IMLP Race Report
Let me start by saying that my training season was WAY under what I had wanted. I had many factors get in the way not the least of which was missing almost 3 week in June when I was sick and then being sick up until 2 days before the race! So I went into this race with the attitude to go nice and easy and simply enjoy it.
Race week was mostly me popping a Zicam every hour an a half and drinking Airborne every hour and a half trying to get over my cold. I loved the group practice swim on Friday morning - it really calmed me down. I also met up with some other members to ride the Keene descent on Thursday. I did not like that descent one bit! But I know it helped that I did it before the race.
Race morning I got there right when transition opened and worked off a checklist just like RnP said. It definitely helped to keep me calm. I loved the swim. I swam it in 1:20 and swam way to the outside left - never came in contact with another person. I am sure I swam about 3 miles instead of 2.4, but I didn't care - it was worth it for me to be super calm and not mixing it up on the cable line.
The bike for me was crazy. The fast part of the course was probably my slowest! I just really didn't like that steep descent at all. I was gripping my brakes and making myself go as slow as possible. I finished it in 8 hours - which was about an hour over where I thought I'd be. The good thing was I was very steady the entire time and even split the loops. My poor husband thought I'd crashed and that's why I was taking so long, but nope - just going super easy!
My run was just under 5 hours - I thought I'd be around 4:30 like my last Ironman. But I walked those hills both times and walked a bit at each aid station. Again - I just wanted to take it easy and not be cursing the race in the last 8 miles. I was so glad to have my Garmin on for the first 6 miles to make sure I was going slow enough. It worked great - I think I ended up passing about 300 people on the run. I felt nice and steady the whole time. Every time I saw my family I ran over to chat and give kisses - It was truly fun to just be running along and not concerned with my finish time. That being said, I'm ready to COMPETE in my next race!
Thanks Coach RnP for the amazing experience!
Comments
Loved your attitude, after all, it's just a game, right?
And for the record, you were well over an hour faster than my IM in May.