IM Cozumel
the race day was great weather! Rain! We did have a shortened swim by 50m due to the current. It might not have been necessary as the seas had calmed but it was good to see a safe alternative to what had been a really dangerous situation. Good decision by the race officials.
The swim was delightful and as ego boosting as changing my power numbers on the Garmin! 1:25 per 100m. don't expect that to happen again! The last time I swam this course I had 1:33 per 100 m for the full course with again significant benefit from the current. My pace is usually 1:50 to 2:00 per 100 m. the swim was a little too close to coral.
Transition was good although I had to grab my bag to run it out of tent.... okay, that was different.
The bike was all it was billed to be. Lots of wind and too much drafting! Yikes! a group would move in front of me, I'd sit up and try to get out of the Zone... and another group would move in front. Oh well, it is what it is. Definitely an issue on any three lap course. But I enjoyed the course and the rain!
Next transition was fast.
I felt out of it on the run. I kept looking for the end of each aide station and ended up walking a lot initially due to that confusion. Very long aide stations! I was wiped out and dehydrated. I drank a LOT on the bike and I think even was able to pee while riding (by bike shoes really smell bad!) but I was hurting even though I had stayed in my zone as best I could.
Towards the middle of the run I started waking up. It began to rain and I was in heaven!!! In my head I was going much faster after that although I don't know if my splits reflect that. I passed many people after kicking it in around mile 16 as I felt great! (ooops! wait till mile18!) My feet started to hurt towards the end but I felt like I had passed everyone in my age group. Not so. I came in second. However my time was still good12:40:17. My best time at Louisville was 12:47 so this wasn't too far off my usual pace. All in all, I was pleased!
Lessons learned? My friend Damon from Houston thinks I should have my husband tell me when I am getting passed so I can speed it up...I don't know about that.... I think I need to just run my own race. Too much focus on competition could take the fun out of it. I had just finished 70.3 in Austin and it was too close to that race. I won't do that again! I need to not get dazed and confused and I need to time my water walks. nutrition was fine. salt water did cause some rubbing sores. I need to learn how to pee on my bike and not in my shoes!
I had a great time! I always love swimming here. I want more sunny days so the family can snorkel more next time. I will come back to Cozumel although it might not be for Ironman. I did not like the drafting issue.
Comments
"I think I need to just run my own race. Too much focus on competition could take the fun out of it."
And that's what it's all about. Winning feels good and all, but feeling accomplished and on top of yourself - that's even better, IMO
6 minutes. next time I will not be a rabbit! I'm thinking of dying my hair for just the day of the race!
(that grey hair is a dead give away)
Al, you are right, my friend!
Thanks, All! Hope to see you all at Lanzarote!
only doing destination races for long ones. More points from the family!