Turby's Eagleman Race Report
Carol and I had done Eagleman 3 times before and decided to have another try this year. Knowing the typical conditions there I thought it would be a good kickoff for Kona training. The temp got up to almost 90 on the run so it didn't disappoint! The big reason we went back is we really love the area, the course and especially the people. Everyone there couldn't be nicer and the race volunteers are amazing! Had a nice lunch on Saturday with a great group of EN peeps, some old friends and some new.
We arrived on Friday and went to Great Marsh park and did a practice swim in our speedsuits figuring no wetsuits (we were right) and then an easy recon ride then checked in.
Race morning arrived and we actually lucked out with the conditions. There was very little wind (it can be bad there) and the temps had been well into the 90's the two days before.
A little swim history: I've never been a good swimmer but since IM Maryland I've been working on it by putting in much more yardage with workouts along the lines of Mike Roberts post. It really has helped with some better times and much more strength in the water.I'll be continuing the same and more to build up to Kona. A non wetsuit swim is still a big penalty for me.
Swim: 48:00 I started the swim and felt good right away with very little contact. I really thought I had a good swim going with a good line and trying to draft when I could. Apparently there was a pretty good current into us and after the first turn one of the buoys had drifted out some causing us to detour left to go around it. Knowing the course I thought it was strange because it is always a straight shot. People were later saying the lifeguards were telling them to stay straight and not go around it. Whatever! I felt good until I looked at my watch at end and saw 48:00! I had done a bunch of wetsuit swims in 33:00-36:00 min in the river and several speedsuit swims in Florida in April in the Gulf in about 40 mins (maybe the salty water there helped?).
T1: 2:41
Bike: 2:33, 22 mph, IF 80, VI 1.02 Eased into the first 20 minutes on the bike and felt ok but watts were a little low. Downed 2 bottles of Perform before 10 miles to front load a little with 3 Clif blocks every half hour. I had done both race rehearsals at a solid IF of .85 so was a little surprised that I was just barely able to hit .80. Anyway I decided to just take what my legs would give that day. I never look at speed on the bike but I could tell I was moving well by the 5 mile auto lap times. I passed the half in 1:15 (good pace for me) and was now thinking about breaking 2:30, until I had to pee like a racehorse! I just didn't feel like peeing on the bike this time so I pulled into the aid station and hit the Porta John. 2 minutes and 25 sec. later (yes I timed it) I was back on the bike. The wind picked up on the second half but nothing too bad.
T2: 3:22 with pee stop (yes again!)
Run: 1:41, 7:46 avg pace, negative split 2 min 30 sec. The run at Eagleman can be a death march for people who don't do well in the heat as there is virtually no shade on the whole course. I had planned on a pace of about 8 min per mile figuring I better give back 20-30 sec. per mile for the heat. The first mile was 8:07 then 7:52 and that felt ok so I figured I'd go with that effort and back off if it got bad. Carol had done a consult with Core Diet peeps and they recommended using Base sodium supplement. I've always hated fooling with salt tabs, they get wet, or I drop them and I end up not taking any. This Base stuff is awesome! You carry a little plastic tube in your pocket, pop the top before every aid station, put your wet thumb over the opening, shake and put the salt in your mouth. It was nice to have a little taste of salt instead of sweet for a change! I really think it helped on the run and I had mixed it in my bottles on the bike. I caught up to a 41 year old guy at about mile 8 and we ran stride for stride for about 4 miles gradually picking up the pace every mile (I don't think he wanted someone as old as his father passing him) so he pulled away over the last mile and I just had no more. We had a nice reunion at the finish and I should have thanked him for the negative split! I had seen my girl Carol on the run course and knew she really looked strong and would be close to 6 hours.
Total time 5:11
It was so much fun that Carol and I both won our age groups and that the announcer asked to check her ID for her age (he didn't ask me). She liked that very much!
Thanks for reading and thanks to all for the great experience of being on this team!
Comments
Keep up that swim training, it'll really hope in Kona. As will your ability to handle the heat. That is a truly great run performance in those temps. Awesome awesome job!
Enjoy Kona, you deserve everything you are getting!
Swim was really slow for everyone, so don't worry too much about that. Still . . . 5:11 with a :48 swim? Amazing. Huge congrats.
Congrats to both of you! Excellent report and thanks for the base salt info. I feel the same way about salt pills.