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Dina Myers Ironman Florida 70.3 Race Report

Ironman Florida 70.3 Race Report

This was my 6th HIM.  

We arrived in Orlando on Friday afternoon.  Six in our group, 5 of which were racing, 2 SUV’s, and 5 bikes.  Laid back Friday evening getting settled in to our VRBO, dinner out, and a quick trip through the grocery store.

On Saturday morning we were up early to get our bikes assembled, and get a 30 minute practice ride & 15 minute run in. We were off to the race site by 10:30 for check in.  Registration was a breeze, timing chip on, and we were off to Lake Eva for the practice swim. Ran in to Mariah on the beach, & snapped some photos prior to heading in to the water.   Water temp was comfortable, still over wetsuit legal at that point.  Following our practice swim we went in to the bathroom to change clothes prior to heading to lunch.  While we were in there we were making comments about alligators, and one of the staff members remarked that they had pulled five alligators out of the water earlier in the week in preparations for the event.  Eeeek!   Checked in our bikes at 2, and back to the house to chill out.   Another run through the grocery store for dinner. 

Race Day:

4:00 AM wake up call, and off to the race site by 4:30 from Kissimmee.  Coffee with coconut creamer, and a bagel with some peanut butter.  Drinking water & sipping on Tailwind prior to race start.   Met the team for pics at 6:20.  So nice to meet everyone in person!

Swim/ T1:

Wetsuit legal, yay!  I don’t really believe the wetsuit helps my swim times, but it does act as a security blanket.  Started in the 40-43 minute group and was happy to meet a woman from Houston who explained the ‘M’ course to me.   Sighting was good.  I swam until my hand hit sand.  There were a lot of people who stood way too early & were walking in.  LOOONG transition.  Arrived at bike & turned on the bike computer.  Struggled with getting my wetsuit off and had to sit on the curb.  Helmet on, shoes on, let’s roll.

Swim: 42:14 27nd AG  

<a href="https://www.strava.com/activities/1497289705">https://www.strava.com/activities/1497289705</a>&nbsp;

T1: 4:33 (Dang wetsuit!)

Bike:

Following a long cold & extended winter, this was the first time my wheels hit the pavement since IMAZ in November other than our practice ride on Saturday morning.  I am very thankful for my Wahoo KICKR, Trainer Road, & Zwift, and appreciate the EN programmed rides in both Trainer Road & Zwift.  I had some concerns heading in to the bike about nutrition, as I was not good about practicing nutrition on my trainer rides, that is, unless coffee counts!  : )  I carried three bottles with 200 calories each of Tailwind, and one bottle of water.

My goal was to not kill the bike so that I could have a decent run.  ‘The best bike split is one followed by a great run.’   Really biked conservatively.  Could I have pushed it a little more?  Absolutely.

Uneventful bike (other than a ton of drafting going on by other riders).  I took in two bottles of the Tailwind, and the one bottle of water.

Bike: 2:52:54, Avg Pwr 118, NP 131, If .65, TSS 122.5, AVG HR 147  

22th AG

https://www.strava.com/activities/1502021045

T2: 4:09

Run

My run has been my greatest frustration having jumped in to triathlon from a running background.  My goal was to run the first loop easy, pick it up some the second lap, and hit it hard on the third loop.  It was exciting to see Mariah along the course. The hills on this course are no joke.

I carried my nutrition with me in a handheld, with two snack Ziploc bags with 200 calories each of Tailwind.  Quick porta-potty stop on the first loop about one mile in.  I stopped at one aid station on the second & third loops to refill my handheld.

When we hit the hills on the second loop the toes in my left foot were throbbing & it was painful.  I ended up walking up two of the hills & tried to stretch my toes.  By the end of the second loop they were still painful, but at least it was manageable. I typically carry Tylenol in my handheld, but hadn’t restocked.  The toe pain has happened previously (typically 8 miles in to a run), and I thought my change in shoe brand had resolved it.

PR run for a 70.3, but not close to my half marathon PR.  I know there’s time here I can still whittle away.

Avg HR: 157 ‘Historic’ Suffer Score of 331 per Strava. : )

https://www.strava.com/activities/1497289840

Run 2:07:25 10th AG

Overall 11th AG Final time 5:51:35

 

****I am extremely pleased with my race.   I was pretty relaxed going in, given it was my first race of the season.  I know I can make improvements in all three disciplines.  It was a great weekend with great friends & teammates, and we took home the Div 1 championships!

Next up for me:

Heartland 39.3 half marathon series in KC (3 half marathons in 4 weeks)

Century Ride around Lake Tahoe in June

IM Boulder 70.3 in August

Chicago Marathon in October

IM FL in November

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Comments

  • @Dina Myers - Great race!  11th in AG with a 70.3 run PR is a great accomplishment. Also, coffee counts!

    I am curious about your toe issue.  That does not sound good.  You may want to post something in the medical help forum.

    Congratulations on a great race!
  • Congratulations on your race.  It was great meeting you.  Chicago Marathon IM Fla combo does not seem ideal scheduling.  But interested to follow the rest of you season.
  • @Dina Myers Great race and report!  Soooo glad I missed the part about the five alligators being pulled from the lake.  I'm glad they got them I guess.  I feel you on the wet suit struggles!  I hope you find a solution to your toe problem.  Best to you and the rest of your season!
  • Nice job with Race and report @Dina Myers!  Agree there's always places to improve, but it seems like you executed pretty well! ... especially given 1st of year, and 1st outside ride in 5 months!

    It was great meeting you! ... good luck for 2018!
  • Great race @Dina Myers!  Looks like you executed like you planned except for the foot issue. Like you said, I think you could have pushed the bike harder and I  think you still would have run well.  Great race and 11th on AG is great!  Thanks for sharing 
  • Congrats Dina!  That was a great race result to start your season!  I will be supporting at IMFL, so you'll have one extra fan down there!  :D  

    Can you share the elevation gain on the run?  (I'm not on strava...I know I know...lame!) My niece lives in Winter Garden and I may want to check out the run course this winter while visiting.  Thinking of putting this one on the calendar next year. 

  • Great race @Dina Myers was good to finally meet you.
  • Congratulations @Dina Myers! I wish I had had more opportunity to talk with you but so happy that you had a great experience here in Florida. You have an exciting season ahead but I have to second @Robert Sabo regarding the Chicago Marathon/IMFL double header. Only one can be the A race in such a short timeframe so pick in advance. But here's hoping you prove us all wrong and kill them both. @Sabra Gonzalez - they didn't get all the gators. Someone snapped a picture of a gator (not particularly big) in the Lake after they had taken out the swim buoys. But no worries. Gators shy away from all the commotion when a big group is swimming like that. You just don't want to be out there on your own.
  • Congrats !! what comes to my eyes is how you went up in the rankings during the day - great progression !

    I envy you on the Chicago Marathon ! that marathon is magic
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