Carol's IMMD - Good, Bad and Ugly

[Deleted User]

I was very excited for Ironman Maryland.  This was my 3rd Ironman (IMNY/NJ and Kona in 2012), and I was anxious to see how it was to do a flat Ironman!  And my hubby, Turby Wright, and good friends and fellow ENers Pam Allen and Ken Cestariwere participating as well. Outseason went really well.  I don't think I missed any bike workouts and was getting stronger.  I did have a calf strain that put me off the running for 8 weeks, but I got that back before Ironman training began.  Unfortunately, in early May my Mom had some health issues which pretty much derailed her, and me, for the summer.  I started missing workouts, but tried to get in the long rides and runs and some swims here and there.  I didn't seem to be losing too much and thought I'd be okay if I got the quality stuff done.  Then in early Aug., my daughter broke her femur/hip!  She has 2 small children so I was spending a lot of time in PA helping out whenever I could.  Again, I only missed a couple of long rides and runs, so kept up with the most important workouts.  Not a lot of swimming...

Race morning was the usual anxiety.  Up at 3:15 for pancakes and cinnamon buns.  Mistake Number 1.  Should have stuck with the applesauce routine.  We got our stuff together and drove to the parking for the shuttle.  I said to Turby: "do you have my wetsuit?".  He says: "why would I have your wetsuit?".  Holy sh*t!  Back to the hotel we go.  Turby was not amused and I was a complete mess.  Oh well - got the bad stuff out of the way!  Sorry hon... Got there in time to get everything set up but not enough time for a last trip to the porta potty.  Mistake Number 2.  

Swim:  Goal - 1:30;  Actual 1:37:49

There was a LOT of contact in this swim.  I just kept swimming and kept a pretty straight line.  2.44 on my Garmin and many people complained it was long so I was okay with that.  Stopped twice with dry heaves (nerves? swallowed water?) but that passed.  Got cramps in my calves, but that is normal so I just relaxed my legs.  Glad to be done...

T1 - 8:35.   Longer than I wanted, but I had a hard time getting my arm warmers on.  I also shoved some newspaper under my tri top because it was still pretty cool out.  Rookie mistake - could not find my bike.  I was in the right row, but kept going back and forth past it. Duh...

Bike: Goal - 6:30; Actual 6:01:19 

Very happy with the bike.  I stopped a few times to refill my torpedo (and peed while I did that); and also got a drafting penalty which was stupid because it was just after an aid station and there was a lot of craziness.  Oh well.  I started out pretty conservatively, but averaged out at VI .69 which was exactly where I wanted to be.  Felt really good, but was happy to get off the bike:-)  6 bottles of diluted Perform (1 scoop), 12 chomps, 1 uncrustable PB and honey sandwich [possibly mistake number 3], 5 salt tabs.

T2: 5:43   Not awful, included a porta potty stop

Run: Goal - 5:00; Actual 5:38:24

This was where my day turned ugly.  I started out around 11 min miles and my legs felt great, but my stomach - not so much.  It seemed like everything I put in my mouth felt like it wanted to come out the other end.  I stopped 4-5 times in the porta potties and was really frustrated because everything else felt good.  It wasn't terrible, but just bad enough that I wasn't taking any chances!!!  I took 5 gels and tried some coke and pretzels, but nothing really felt good.  Around mile 19, my left leg started cramping up and my knee was hurting.  Never had this happen before.  I did keep "running" except at the aid stations and porta potties and knew I just had to go 1 mile at a time.  The best best best part of the run was seeing Turby so focused and knowing he was having a great day; as well as Ken and Pam and all the ENers!  I didn't think I'd like the 3 loop course, but I really did!  My times kept getting slower, but I knew I'd have a PR and just kept going.  The spectators were really great and getting to that last turnaround and making a left instead of a right was a good feeling!   Turby was just before the finish line cheering loudly and then it was done!  

Overall:  Goal: 13:30;  Actual 13:31:50

I am thrilled with the big PR and super happy for Turby.  I cried when he told me he won his age group and we'd be going back to Kona in 2015!   It was so exciting when Ken past me at mile 24.5 and when Pam came through that finish line!   GREAT to see Patricia Rosen killing it in our age group!  EN rocks!  Oh - and Steve...THANKS for the swig of pickle juice.  That actually DID help:-)

[Deleted User]

I meant IF .69, not VI!

Al Truscott

Carol, talk about being in the sandwich generation … family I mean, not the one you had in the race.

PR? Check. Room for improvement? - massive, starting with re-assessmernt of how to manage nutrition. Given Turby's performance, maybe the answer is already in the household? From his report it looks like he used no solid foods. I've found that I stay out of the porta-potti by taking no solid foods after noon the day before the race. A giant Jamba Juice smoothie is my dinner. And I avoid even taking any gels after about mile 16-18 of the run, otherwise all sugar water (on course sports drink and cola) on the run.

david ware

Congratulations. A PR and still so much room for improvement. You and Turbo have fun in Kona!

James Barrett

carol,

great job non the less and glad to see you so many times on the course 

always lessons to be learned in Ironman...

James

Catherine Jadot

Hi Carol,
It was great meeting you! Congrats on your PR, you did good. Check out Ben Greenfield blog, it might help you adjust your nutrition

See you on the next race!
Cath

[Deleted User]

Thanks everyone. Not sure if/when my next IM will be, but I appreciate the advice! Catherine, it was really great meeting you too! I know you'll be going to Kona! :-)

John Bayone

Congrats on a great year of training and preparation.

kimmydct

Nice job Carol!! And congrats to Turby! Sorry you had some "issues" on the run! Hopefully you can solve next year.

What did you think of the race/course, etc? ANy jellyfish?

[Deleted User]

Thanks Kim! I think I know how I screwed up with my nutrition. Need to figure out a race that won't interfere with Kona next year:-) We loved the course! There was a current but NO jellyfish whatsover! I think we really lucked out with the weather and not really wind to speak of. Two days later was a very different story so you never know...