IMFL 2010 as experienced by a first timer
FYI - this is a BOOK... so get some coffee or popcorn and settle in.
11/6/10: A Good Day to Become An Ironman
The days leading up to the race included some stressful moments, certainly more stress than I would have preferred, but as they say, they don't call it "easyman." I arrived on Wednesday afternoon to cold rain... too late to go to athlete check-in, but early enough to pick up my bike which had been sitting outside... Got her to the condo, dried her off and starting working off my race week check list. Thursday morning, more rain. An early morning recon swim with Dan, DC Tri clubber, Tuan, and EN Chica, Nathalie – water was only slightly choppy, not at all bad. It started to rain and we heard boomers in the distance and cut the swim short... and made it in just before it started to come down hard... ugh. It was cold, rainy, and windy when athlete check-in opened at 10. At the time I thought the line was too long and I didn't want to stand outside getting sick so I skipped it figuring the lines would be gone as the day progressed – we're all type A++ triathletes, who's gonna put it off til the end of the day? Apparently everyone else had the same bright idea and when I got back to the expo area close to 2 (following a recon drive of the bike course, which included a 30 minute ride of a new section of the route) the line had quadrupled. While I waited Dan took my bike to the tech tent to get the chain lubed (it had started to rust after the rain the day before). 2 hours later I was checked in and had just enough time to shower and get to the EN team dinner.
Following dinner I met Tuan and went to the "mandatory" athlete meeting. Didn't learn anything new, but it was still nice to be a part of the grand experience. Back from the meeting I grabbed my checklists and went to Tuan's to check his layout – make sure he had all his gear, etc... Looked good. Back to my room to do the same – we had to drop off our bikes and gear bags the next afternoon (Friday). I put everything in separate bags when I packed my luggage so that all I needed to do was transfer the gear from my bag to the official race bag. I had my lists to double check that I had everything... I also decided to lay out my race day clothes.
Everything was going smoothly until... wait a minute, I know I packed it... where is it? It's gotta be here... OH NO! I can't find my HR strap/monitor. I'm a HR athlete. I NEED my HR strap. I ransacked the place. I checked every drawer. Under the bed, shook out the sheets, checked my 2 duffle bags and suitcase 3 times (at least) each. Nada. I am stressed. I'm tired and cranky and frantic. Then it hit me. Another DC Tri clubber's, Tammy, boyfriend is flying in tomorrow. If I did leave my HR strap at home (although I absolutely positively remember packing it), I know exactly where it is. Perhaps I can get my cat sitter to check... and if it's there, hand it off to Glenn before he gets on the plane. It might work. I make a phone call... Phil understands my dilemma, wants to help, but can't guarantee he can be at my place early because of a conference call... so, to cover my bases he gets online to check stores that might sell HR straps in Panama City... I also email Tammy and Glenn so see when Glenn is leaving and if he can help me out... So, that's that. Nothing more I can do. I hardly sleep, plans B through Q start popping into my head.
Friday morning begins with a call from Glenn around 7:30 – he got my message and will try to help... then I check my email and Philip can't get to my place before his call/before Glenn's flight. Deep Breaths. Plan B – Glenn gets my keys from Phil and checks my place and hides my keys for Phil to get later in the day... he doesn't go for it (I don't blame him)... Plan C – I call Garmin (when they open at 8am, I'd already checked and written down the number) to see if they even sell HR straps separately in stores (FYI: they do, but it's the store's option)... but the tech support person told me that any Garmin strap or ANT+ strap would work... email Glenn with this news to see if I can borrow a strap of his or his roommates. In the meantime, unbeknownst to me, Tammy had sent an email to a few tri clubbers and found me a strap! Glenn picked up Michele's Garmin strap and I would be fine. Wow. Instantly I feel a zillion pounds lighter. Dan had already left to go to the airport to get my mom and brother, but I called him to give him the news. I had other fall back plans – go to best buy or walmart and buy the cheapest HR watch I could find... something... it was gonna work out one way or the other! But, crisis averted! Whew! I still had enough time to go for my light 20 minute Z1 jog... which was really nice to clear my head and get the anxiety out of my system. If that's the worst thing I have to deal with all weekend, my race would be a piece of cake!
