Jeremy Tanner IMCHOO 2014 Race report
3:30 am get up eat breakfast, peanut butter on wheat. Same b'fast as before on all long training days.
We leave the hotel and arrive at transition around 4:40am. I only need to put air in my tires and put nutrition on my bike. I had to go back and put my heartrate monitor in my bike bag. I can't believe I almost forgot it. Plans are to make a checklist for my bike and run gear bags for my next IM.
All set. Go to portalet, because I can never go at the hotel, and get on the shuttle.
The swim start line is long even getting to trans early. No worries though. Chill, wait, PRAY,and listen to some Pearl Jam.
Once the line started moving it really started moving. Before I realized it I was in the water. I liked the rolling swim start. No wet suit for me. The current was really moving and I felt confident I did not need the wetsuit.
I enjoyed the point to point swim and the views as we swam downriver. Very minimal contact with other swimmers.
As I got closer to the swim finish I started cramping in my left calve. I had planned to drink peform and eat a gel before the swim, I don't know why, but I didn't do this. I will next time and hopefully that will help.
Swim time-53:56, goal- 1:10. Current really helped
I grabbed my bike and gear bag and headed for the changing tent. I am not really sure how i could have better packed my bag but it is something I want to practice at home before my next IM. I feel good about my transitions where all the gear is at the bike but the change tent is different.
I ran straight to my bike and headed to the bike out. Running in my cycling shoes, I almost slipped a few times. Made me question why was I running??
T1 time- 5:24, goal- I honestly has no idea, I just didn't want to spend a lot of time in the change tent. In and out.
I mount the bike and began the ride out of town. I am really riding easy. Heartrate is still high at the beginning. Mid 130's, high Z3. I just kept the easy pace while a lot of riders pass me.
I kept telling myself the 90% rule and ride easy.
After 20 minutes, which was the plan, I have my first gel and start to drop the gears to go to work. It takes almost the entire 20 minutes to get my HR below 120, lowZ2.
The way out of town was ok. The roads were rough and you have to cross over several rr crossings. I was doing my best to stay sharp.
I wrecked my bike about 5 weeks out and I have been more alert while riding, especially in a group.
Once we got out if town the roads seemed to be better and the views were awesome. I don't mind the hills/climbs but living on the gulf coast I don't get to train on them as much. I knew I wanted to stay around 120-125 HR but realized it would spike some on the climbs. During these spikes I just tried to rely on RPE. I only felt good about this bc of my training. I knew what was too much and what I could handle regardless of the spikes in HR.
On every climb it seemed everyone came crushing past me. I let them go and stayed in aero. I passed most of the same riders on the descent as they were not pedaling anymore.
I have to add that it was so nice nit to worry about what everyone else was doing. In the past I would be watching the other athletes and comparing my cadence to theirs or not letting a group pass me etc. This race was different. I had my plan and I stayed with it as best as I could. Thanks EN!
There were a few times where large groups of riders would gather together and I had to pass them to keep from drafting. This caused additional spikes in HR but i really didn't see any other way around it. I just tried to treat the passes as climbs to minimize the damage.
I ate a gel at every hour mark after the first 20 min. I ate half a bar at every hour mark after the first50 min. I drank 5-5.5 20oz bottles of perform. It wasn't very hot on the ride and I barely broke a sweat until nearly the end of the ride, but I hydrated like I had on all my training rides. I wanted it get enough sodium in me so I wouldn't have it worry about cramping later. I had to pee... A lot... but it must have worked bc I didn't cramp the rest if the day.
Bike time-5:58:51, Goal time-6:00 including the extra 4 miles
I came back to trans feeling great. Bike to run trans seemed effortless. Special thanks to the volunteers. I knew they would be good but they were better they were great!
I saw Paige as I ran out of the change tent, and that gave me extra motivation on top of all the other good that was going on. She ran along the fence with me as I headed out of t2 and started my marathon. Someone else in the crowd yelled "Jeremy Spoke in" and that was the cherry on top!
T2 time 2:56
The beginning of the run was down to the river walk. I really had to slow my pace after all the good vibes coming out if t2. I slowed down to my goal pace 10:07 before running to far. I felt good so I had a gel.
The run along the riverwalk was nice. It felt like a trail run. I had to hit the portalet after about 3 miles. I had hoped this wasn't going to happen... Maybe I just had to much solid food?? Im really not sure but I stuck with gels during the rest of the run to help.
I had perform at the aid stations and a gel on every hour. Again it was nice to follow my plan and not worry about everyone else.
The highway portion if the run was my least favorite part of the day, but it didn't last long. When you cross the bridge all the spectators were great and made up for that portion of the run.
On my second loop I picked up my pace and was feeling great. Although only running a 9:30 mile I felt like I was running a 5k. I passed way more people than had previously passed me and held that pace till mile 20.
My knee began hurting almost out of nowhere. I had some trouble with it on training rides but never while I ran. Maybe it was due to the hills, I am not sure but my paced started to drop. I wanted to maintain somewhat of a decent pace per mile so I started walking through the aid stations(total of about 4) and taking broth and coke.
After each aid station I told myself out loud to suck it up and start running again.
I kept thinking Paige is out there standing and waiting In the rain you can run this marathon.
I didn't walk through the last aid station I was so close I wanted to keep going. Crossing that bridge and finishing before the sun had gone down was amazing. I was able to see Paige just before i finished and heard the words " Jeremy you are an Ironman!"
