Carly Costanza IMLP Race Report
First for the #s:
Overall Time: 14:59:47
Swim 1:05:49
T1 6:32
Bike 8:20
T2 7:15
Run 5:19
I debated about writing this race report at all because I was/am disappointed with how the day went. Then decided that I enjoy reading race reports whether the day went well or poorly and if someone can learn from me then this will be worth it.
I felt fairly calm about the race as I typically do before big races. Although I'd never done an IM before. I really just felt that I could complete this race. Nerves didn't really hit me till Sunday AM and especially as I was treading water at 6:55AM.
I lined up about 5 rows back right next to the dock. I think that was a mistake, it was a washing machine the entire way for me. I did stay in my box, counted my strokes. I kept thinking "find some fast feet and stick with them". All I found were slow feet. Swim was 1:05 and change, I can swim under an hour easily. I knew that I was not working hard, but 1/2 way through the second loop I let it go, the swim was the beginning of a long day and I knew it would do no good to get worked up about it.
Wet suit strippers are the coolest!! I had never even seen it done before. 
Anyway wet suit off, into T1. Saw Suzanne and it was great to see a familiar face. Volunteers in the tent were awesome.
Out on the bike, very glad I didn't swim any slower as I saw video of the mount line after I left. Complete mayhem! I knew the bike was going to take me a long time. I was prepared for that. I stayed to the right and let all of the fast doodes pass me. Again I was prepared and knew I had no business riding with them. Got passed by a few ENers, Dave said hi as he passed. Got to see Dana and Barb at the out and backs both loops. My dad was at the bottom of Keene, good to see him, especially because I had rested for the past 10 minutes, felt good! Caught a glimse of Patrick riding the course backwards. Good to see someone out in the middle of nowhere. Great to see my family and Dana's as well as Kitima on Papa Bear. Nutrition was going well into special needs, a few sips of my mt dew (my treat) and out again. I was well hydrated stopped 4 times to pee. I ended up being a little short on calories and the last 10 miles of the bike were really rough for me. I was at the back of the pack and I just wanted to get off of my bike. Bike was 8:20.
T2 uneventful other than I was ready to run.
Starting out on the run way too fast as predicted. I was good and walked to keep my goal pace, then after the downhill out to River Rd I fell apart. I was hungry and I also just lost my mojo at about mile 2 or 3. I knew at that point I would finish, nothing hurt, I wasn't in any danger, I just couldn't run. The one thing I had tucked in my back pocket was useless. I could not come up with a good enough reason to run at that point. I plodded along the rest of the marathon alternately running/walking. Ended up with a 5:19 marathon.
I know my biggest disappointment is that I couldn't run and it was completely a mental issue. I am glad to have participated in my first IM. I really feel like that is what I did, participate. I will be back to race it, this or another course. I know I can do better. I have set new goals already and am looking forward. I am proud to say that I am an Ironman, however I can do better and I will.
Comments
Carly- First, congratulations on your finish! Second, quit beating yourself up!
Just to get to the start line of an IM is a HUGE accomplishment, credit yourself for that. Getting through your first one is an new e*perience, uncharted territory. You have and will learn from this . Give yourself some time and then try and e*amine why you felt like you couldn't run.
You ARE an IM, an lifetime occurence that few ever try to accomplish!!!
Remember Willy Wonka and the Chocolate Factory when Charlie's mother starts singing 'Cheer up Charlie'?
Well, Cheer up Carly! You completed a friggin Ironman! Like Gina said, just to get to the starting line is quite an accomplisment.
I'm glad you wrote your RR. Like you said, you've learned from RRs that have been PRs and ones that were struggles. You and others will benefit from your experience.
Rest, recover, do something fun, then kill yourself this OS.
Congrats!
Dave
A race is never what we want it to be. It has a mind of it's own and all we can do it try to hold on to the end. We've all had tough moments...my first LP race I nearly walked off the course by the ski jumps on Lap #1...it was that bad. I pulled it together and have used that moment to make myself 20x stronger. We need lows so we can appreciate the highs...see you soon!
P
Your race time/splits don't define who you are. Someday the stars will align and your race day will be the day that you can validate your fitness and all the work you put into it. Until then, you are an Ironman. Take the Finisher's Medal on tour and show everyone what an amazing thing you just accomplished!
First off congratulations, you completed something most people can't even dream of. I don't think you walked as much as you think you did, I believe your mind as playing with you a bit. From this experience you have a platform to learn and build from, I know you'll be able to get out there next time and be mentally where you want to be. Right now all you need to do is relax and enjoy the downtime.
Carly,
Congrats on the finishing your first IM. As others have said don't beat yourself up about it I sure there was a decent amount of running on the marathon. Also don't underestimate how much effort it take to be on the bike for 8 hours. I did 7.5 and an 8 hour ride on my way to completing Lake Placid in 2004. My 16:09:03 had much more walking than your IM.
It's all about your final line and learing from the mistakes ..."I can and will do better"
Gordon
You stuck with it and that is amazing... you are an Ironman and should be nothing but proud of yourself! Congrats, chica!
Chrissie Wellington paraphrased her coach's advice in a recent article: "some sessions are stones and some are stars, but they are all rocks and we build with them." So what if this race was more of a stone than a star - it's now part of your foundation. I'm looking forward to seeing you build upon it!
Congrats on finishing your first IM! Just remember that no one else cares about your times except you. Most of the world would be in awe of you finishing an IM.
Everyone has those should have / could have moments after a race. Doesn't matter if you finished in 18 hours or 10.
Enjoy the moment!
Carly, you are an outstanding athlete, and I am in awe of every single Ironman finish around here. I barely look at people's times, and couldn't remember one person's from anther's. What it's about is the self-discovery, the journey, the friggin' guts to take the thing on in the first place. We're all very proud of you. Congratulations, my young friend.
I look forward to training with you in the future.
You did do something great. You also had a pretty crazy year with your move, etc. All in all, a lot of folks may have thrown in the towel. Not you though, YOU ARE AN IRONMAN and that is not what you do. You use towels to wipe the sweat (and sometimes the tears) off your mug so you can keep on keepin' on.
Whether you did or didn't raise your arms above your head at the finish of that race, do it again now. You accomplished something great - celebrate that and look forward to your next one.
I, for one, am proud of you!!!!
Thanks all for the positive words. I am feeling a bit better a few weeks out about the race. I realize that it IS an accomplishment to even get to the start line and that I was the one on the bike/road/pool at 5AM preparing. In some ways I feel that this really was about the journey for me and not so much about the race.
I still look forward to giving this Ironman another try!
Perhaps even most important, I never would have found this awesome group of people without attempting this race and that really does mean a lot to me. So THANKS!