Dina Myers IMAZ Race Report
IMAZ was my 2nd Ironman, my first being IMWI in 2016. I had a great training and racing year up until 10/10/17 when I returned from the Chicago Marathon and was diagnosed with a retinal tear in my right eye. On 10/11, they performed laser repair to the eye in the Dr's office, and approved 'leisurely' activities. I took it easy until that Sunday, and then hopped on the elliptical for a half hour with my son, keeping my heart rate below 100 BPM. Monday morning when I woke up I could not see at all! A hematoma had developed. The Dr was able to get me in the office that day, and said it could be days or months before the hematoma settled, if ever. On Wednesday of the same week, I went in for a follow up appointment with the Dr who performed the laser repair. He suggested a vitrectomy the next day. (Apparently he could sense my urgency in getting past this!) Surgery was Thursday the 19th. No activity for at least week. Finally on November 1st, I was allowed to ease back in to working out. Coach P set up a plan for me to get back on track & see if I felt comfortable & ready to race IMAZ. The final hurdle was being given the approval to fly to PHX from KC...my flight was scheduled for Thursday the 16th. Dr's appointment on 11/15, and was given the ok. Phew. My goal for the day, and mantra I kept repeating to myself was 'manage your day'.
6:10 AM: Met the EN team for pics, yay! It was great to meet everyone.
Swim (1:28:29): At IMWI I swam a 1:19, so I positioned myself at the back of the 1:20 group. I had missed a lot of swim workouts, and didn't want to start at the front of the 1:20 group & get swam over. A wonderful volunteer could sense my apprehension, and told me my body would work with me if I relaxed. She must have stayed & helped calm my nerves for about 5 minutes. We got up to the stairs to enter the swim, and Mike Reilly placed his hand on my shoulder and told me it was going to be a great day. Once in the water my plan was to swim easy and relaxed. I wasn't worried about time. The yellow buoys heading out were very difficult for me to see with the sun coming up over the horizon.
T1 (6:42)
Bike: (6:10:46): Hello wind! Being from KS, we are used to strong winds, but I had not mentally prepared for the AZ wind! A college friend of mine who lives in AZ had apologized for the wind on Saturday, and I thought to myself 'what are you talking about? This 5-10 mph wind is nothing compared to what I am used to'. I typically don't like multiple loop courses, but was blessed with a friend being a volunteer on the corner of mile 7. I would mentally count down the miles to her, to the top, back to her, and to the end of the loop. It helped immensely. I continued my mantra of 'manage your day' even when a fellow competitor tried to get me going when he told me two women in my age group had passed me. Bike PR for me by 37 minutes.
T2 (7:45)
Run (4:56:41): The run in triathlon is always my unknown. Coming in to triathlon as a runner, it's been my greatest frustration. My goal was to continue running even if it was very slowly. My run was uneventful, and I just kept relaxed & moving forward. Run PR for me by 20 minutes.
Total (12:50:21)
I am SO happy with my race. As Mike Reilly told me when I entered the swim, it was a great day! I crushed my PR by 58 minutes. I had been a little concerned about nutrition with so much time off. My GI system is super sensitive. I dialed down my hourly Tailwind intake on the bike, and carried a handheld water bottle with Tailwind on the run.
Many thanks to Gary Lewis for being there on race day & helping me to my car post-race! My group stayed at the finish line until the final participant came in. Looking forward to a stellar 2018!
6:10 AM: Met the EN team for pics, yay! It was great to meet everyone.
Swim (1:28:29): At IMWI I swam a 1:19, so I positioned myself at the back of the 1:20 group. I had missed a lot of swim workouts, and didn't want to start at the front of the 1:20 group & get swam over. A wonderful volunteer could sense my apprehension, and told me my body would work with me if I relaxed. She must have stayed & helped calm my nerves for about 5 minutes. We got up to the stairs to enter the swim, and Mike Reilly placed his hand on my shoulder and told me it was going to be a great day. Once in the water my plan was to swim easy and relaxed. I wasn't worried about time. The yellow buoys heading out were very difficult for me to see with the sun coming up over the horizon.
T1 (6:42)
Bike: (6:10:46): Hello wind! Being from KS, we are used to strong winds, but I had not mentally prepared for the AZ wind! A college friend of mine who lives in AZ had apologized for the wind on Saturday, and I thought to myself 'what are you talking about? This 5-10 mph wind is nothing compared to what I am used to'. I typically don't like multiple loop courses, but was blessed with a friend being a volunteer on the corner of mile 7. I would mentally count down the miles to her, to the top, back to her, and to the end of the loop. It helped immensely. I continued my mantra of 'manage your day' even when a fellow competitor tried to get me going when he told me two women in my age group had passed me. Bike PR for me by 37 minutes.
T2 (7:45)
Run (4:56:41): The run in triathlon is always my unknown. Coming in to triathlon as a runner, it's been my greatest frustration. My goal was to continue running even if it was very slowly. My run was uneventful, and I just kept relaxed & moving forward. Run PR for me by 20 minutes.
Total (12:50:21)
I am SO happy with my race. As Mike Reilly told me when I entered the swim, it was a great day! I crushed my PR by 58 minutes. I had been a little concerned about nutrition with so much time off. My GI system is super sensitive. I dialed down my hourly Tailwind intake on the bike, and carried a handheld water bottle with Tailwind on the run.
Many thanks to Gary Lewis for being there on race day & helping me to my car post-race! My group stayed at the finish line until the final participant came in. Looking forward to a stellar 2018!
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Comments
What a huge mountain to overcome just one week prior.
With a 58 minute PR you are just setting the table for 2018.