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| Team Triattic |
Pre-race:
The days leading into the race were not ideal weather wise. We had intermittent rain, cloudy skies, and breezy conditions. This caused the lake to have a chop on it, it normally doesn't have and made setting up our team tent quite challenging. But, what I told myself and remind the team was, "you can't control the weather, all you can control is your attitude and your effort." This rung true so many times on race day.
Despite the conditions we still got in a group swim, brick, and drove the bike course. Highly recommended for anyone racing a course they have never seen.
One of the highlights after the team swim was grabbing a Kieth Richards from Java on Sherman. If you go to CDA for Ironman or to visit be sure to hit up Java!!! If your really tired, get the Terminator (4 shots of espresso with drip coffee), you wont sleep for days!
Race Day:
Not only was this race special because of everyone that would be doing it but with all those athletes comes lots of support!!! My Mom, my sister-in-law Phoy, my niece and nephew Ethan and Madison came along to cheer us on. As did other family and friends from our team! That was a HUGE boost in energy every time I saw them!!
Waking up and driving down to the lake we could feel the breeze but didn't notice it until we actually got down there on the open lake front. I can admit this now, now that it is over, I was scared to death of how that was going to translate on the open roads of the bike course.
Race prep went smoothly, I got into transition early, got my bike tires pumped up by tech support (no line) - do this first thing! I mixed all my nutrition, put my 310 into my run gear bag, and headed to the team tent to chill out and get ready for the swim. Having so many athletes competing that day, helped to draw the attention off my own race day nerves and help to calm all the first timers. Wetsuit on, snack in the belly, Vaseline on the neck, baby shampoo in the goggles, and I was ready, ready as I could have been!
Swim 2.4 miles: 1:10:16, 1:49/100m
I lined up with friend and teammate Natalie Radford directly behind the 1:01-1:15 swim corral. My swim volume was much less leading into this IM because of a shoulder injury I was rehabbing for a few months leading into the race. I knew my time would be a bit slower than normal on a good day. Well remember me talking about the wind, well this caused the lake to look like an ocean. White caps, swells, you name it.......it's hard to tell from the picture. Ask anyone who raced that day, they know!
Anyways, for the chop, swell and lower swim volume, I actually felt quick good in the water. I held back on the first loop, never pushing an effort and just concentrated on form. The second loop, the field was thinner and I decided to pick up the tempo. I got out and felt great, I saw the 1:10 time and knew that was mainly due to the conditions so I didn't let that bother me. Swim done......now onto the bike.
Bike 112 miles: 7:01:32, 15.94 mph - CLICK HERE for bike file
Leading into this race, I knew I was ready for this course. I had done it before, I knew what to expect and I put in serious miles and training on hilly courses around North Florida and South Georgia. Hah, then I got on the road with wind I have never ever had seen. The wind was strong enough to test the strongest riders.
Miles 1-14: These first few miles were protected and looped the run course, I could feel the wind as we got near the lake but tried to keep my focus on my effort, cadence and attitude. That was a success.
Miles 14-44: Holy shit........... HWY 95 heading south was like being in a wind tunnel on an uphill grade with no escape. On an already tough course, add the head wind and it was near impossible. I was doing my best to stay positive, trying to keep my mind from drifting to negative thoughts, it was early in the race so mission accomplished.
Miles 45-65: Awww, relief. This was a nice stretch of tailwind, downhill and seeing teammates!! I would try to find words of encouragement for all my passing teammates but I knew what they were going through, all I could do was smile, tell them you got this, and know that they would find a way!!
Mile 65-70: Special needs. BIG MISTAKE!!!! Okay on training rides, I always stop at a gas station and get a cold coke and boy does it do the trick. So for the first time in 12 Ironman races, I put a coke in my special needs bag. I wanted it so bad too. I knew I was about to tackle the wind again and I couldn't wait for that coke. What I didn't anticipate was how warm and nasty it got sitting outside all day. I took a big swig and almost threw it up immediately. Yuck, not doing that again. Well about 5 minutes after I left special needs I got one of the worst stomach cramps I have ever had while on a bike. It hurt to pedal it was so bad. What did I do, ignored it and kept fighting.
Miles 70-90: Back into the wind.......did it get stronger? I think it did, WHAT! how is this possible? On 6% descents you'd have to pedal to hit 15 mph. WTF? No rest for the weary. Well that stomach cramp never went away either.......at mile 84, I had enough. I got off at an aid station, racked my bike and hit the bathroom. I sat in there about to tears from pain, mental fatigue, and just the feeling of not wanting to get back on the road. But I did and the reason I did was because I had 12 other friends out there who were finding a way. That gave me the strength, that pushed me on, that moment was a 'suck it up buttercup' moment. I got out of there and had a new sense of determination.
90-finish: I made the turnaround on HWY 95 and was so excited, I told one of the volunteers how happy I was to finally see him, I felt like I had just finished the bike. The remaining miles were mainly downhill and we had a 20-30 mph wind helping us in! that was nice. Made it back to transition and I was ready to run.
Run 26.2 miles: 4:16:06, 9:46 min/mile - CLICK HERE for run file
From step one I had it in my mind I was going to run strong. I let the swim and bike go completely and knew the one good thing with the weather, was that it would make for fantastic running conditions, and it sure did! My legs felt great, my mind was in the right place, and I was determined to fight.
I ran one of the best marathons I ever have in Ironman. It wasn't my fastest but it was my most consistent. Looking back at the data and analyzing it after the race, I know I had more but I am happy to have such a strong run without falling off.
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| Mile splits |
Once I saw all of the team on the run, I had no more fears. I was so proud of everyone for the grit they had to make it through that bike ride. That got me so pumped up. The course in CDA is perfect for getting to see other athletes because it is an out and back the entire way. I got to see each and everyone out on the course!!! It brought tears of joy a few times!
Fun, fun, fun, I enjoy the challenge more and more. This marathon helped me gain confidence in my run ability. Confidence is my main limiter. You need two things in order to be successful in Ironman. The training and the belief! If you don't believe in yourself you will not achieve it. I have gained so much from this race, I can not wait to take on #13, yes can I have another!I also have to give a HUGE shout out to all of the TRIATTICS that day! All of you proved that you worked hard, fought tough and earned that finish line. No one can or will ever be able to take that away from you. I couldn't be more proud of each and every one of you! Congratulations, Jo and Al Curry, Melissa and John Thompson, Leisa and Ed Eastman, Morgan Garcia, Natalie Radford, Robby Turner, Brad Taylor, Michael Holt, and Charlie Johnson, you are an Ironman!