Get done with the run. Stretch... heck, the stretching was as long as the run. Quick shower then off to the EN 4 Keys talk on the beach. Get done with that, head back to the hotel to say hello to mom and bro... and figure it's about time for lunch. Decide to drop off the bike first so my brother could clean up (he flew in on a red eye)... and headed out to do that. Dan and I get back and make a quick stop at our condo when, upon closing the door, the door handle falls out. Completely out – like there's a hole in the door. Wha? Okay, this is not part of my race weekend schedule. Call the owner, call maintenance...worried this could take a while and I'd never get lunch... trying to remain calm. Amazingly they respond very quickly and the door is fixed in an hour. So, lunch is a bit delayed (around 2). Not perfect, but I'm trying to stay calm. I used the time trapped in the condo to make my feed and water bottles for race day, so it wasn't a total loss, I had a check list and started working on it with the time I had. At this point, I'm thinking I'd rather this crap happen now than on race day... I'm building up good karma; I've gotta be, right?
Lunch over, belly fully... chill on the couch flipping through a magazine... then rally the fam for dinner at a place recommended by the father of a racer I met and talked to in the athlete check-in line. (Captain Anderson's – it was great, future IMFL racers should definitely go there). Back from dinner... head to see Tammy and Glenn to get the HR strap, chat for a bit, then back to my place. Make sure my Garmin will sync with the new monitor, then I check my pile of race day clothes and special needs bags once more, set my alarm and it's bed time... around 10pm.
I think I actually slept some, which is highly unusual for me before a race (even a sprint). The alarm went off around 1:45 – I was sort of up already as I needed to go to the bathroom... so I grabbed a Naked protein smoothie from the fridge, came back to bed, drank it sitting on the bed, then laid back down til 4:30. Alarm went off and I'm up. Made coffee (which I'd gotten ready the night before, all I had to do was turn the machine on), ate, read over my check lists and race day plan... and it's ON time.
I walked down to the transition area with the Dans (my beau and my brother). Around 6 the beau went back to get my mom... my brother stayed with me (or around transition) taking pictures and soaking it all in... I got my bike set up with water and feed bottle and borrowed a pump from a woman in my row. Front tire, no problem, back tire wasn't taking air. Strange. I tried to tighten the extender (had the Zipps) and I heard air releasing so I immediately stopped fiddling... tried to pump again, no luck – and tightened up the extender and went to the official air pump folks... he pumped the tires and I felt better... racked the bike, grabbed my warm clothes bag (with wetsuit, goggles, and cap), found my brother waiting outside of transition, and went inside a lobby area to get dressed. I had a gel, washed it down with water... then we found "my Dan" and headed to the beach as the sun was coming up and transition was closing. I saw my mom on a bench and gave her a hug... then went to cross the timing mat. I waited with Dan (wearing his coat) until a few minutes before the start...then made my way to find a place to start. Wow... this is really happening.
It was a very low tide and there was a sandbar on the starting side (last year it was as the swimmers came in), so they let us wade in quite a bit which surprised me. I knew I didn't want to be on the buoy line, but that I'm a decent swimmer so I didn't want to be too far over. I headed right and waded in so I was probably about in the middle of the pack as far as front to back goes. Not sure how far right I was but it felt like a safe and smart spot to me. The gun goes off, I walk in until I think I can start swimming and I go. It was messy, but not nearly as bad as I was expecting (or as bad as Timberman) – perhaps because there was so much more room to line up (and I wasn't on the buoy line). The water was clear which made things a lot easier, I could see the feet in front of me and the people around me – to try to avoid the slugfest as best I could. I never felt violated... that's not to say I didn't get beat up because I certainly did, but I didn't let it bug me. That's huge for me because a perceived bad swim really puts me in a funk for the rest of the day. I got slapped in the head a few times, had to roll over to adjust my goggles and let the water out a few times... I got slapped on the back – mostly unintentionally... once not so much as a guy slapped me, then, on his next stroked he hit my back and physically pushed me down. That pissed me off (the water is clear, he can see me not to mention feel me)... so I stopped swimming and pushed him, hard, with my right arm... that did the trick. And, I'm happy to say, I got right back in my box and went about my swim happy as can be. I don't think I sighted at all the first loop. I didn't have to, I was in the middle of a swarm; as long as I was surrounded I felt pretty confident I was going to the right place.
