Jenn's IMTX Race Report - Everything's Bigger in Texas!
Everything’s Bigger in Texas
Everything’s Bigger in Texas
Texas
They say the definition of insanity is doing the same thing and expecting different results. After ten years in the sport, eight Ironmans and three not-quite-Kona-qualifying podium finishes it was time to try something different if I was to outright qualify for Kona. I turned to Coach Patrick for advice on course selection. Texas? I gave him the virtual raised eyebrow. I’d never even considered it. A swim in muddy water, flat bike course, hot and humid run, plus the magnified logistics of flying put the race squarely outside of my comfort zone. Well, that’s where the growth happens, right? And so, before WTC could say “cha-ching!” Ironman #9 was to be Texas. Let’s rodeo.
Build
The build to the start line was, as it always seems to be, a series of great learning opportunities. I’d penciled out a pretty aggressive plan that added a lot of running and volume in general. All was ticking along nicely until early February when I truly struggled to juggle life, family, a full time job and training. I often felt I was falling short as what looked good on paper just wasn’t happening. Turns out I’m a good juggler (who knew?!) and by April I was back on track and finding peace with letting some workouts go. The silver lining is as I pencil out my next build, I know more clearly what my limits are. I’ll start from what ACTUALLY got done in this build and work backwards from there with the confidence that it is, indeed enough!
*** The build. Far from perfect but lots of lessons learned. ***
Soon enough race week was upon us and I found myself leaving the comfort zone of the beautiful Pacific Northwest for *ahem* lovely Houston, Texas. I spent the week bustling about with Steve and Heidi as we checked off the usual registration, reconnaissance, workouts and race prep amid a few sleepless nights. Mark flew in Thursday night, donned his Husband Hero cape and went through my bike ‘till it was purring nicely. Finally, a good night's sleep, bike check in and it was go time!
*** Seriously wondered why in the world I was flying to Houston with this view from the plane! ***
Swim 2.4 Miles: 1:10:20
The swim course had been changed two days before the race due to water quality with little impact to my approach. It was still going to be a swim in warm muddy water, I was still unsure of how my time would fare in my first non-wetsuit Ironman swim and I was still going to give it my best! The rolling start was no drama-mama and we were off with just a touch of body contact to keep things interesting.
*** Drone footage of the swim course as it is being set up the day before the race. ***
About halfway back I inhaled roughly two-thirds of Lake Woodlands. “Just keep swimming.” I told myself. Nope, my lungs were gurgling. “You’re fine!” I told myself. “No you’re not!” said the brain that wasn’t getting enough oxygen. I took a few strokes of breaststroke and tried to cough most of it up. A kayaker eyed me warily. “Keep moving forward, keep moving forward”. Eventually the lungs cleared enough that I could carry on and by the swim exit I’d returned most of Lake Woodlands to the lake.
*** So fun to have heart rate data from the swim! ***
They say you can't win it on the swim but you can lose it. Seems this result fell right into that category. It wasn’t embarrassingly slow or going to put me out of contention but it wasn’t exactly stellar. I’ll take it.
Bike 94? 95? Miles: 4:10:01
After months of drama surrounding the bike course, on race day we were left with a 94 (95?) mile, 84 turn course. Naturally I was bummed that the leg that is considered my strength was the one was shortened. Swims get cancelled occasionally, bike courses get shortened but geez, why don’t they ever shorten the run?!? My bike power was about the same as the prior year but I was about 8-10# lighter on race day so that bode well for a strong split. A reconnaissance drive had produced no epiphanies except for some car sickness and affirmation that Steve and Heidi are two of the funniest people on the planet. So, with sore-from-belly-laughs abs it was time to channel Zen mode and let it be what it would be.
*** One of the 84 turns. This one is on a brick surface, just to keep it interesting. ***
Coming out of the swim my heart rate was very high, as is typical. The race plan called for holding power at about 160w until the heart rate came down to about 140-145 BPM then build to 170w. I knew I’d have to concede a few heartbeats to the heat but was confident my legs were strong enough to push the wattage.
*** Bike file. ***
Quickly enough the entire field was getting into a groove and it was clear the course wasn’t nearly as choppy as it looked on paper. I had to brake into about ½ of the corners but was able to stay aero most of the time and the bike was humming along like a dream. I was getting in most of the nutrition I’d intended to and staying hydrated as the day heated up. I rolled into T2 a full 20’ earlier than anticipated!. Even though my bike split was very high in the female field (I even beat quite a few pros!) I honestly didn’t feel like I overcooked it and was looking forward to the run.
*** It was really easy to stay aero on the course and the biggest hills were overpasses. ***
Run 26.2 Miles: 3:56:05
Although the run got the job done, there are lots of opportunities for improvement and lessons learned. Coming off the bike with an average HR of 142 I should have really capped the start of the run about there. Instead, I let it stay at about 148 which is where it was after I came out of transition. I felt FANTASTIC. If I was a betting person I’d have bet on being able to hold that for 26.2 miles. Good thing I’m not!
