Tish Collier IMTX Race Plan
This is it.
Here I am a week ahead and I’m writing out my race plan. Last year I was not
prepared for this race and gave up mile 81ish. I was struggling on the bike (dizzy,
sick, seeing black spots) and have such a slow run, I never would have made the
run cutoff. Not happening this year. I won’t get lost in the Bermuda Triangle. Beware this is long, but I’m writing it as I
imagine it happening. I’m not an English major, either, so don’t mind the typos
or sentence fragments J
-
KEEP MOVING FORWARD. ONE FOOT IN
FRONT OF THE OTHER. FORWARD PROGRESS. -
ONLY POSITIVE THOUGHTS NO MATTER HOW
HARD IT GETS. -
HAVE FUN!
We are planning
to leave the hotel pretty damn early to make it to swim start earlier this
time. Last year we were stuck on the ramp waiting for people to get in the
water when the cannon went off. Not happening this time.
Wake up 4:30
AM. Half bagel with some peanut butter,2 applesauce cups, Bottle of Gatorade.
(I’ve done well with this not causing any nausea or issues).
Get to
transition. Put a Ziplock bag of fuel (power bar portions) into bento box, with
bag open already (so hard to open a plastic bag while riding ). Air up tires.
We will have our own bike pump to hand over to our Sherpa. Fill up aero bottle
with Gatorade Endurance. I will have an extra tube with C02/levers in a bag
under seat—I forget what that bag is called. I’m having missing parts of my
brain this week.
Walk on over
to swim start. Sipping on water since leaving the house, just to keep mouth wet—anxiety
makes it all dry. I prefer to swim without a wetsuit. The decision for this
will be made the day of depending on the temps, but I’m pretty sure it will be
warm! Last year was wetsuit legal. I
have some chafing issues so I tried putting tegaderm on my arms where they
chafe (regardless wetsuit or not), but the tegaderm came off, so will be using
waterproof Ktape. Gu at 40 minutes prior and 20 minutes prior ( and some
Tylenol) and I am READY TO ROLL!!!! Don’t forget to turn watch on to
multisport.
Nice smooth controlled
swim. Will set my watch to remind me the halfway point. This year is a straight
shot. Last year I swam toward the buoy line and followed it, but it tacked on
some distance. In the water and swim straight out. There is a very large house
that you can start to see at one point in the water that is awesome for
sighting. Exit water (wetsuit strippers if wetsuit)---no mind of people saying
WHOA when I get out of the water---yes—a volunteer said that last year as they
helped me get up the steps out of the water. Talk about hurt feelings!!!!!
YELL my
number as I come around into T1. Grab bag and go ahead and start putting stuff
in back pockets as I’m heading towards T1 tent—salt pills in tictac container.
APAP/Zofran/TUMS in plastic baggy, Chami butter packs, chapstick, baggie of
powerbar portions. Get in tent, get help putting on cool wings, put on helmet
and glasses. Have volunteer spray sunscreen on area where cool wings don’t
cover and neck, legs, etc. I will put sunscreen on face on my own. This is
worth 1 extra minute in transition. OH! Sunscreen where bike shoes open on top
of foot---there is a square that gets burnt if not sprayed—I don’t wear socks
on bike ever. LUBE!!! There will be powder put
in bike shoes already. Carry bike shoes to bike and put on there. Get
ready to roll!!!!
Get on bike
and get heart rate down. Start eating ¼ power bar every 15 minutes. Gatorade
1.5 bottles every hour. I got lost in the Bermuda triangle last year. Must keep
heart rate in check. Ease up on the hills, keep spinning. ( I don’t have power meter).
Who cares if people are passing me on the hills! I should be doing the opposite
of what everyone else is doing. Get off bike and stretch at 2 hours, then again
at special needs area. I will have an extra tube and Co2 there, all extra stuff
just in case, I don’t NEED to stop, but will use the area to stretch. Tylenol
at that point also. Keep rolling forward making progress, watching HR. Keep
cool wings wet with water at every station---I have an extra water bottle cage
and will keep water there just for this reason.
When I am at about the 15 minute mark from getting off the bike, will
take GU and then just sip Gatorade so as not to have sloshy tummy. Will go
ahead and do salt pill before getting off bike. Turn into bike enter and hand
off bike.