We leave the hotel and arrive at transition around 4:40am. I only need to put air in my tires and put nutrition on my bike. I had to go back and put my heartrate monitor in my bike bag. I can't believe I almost forgot it. Plans are to make a checklist for my bike and run gear bags for my next IM.
All set. Go to portalet, because I can never go at the hotel, and get on the shuttle.
The swim start line is long even getting to trans early. No worries though. Chill, wait, PRAY,and listen to some Pearl Jam.
Once the line started moving it really started moving. Before I realized it I was in the water. I liked the rolling swim start. No wet suit for me. The current was really moving and I felt confident I did not need the wetsuit.
I enjoyed the point to point swim and the views as we swam downriver. Very minimal contact with other swimmers.
As I got closer to the swim finish I started cramping in my left calve. I had planned to drink peform and eat a gel before the swim, I don't know why, but I didn't do this. I will next time and hopefully that will help.
Swim time-53:56, goal- 1:10. Current really helped
I grabbed my bike and gear bag and headed for the changing tent. I am not really sure how i could have better packed my bag but it is something I want to practice at home before my next IM. I feel good about my transitions where all the gear is at the bike but the change tent is different.
I ran straight to my bike and headed to the bike out. Running in my cycling shoes, I almost slipped a few times. Made me question why was I running??
T1 time- 5:24, goal- I honestly has no idea, I just didn't want to spend a lot of time in the change tent. In and out.
I mount the bike and began the ride out of town. I am really riding easy. Heartrate is still high at the beginning. Mid 130's, high Z3. I just kept the easy pace while a lot of riders pass me.
I kept telling myself the 90% rule and ride easy.
After 20 minutes, which was the plan, I have my first gel and start to drop the gears to go to work. It takes almost the entire 20 minutes to get my HR below 120, lowZ2.
The way out of town was ok. The roads were rough and you have to cross over several rr crossings. I was doing my best to stay sharp.
I wrecked my bike about 5 weeks out and I have been more alert while riding, especially in a group.
Once we got out if town the roads seemed to be better and the views were awesome. I don't mind the hills/climbs but living on the gulf coast I don't get to train on them as much. I knew I wanted to stay around 120-125 HR but realized it would spike some on the climbs. During these spikes I just tried to rely on RPE. I only felt good about this bc of my training. I knew what was too much and what I could handle regardless of the spikes in HR.
On every climb it seemed everyone came crushing past me. I let them go and stayed in aero. I passed most of the same riders on the descent as they were not pedaling anymore.
I have to add that it was so nice nit to worry about what everyone else was doing. In the past I would be watching the other athletes and comparing my cadence to theirs or not letting a group pass me etc. This race was different. I had my plan and I stayed with it as best as I could. Thanks EN!
There were a few times where large groups of riders would gather together and I had to pass them to keep from drafting. This caused additional spikes in HR but i really didn't see any other way around it. I just tried to treat the passes as climbs to minimize the damage.
I ate a gel at every hour mark after the first 20 min. I ate half a bar at every hour mark after the first50 min. I drank 5-5.5 20oz bottles of perform. It wasn't very hot on the ride and I barely broke a sweat until nearly the end of the ride, but I hydrated like I had on all my training rides. I wanted it get enough sodium in me so I wouldn't have it worry about cramping later. I had to pee... A lot... but it must have worked bc I didn't cramp the rest if the day.
Bike time-5:58:51, Goal time-6:00 including the extra 4 miles
I came back to trans feeling great. Bike to run trans seemed effortless. Special thanks to the volunteers. I knew they would be good but they were better they were great!
I saw Paige as I ran out of the change tent, and that gave me extra motivation on top of all the other good that was going on. She ran along the fence with me as I headed out of t2 and started my marathon. Someone else in the crowd yelled "Jeremy Spoke in" and that was the cherry on top!
T2 time 2:56
The beginning of the run was down to the river walk. I really had to slow my pace after all the good vibes coming out if t2. I slowed down to my goal pace 10:07 before running to far. I felt good so I had a gel.
The run along the riverwalk was nice. It felt like a trail run. I had to hit the portalet after about 3 miles. I had hoped this wasn't going to happen... Maybe I just had to much solid food?? Im really not sure but I stuck with gels during the rest of the run to help.
I had perform at the aid stations and a gel on every hour. Again it was nice to follow my plan and not worry about everyone else.
The highway portion if the run was my least favorite part of the day, but it didn't last long. When you cross the bridge all the spectators were great and made up for that portion of the run.
On my second loop I picked up my pace and was feeling great. Although only running a 9:30 mile I felt like I was running a 5k. I passed way more people than had previously passed me and held that pace till mile 20.
My knee began hurting almost out of nowhere. I had some trouble with it on training rides but never while I ran. Maybe it was due to the hills, I am not sure but my paced started to drop. I wanted to maintain somewhat of a decent pace per mile so I started walking through the aid stations(total of about 4) and taking broth and coke.
After each aid station I told myself out loud to suck it up and start running again.
I kept thinking Paige is out there standing and waiting In the rain you can run this marathon.
I didn't walk through the last aid station I was so close I wanted to keep going. Crossing that bridge and finishing before the sun had gone down was amazing. I was able to see Paige just before i finished and heard the words " Jeremy you are an Ironman!"
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Comments
Overall time 11:27
Thanks @Robert. Not sure why I forgot to add the final time
Congratulations Jeremy -- You had a great race. Like I told you earlier --You will only continue to get faster. Enjoy some down time!