Yes, it was hot but I’d been there before and knew what to do after the Goldilocks double of 2015. That year I'd done Ironman Coeur d'Alene which was wayyyy too hot at about 108 degrees and Ironman Canada which was wayyy too cold with pouring ass rain on the bike. Suffice it to say I had a plan, regardless of the weather! I’d enter each aid station starting with the two cups of water I needed to keep on my hydration plan. Next was two cups of ice that went down the top and the shorts. Finally as I left each aid station I’d grab sponges or more ice or water and douse myself as best I could. I wasn’t comfortable, but I wasn’t overheating so I put that in the “win” column.
*** Goldilocks is hot! ***
The run is three loops and starting the second loop I realized that my caffeine tabs had been soaked by all the dousing and no longer existed. Also, my stomach was starting to revolt which is typical but highly uncomfortable, to put it mildly. I took a 90” pit stop in a port-a-potty. Time to call an audible. I started calling for Espresso GU (caffeinated!) at the aid stations with mixed success. When I found a volunteer that had them, I’d take a couple which saw me through to the next scheduled feeding. My stomach still wasn’t happy, but I wasn’t throwing up so I stuck to the schedule albeit with a new product.
Mile 18
By mile 18 it was starting to cool down a bit and I walked a few steps at each aid station to gather GU and regroup. In Endurance Nation we call mile 18 “The Line” and it’s where we anticipate the race to get really tough. This race was no exception. At first the cooler weather and even a spritz of rain was welcome, but then things got downright cray cray. The wind picked up. Rain started coming sideways. At one point I was running along the canal and looked up just in time to see lightning strike at the end of the canal as if in the photo of a perfect storm suitable for framing. The weather data shows it went from just over 90 degrees to 68 in an hour with wind gusts approaching 45 MPH.
*** The temperature dropped over 20 degrees between 3 and 4 pm ***
By about mile 23 or so things were just ridiculous. We were running through 4” of standing water at times. Across the canal I saw a guy running and thought “Man, he’s in some tough weather.” then I realized I was in that weather too. Then it started to hail. The last aid station had essentially blown away and I heard someone say “I think they’re calling the race!”
*** I tried to channel Lieutenant Dan in Forrest Gump screaming into the storm ***
I looked at my watch and I only had 1.5 miles to go. I can do anything for 1.5 miles, I told myself. I think. Right? I channeled my inner Lieutenant Dan with an “Is that all you got?” and kept moving forward.
*** Lieutenant Dan would have been proud. ***
*** Goldilocks is not hot. ***
The Finish
I made the final turn to the finish line and it was a blustery ghost town. The barriers had been blown down and the clock was stopped. There were a few volunteers to catch me and I fell into the arms of what I imagine would be the perfect grandfather type. Strong, comforting and most importantly, WITH space blanket!
*** Video of the finish line shortly before I arrived - by then those barriers were blown down! ***
I looked up and two spectators had appeared: Mark and Heidi! There is no photo or video as the camera was down and Mike Riley had wisely taken cover. Although Mike didn’t call my name, he did post a photo of the finish line at the precise moment Mark and Heidi came running to greet me! That's Mark running and we can just make out Heidi's elbow to the left.
*** Here come my heros: Mark and Heidi! ***
Kona
Immediately after the finish we had no idea how I’d placed. At last check I’d been second, but we didn't know if that had held. After getting back to the hotel and warming up, the results came up and it looked like I'd held second. Knowing it was crazy town out there with trains and a storm, I refreshed the results occasionally until we left for the awards ceremony the next day but they never changed. Once at the ceremony we learned that the organizers were taking the time at the timing mat that the tenth person in each age group had passed at the time the storm hit. They used that time as the race time for Kona slots and age group awards. Of course they didn’t SHARE that data with us until our age groups were actually called on stage. I tried not to be nervous. My stomach was still churning. I queued up with the other ladies in 40-44 and held my breath. Finally, Mike Reilly came through. Yep, I was second!!!
*** Top 10 for Kona and Age Group Awards ***
Organizers subsequently went back and tried to adjust delay times based on timing mat data with an official update the following Thursday. Luckily, the results in my age group remain the same through fourth place. There were four Kona slots available so hopefully nobody feels like they got jerked around too badly.
*** Top 10 with Storm Delays ***
*** Goldilocks is jusssst right. ***
*** Most expensive cheap lei ever. And 1,000% worth it! ***
Reflections and Moving Forward
A journey of this magnitude doesn’t happen without immense support. Mark sees day in and day out what it takes to make this possible. He’s integral in my success in almost every way. From joining me on swim dates, keeping my bike in tip-top shape to Sherpaing long runs on his mountain bike - he has almost as much time invested in the sport as I do. I truly could not do it without him. Thank you Mark - we did it!
Additionally I’m lucky enough to have a family who follow (and worry about!) me carefully. Even my “frugal” brother blocked out the Kona dates at his condo on Ali’i drive just in case I qualified without telling me so I wouldn’t feel undue pressure. My dear friends who have put up with more than a few tears, especially this season and my two tribes, Raise the Bar and Endurance Nation who believed in me even when I didn’t. THANK YOU!!!