T2 may take
a bit longer, but plan on quick exit….I have to change my top to be
comfortable, but plan on keeping the same shorts---Lube like crazy top back of
upper thighs where I have the most trouble. Put sunglasses in case in bag, put
on spibelt with race number, visor, grab arm coolers and head out. Can put arm
coolers on while I’m out of transition so I can get on the course!! Lube feet,
put socks and shoes on.
So I will go
ahead and start getting Gatorade in at first station. Wet arm coolers. Ice in
arm coolers. Plan is to stay cool at every chance I get!!! Gu every 30 minutes
for as long as I can possibly stand it---I know this is one of these things that
I may get sick of Gu after an hour, but I’ll have to push on using some other
form of nutrition on the course. Gatorade each station, if gets to be too much,
can do water at one with GU, and Gatorade at the others.
Plan is to
run in between aide stations and 60 steps at aide stations. Controlled pace,
remember the first 6 miles are super slow. 1-2 salt pills every hour carried in
Spibelt in plastic baggy. Remember to enjoy yourself!!
Finish line:
Oh, how many times have I imagined this finish line!!!! I’m really hoping for an extra couple of
minutes to high five everyone I can, because I have waited for this for so
long.
Wish me
luck.---I’ve got the smart training under control with EN J
Comments
1. On walk to swim start, are you taking any salt with that water? Or maybe make it Gatorade Endurance. Water can/will sit on your stomach without something nutritious in it to help get it into your body.
2. We have a rolling start this year, so nobody gets "stuck on the ramp." But it also means no getting in the water early...
3. On the first third of the swim, you can site off of a cell phone tower at the south end of the lake. I"m not sure of what to site on on the way back, then in the canal, just dont hit the walls...
4. People on the sidelines saying "whoa" are on the sidelines. They dont have the heart or determination that you have, and they sure haven't put in the work that you have. They'll stay on the sidelines forever. You arent on the sidelines. No time for hurt feelings.
5. Water by itself will sit on your stomach and slosh around. Maybe try cutting your Gatorade with a bit of water if the Gatorade gets too overpowering, rather than just jumping to straight water.
You're going to do awesome.
1) You might want to start with Ironman Perform vs Gator in your bike bottles...the nutrition webinar suggested it...then switch over as you use it up.
2) Do you have salt pills for salt as needed?
3) Do you want to just do powerbars? They are good but no gels? If bars, I'd rather you do a 1/2 every 30 minutes...eating every 15' can make your bike ride more about eating than riding!
4) Aim for two bottles in the first hour (vs 1.5) then transition to 1.5 bottles...remember we want you to pee 2x on the bike!
Tish, I have to agree with Chris. Everything in your report points to preparation, a great attitude and the tone in your writing makes me so excited for you to cross the line. There is no doubt you will be there with all smiles! Most importantly, you have no doubt you will be there! Bermuda Triangle be damned!! You have worked hard and have worked through the bumps and bruises that we all have and can't wait to compete alongside you a week from today. Safe travels to Houston and see you soon.
Thanks for the responses yall! I had my first tri dream last night. I guess it BEGINS
Chris---good idea-- I will have the Gatorade Endurance to sip on before the race! I also didn't realize there was a cell tower--I just remember the big white house, but I will keep this in mind!!! I just used the march to the right on the way back to spot on--I could tell if I was getting too close to the edge. " No time for hurt feelings." YES YES YES YES. THANK YOU!!!
Coach P--I have salt pills to take during bike 1-2 an hour, also for the run 1-2 an hour---I've practiced with both---I will try for 2 bottles the first hour--the funny thing is on the last long ride this weekend, the Endurance was going down like water--I didn't realize how thirsty I was!!! I tried doing half a powerbar an hour, but it was too much for my belly to handle at one time. Felt bogged down for a bit after that. That's why I switched to every 15 minutes. Yes--it feels like I am eating all stinking day when I had my long rides!!!
Today is the first day I've had butterflies!!!! I started packing last night and put my stuff in Walmart bags, so I can just transfer to the Ironman bags when I get them. I won't stress over triple and quadriple checks. I made a list and crossed things off as I put them in the bag.
See yall in a few days!!!!