Kim's Choo Choo Report
Wow, can't believe it is over! It has been a bumpy road to Choo (see more background here) http://members.endurancenation.us/F...fault.aspx
Last minute support crew change as a result of the above, so my friend and her 2 kids were to travel to ATL to visit her bro, then come to Choo with her bro and kid and stay in my room. Now I love my "nephews" but about 5 mins waiting at the restaurant for lunch on Sat. had me rethink that so I books them their own room. Best.Decision. Ever. Hung out with them had dinner and started to wind down around 9.
Up around 3:15, bagel w PB for bfast and some Gatorade. As I was concerned about making cutoffs due to shortened finishing time to 16:30 and TT swim start, I wanted to get in the water as close to 7:30 as possible so boarded one of the first few buses to the swim start. Another good decision. Water was 77 so no wetsuits. I was OK with that as I just bought a skinsuit so might as well use it! Sat around, chatted with peeps, sipped Gatorade, ate some stuff (Stinger waffle, chomps) and hit porta potty. Time went fairly fast. Had a GU ~20mins before the start. As we were heading down for the swim, my support crew arrived and got some mojo and pics. Not sure what time it was but I hopped in the water, put on the noseclips and got started. Decent swim, but need to learn to pee n swim so I don't have to stop. Peed about 4 times. Anyway, finished pretty much as I had planned. Headed up to transition and got ready as quickly as I could, but making sure I got everything I needed. Off on the bike!
Started out at a nice pace with my bucket o' chicken, trying to get/keep HR down for the first hour. After that, I was kinda comfortable there, and honestly, scared of pushing to my target watts for the first half so I decided to be a little more conservative on the first half and finish strong. It was purely a lack of confidence, which was somewhat founded based some rough longer rides. But then my stomach went south and was hard to push it. It felt like my stomach wasn't processing and I was trying to remember what the fix was for that. (Never happened before) so I tried some salt and water and backed off everything else for a bit. Felt better for awhile, then worse, then better. I had been hydrating well, and peed at least 4 times. My typical nutrition from prior years had some issues this year that never got fully ironed out so not good.... Total was .58IF. My bucket o' chicken came with unlimited refills....
http://www.strava.com/activities/402174373
The thought of a marathon was quite daunting. Transitioned as fast as I could, feeling pretty "icky". Stopped in porta-potty to pee again then I was off! Like a slug! Saw my friend and got a little boost, then Mariah. But then it was ugly. Mile 18 suck came around Mile 2. Goodie. Lots of walking, and doing Ironmath. I was seriously thinking I couldn't do it, but thought of all my cheerleaders at home and all my one things and kept moving. Tried to fix whatever was wrong with a variety of things. Salt and water, Gatorade, Coke, Red Bull. Something worked at some point and felt pretty good around mile 12-13, saw my friend again and was thinking this was gonna be great now. Then I remembered Rich saying "don't try to make anything happen" so I tried to balance feeling good and not being stoopid. (Not like 12:30-13:30 miles are "making anything happen" LOL) The bottoms of my feet hurt but I just kept walking/running as much as I could.
http://www.strava.com/activities/402168118
Ended up finishing with in 15:41. IMFL 2012 was 16:29 so nice PR there on a harder (in my book) and longer course. So my goals were accomplished, but I know I could have done way better on the bike so that disappoints me, especially since I good chunk of it was mental til the stomach issues. Something to figure out next time around. In several years. As of last night, I was thinking no more IMs, ever. But I feel like I need to try again someday and perform to the Ievel I think I can, or should.... I'll consider IMMD as well as a repeat of IMFL.
Swim Goal- 1:22, Actual 1:23, IMFL 1:39 (Big waves!)
Bike Goal- 7-8:00??, Actual 7:23 (IMFL 7:34)
Run Goal- Whatever to finish by 12!, Actual- 6:37 (IMFL 6:53)
Total goal- <16:30, Actual 15:41, IMFL 16:29</p>
Comments
It has been fun to watch and be part of your progression over the years. Even if no IM in the foreseeable future, I'm confident you will continue to improve!
Congrats. Well done. An IM is never easy, and we all encounter challanges on the way to the finish. You handled yours very well.
Impressive, steady progress. My prescription for next year: use your results over the past year to set up a cycle of positive self-confidence going into your next events. Let your inner athlete shine thru.
Big congrats on the PR on what I now understand reading the posts, is a much more challenging course! All the more so, given all the daunting life issues you were facing and the sour gut day.
Hope I see you again in the 2016 JOS-you were an awesome team leader!
Bigger congrats on your year. You punched through some mental barriers.
I agree with the others. Raise it a notch next year. Climbing one rung on the ladder at a time!
Congrats on a great build and execution....and way to deal with a little bit of adversity. Good Job!!
Remember....You are stronger than you think you are! You can do more than you think you can! -- I wish I came up with this but its this is Ken Chlouber's (founder of the Leadville series). This was my mantra that I yelled at myself for the hard points of CHOO.
I'm glad you were able to pull through the stomach issues.
Congratulations an becoming an Ironman!
You are one tough cookie, KDB. I hope we get to train together again one day soon!
HECK YEAH!!!!!!!!!! YOU ARE AN IRONMAN (again!!)!!!! But I NEVER had a doubt. You worked hard, stayed focused and smart. Congratulations my friend!!! SO super pumped for you! Let's celebrate soon!!