 31s transition, so OK the rub down (uh I mean screening) didn’t take that long.
Bike - Stayed calm took the first portion easy, everything seemed good wind wasn’t too bad 20km to town, average speed was putting me in a happy place, Ok Swim check, bike might not be as bad as my pre-ride. I hit the 80k loop that I have to do twice, not bad, 30, 40, 50k all is good, then the heat went up over 30 C as I hit the hills, and I dropped a bit of speed to avoid exploding later in the day. This is the point I changed my race plan to listen to my body to try to keep the #1&2 race goals achievable. Stayed slow & steady up the hills, heart rate did spike, but luckily the wind was not yet as bad as last time so I could rest on the false flats and few descents. Started the second lap and had moderate confidence on finishing the bike, then a wind advisory was issued (easily hitting 35km/h plus gusts). It was getting harder on some parts but it helped in others. Leading up to The Wall was nice but then doing a 17% climb into a headwind at 34 C was brutal. I recall passing 8 bikers that had passed me earlier trying to hide in the shade, hanging their head on there bars stopped or laying on the side of the road, clearly done for the day. I have never seen so many ambulances busy around a course, lights on, and people to help. Like any race I asked myself many times, ‘Can I go faster?’, often the answer was yes, but I qualified it with a question ‘Should I?’, the answer was no. Finally get up to the top of the climb at 4700ft (again) and am greeted to a wind that robbed me of 10-15km/h compared to the first lap, no free speed, I actually still had work to do even with the 1850ft descent to T2. Added to this not riding outside enough made holding my head up hard at the 140k mark onward. This all said and done I had a 7h 33m bike glad to have the chance to add to the time needed for the run as I knew I would need it.
T2 – Slower than T1, I stopped for another sun screen massage, and had poorly tied my run bag making getting into it tough. Hey 8m 49s was lightning compared to some of the 31, 41 or 52 minute transitions others took (OK so these people still beat me on the race so maybe I should have gone out for a nice diner or had a nap, then started running might have helped).
Run - Happy to be off the bike, actually feeling not too bad (for the first 200m), then I hit the first hill and in the heat and the dry wind I realized I was going to overheat very quickly and likely not recover. Started grabbing 3-4 sponges at each aid station, and then from both sides of the road (aid stations for those on the returning leg) it was strange, soaking the hat, shirt, shorts, bandana carrying sponges and water nothing was working. I would be bone dry before the next station. I guess strong winds, 34 C and 19% humidity does that to you (oh while shuffling through a marathon). The race video has I guy comparing the run to going through a hair dryer, likely the best descriptor I can think of. Some of us did try running down the hills (if you call a death shuffle running). Here again I focused on listening to my body and it was a totally different experience. I could go faster and at times did. It was not the body complaining about the effort but just balance of fluids, fuel, and heat that made the decision. People were dropping like flies, again lots of emergency vehicle traffic and racers just stopped, finding shade or losing the will/ability to continue. The run route goes through a tortoise reserve; they told us the ‘Turtles get right of way. Runners can't touch them but they can jump over them’. I thought they were kidding, but instead all the racers were like turtles so I tried to not touch them and only had to jump over one. I along with everyone else out there in my lap was simply unable to run up any hill, walking was a huge accomplishment at this point of the day. The times I did push a bit harder something would complain, like gut cramps, head-ache, overheat/dry-out or foot blisters, I found I was able to adjust and address each of these (except the blisters) but it made for a very long 6h 18m run/walk through a red-rock super heated oven.
Really happy to see my family cheering and thanks to Cindy for braving the route to catch me more than once. I know the heat & hills you had to overcome to do this, and she was ‘Dried out like beef jerky.’ Many thanks to, Kelvin for the race wheels, Sarah for fixing my almost broken parts (and poking me with needles, still determining is this was for fixing me or her entertainment), Angie for doing such a great job helping me get there, Alfred (yes … Alfred) for putting me on to the amazing ice bandana, I thought of you lots in the run and how you saved my life out there without even knowing, all the Iron Girl harem you don’t realize that helping at your race was the best thing to help me stay calm & prepare for my race, and most of all my lovely girls (Ashton, Ariane & Cindy) for their support and encouragement through the training and the race.
I would definitely recommend IMSG to anyone that likes a challenge and has race goals that are realistic (no matter how awful I make it sound above). It was hard and I accept that only 3 months of training was, umm, stupid … or at least short. I realize that if at any time in this race I chose to use a time/speed/pace/place goal I would have blown up and likely lost accomplishing any goals that I had for this race. Will I go back? Yes, I hope to decide this with at least 4 months notice next time ;-) (I know how hard 3 months was for Angie to build programs for me). Is this harder than IMC? Definitely yes, but I think so many things can change race to race that this race could be great one year and punish the entire field the next. The fact that they had 20% DNF ratio which is worse than 2010 (~13% I think) was surprising. IMSG definitely taught me renewed and greater respect for the IM distance as nothing is a given.
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