How do I feel? Well, 10 years ago I was an 80# overweight hockey player. Now I’m an Ironman World Championship Kona qualifier. Surreal is an understatement! Onward to Kona!
Aloha!
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Comments
Awesome race and awesome race report!
It was an pleasure to meet you as you passed by me on my second run loop (your third) like I was standing still!
Get some well deserved rest! I am looking forward to following your Kona build on Strava!
Jenn, you had an epic experience you will never forget. Thanks for sharing with all of us. Enjoy your well-deserved Kona spot. Loved the videos and pix.
I love the bike and run pics!
Thanks for taking any and all excuses away from the guys in terms of WORK and RESULTS!
Great report, can't agree more with the comments from all below.
Just very inspired and content with your story, example and placement leading up to and on IMTX race day!
Re-defining KMF!
SS
Two questions:
it's well deserved!
Wonderful race report! Congratulations Jenn!
Can I ask a question? Obviously you have worked very hard for many years, so there was a cumulative build of fitness and experience effect leading up to this race. But are there any specific things that you felt were "different" this time that specifically led to your perfect "total race". i.e. Body Comp? Run Durability, Swim Fitness, Course Selection, etc. etc. etc...?
So excited for you! Your story is proof that Ironman champions and kona qualifiers are made, not born! Very inspiring!!
One question: The shoe covers....Did you have those already on the shoes and your shoes clipped into the bike, or did you put those on your shoes in T1. I hear there is reportedly significant aero gains to be had using shoe covers but wasn't sure how to use them without taking extra time in transition. Also, any problems getting your feet out of your shoes as you approached T2?
Another Kona qualifier in my age group was telling us how hard she'd worked to qualify. She'd even done IM Florida and didn't qualify so she had to do a SECOND IM to get to Kona. I just smiled and gave her a big hug. :-)
@ Mark Regarding the Shoe Covers: I actually had those in T1 pulled over the cleats on the bottom and up to the velcro strap on the top ready to go All I had to do was tighten the strap and pull the rest of the cover on. They were SUPER easy. Coming off the bike I actually intended to run all the way into transition in my shoes. As it turns out, it was a REALLY long way and I was feeling a little Bambi-on-ice so I stopped early into the transition run and took off my shoes completely. Also no drama-mama. The "data" (i.e. THEIR marketing) says they should save 2-3' over the course of an IM. They probably cost me 10" tops so I figure it's a win.
@ John Regarding Key Improvements: First, your advice was part of this success - THANK YOU! I feel the three biggest things were body comp, run durability and course selection. We have Coach P to thank for course selection. Body comp is improved by about 8-10# which Is the first time I've lost significant weight since the initial weight loss. My FTP remained the same. Clearly I can still lose more and learned a LOT about the process in this build. A Core Diet consult was very helpful. I'm aiming to take off another 10# prior to Kona. Being lighter made running easier and I ran a LOT (for me). Like almost every day a lot. I did TONS of running at an easy pace (I believe Tim C has perfected this if I recall correctly) but always targeted a strong progression run up to race pace on my long runs. In the last six weeks I averaged almost 50 miles per week vs. 40 the previous year. That included a 60 mile week about two weeks out. Truthfully the swim was what got triaged out of training when push came to shove. I had high aspirations, but no matter how hard I worked (or didn't) my paces seemed the same so I really tested the ROI theory here. Le sigh. The race was far from perfect, especially the run - something to work on for Kona!
@ Robin: #yougotthis I KNOW you do.
@ Gabe: Regarding Texas: The driver for Texas was it's a flat course. As someone with a high FTP of 228 (raw power) and not particularly light (135#) with a FTP/kg of 3.72 (good, but not crazy good) he felt I'd do well. Additionally heavier riders tend to do better in the wind (which didn't materialize on race day) and I had several very good races (Lavaman and Ironman Coeur d'Alene) in very hot temps.
@ Gabe Regarding vDot: My last 5K test was in February at 22:00 for a vDot of 44. Yes, we can thank Coach P here too as he noted that my bike average HR was often HIGHER than my run average HR in IM races. He really felt I could run harder. I think the exact quote was: "If you can ride your bike for 6 hours at a HR of 142 you sure as heck can run a marathon at that or higher." So, I spent a lot of the year running harder than I'd done before and my TRP is closer to Z2 based on our calculator. I practiced this a lot with negative split long runs and relly had a lot of confidence in the higher HR (and pace) going into race day. From there came the guidance to keep that bike HR under a cap and to step off the bike at that average HR to start the run and build from there. Of course in this race I came off at 142 BPM and promptly let it get all the way to 148 (too high too soon) but again, something to work on for Kona.
Again, many many thanks to those that have contributed directly or simply sent a bit of virtual mojo. I love our tribe!!!
xoxo - J
By the way, when you select a race for next year, please let everyone know so we can avoid it. That's 3 straight epic events for you!
AWESOME! Your race report was a fun read and so inspiring! Nice Job!!! Aloha!