I swam until I literally picked up a handful of sand, stood up, almost on shore (which surprised me bc I was expecting last year's sand bars) and walked out and across the timing mat. Went through the water station where I expected to rinse my face, but the water was freezing so I settled for rinsing out my mouth... back in the water for lap two. I didn't start my watch (intentionally) for the swim so I had no idea of my time and didn't even look for the clock... I could swear I heard the announcer say 46 minutes... which was really, really slow and I felt kinda bummed out – but I figured all the people, lining up wide, the current, it is what it is... still have plenty of time. Lap two was not nearly so crowded so I did have to sight a bit – but again not much because there were always people around me. Some more blows to the head and back floating to clear the goggles... but nothing bad. I never felt that my form was that great (not rolling) but I didn't feel sluggish either...
Out of the water. No idea on the time. Honestly, I didn't really care. I punched the ticket and the race is now ON. Ran up the beach to the wetsuit strippers, spotted an open pair, pointed to them so they knew I was coming and they went to work. HOLY COLD. Wet skin and 40 degrees is a painful combination. Wet suit in hand I ran under the showers to get some salt off then the marathon that was T1 began. We ran around the backside of the Boardwalk and into transition on the far side of the bike racks when we picked up our gear bags and went into the tent. I was numb. Seriously freezing. Get inside, find an empty chair in the back, dumped my gear and got to work as best I could. Fortunately I had a towel so I wiped off my face and hands and feet... and started getting dressed. I was shivering. My hands were numb. I had trouble tightening the screws on my shoes and my helmet... a volunteer to help me with that. My hands couldn't physically do it. The volunteer packed up my bag, for which I thanked her profusely... then I was off, clomping my way out. Made a quick stop to get slathered with sunscreen and get my bike...
Hop on the bike, the Dans cheered for me and took pics and I start rolling (after very carefully checking behind me to be sure I could actually mount my bike without getting rolled into or rolling into anyone else)... then, within seconds I knew something was wrong. I called out so the riders behind me would let me get over... and I get off my bike. I thought perhaps my bike got jostled and my brake was rubbing... then someone in the crowd (yes, I was still in the starting chute) said "you've got a flat." My response was very ladylike, I assure you. A flat. On the rear tire, of course! A very kind woman held my seat up so I could get the it into the lowest gear to get the wheel off... and I go to work. Another kind spectator let me lean my bike on him as he watched over my shoulder coaching me. Another gentleman spectator came up to the front to watch and coach – and the two men chatted with each other commenting that they wished they could change my tire for me... spectators across the chute were cheering for me. Spectators on my side of the chute were coming up to wish me well and tell me to hang in there. Racers were rolling by offering condolences in the form of "that sucks!" I seriously can't believe I maintained my composure. But I did. And I secretly thanked Kitima for strongly encouraging me to practice a few times before sending my bike away (which I did)! I know how to change a tire, but a bit of practice was handy for sure!
I have no idea how long that took as I didn't start my watch yet – my watch was set to alert me for nutrition... it felt like forever, though and I don't think I'll be working pit crew for NASCAR any time soon. Finally, I'm on my bike and actually starting the race. Feeling very proud that I got through the hurdle... but also praying like you would not believe that I would make it to special needs because I didn't have another spare tube on me... The ride was cold. Really cold. And windy. Now I can handle a 45 degree ride. And I can handle a windy ride. Heck, my last RR was in those exact conditions... but the headwind was long and hard and even in the sun I could not warm up. I was not wearing enough because I assumed I would warm up after a few miles like I always do. I guess the combo of being wet, and the race day nerves, etc. just made it really hard... My teeth were chattering at mile 20. No joke. I was miserable and wondering/worrying my "line" had come really early...
Mile 10, stop to use the bathroom – no line, sweet. A volunteer held my bike and asked if I needed anything. Nice! At the mile 20 stop I see a very long line for the bathroom... ugh... mile 30 another line... hmm... that worried me because I was starting to feel nature calling and I didn't want to give away more time after the tire incident. So, I decide to give it a go (pun intended).... I stood up to stretch and coast and tried as best as I could to relax... success! Gross, definitely gross, but WARM nice and warm... As of mile 38 (I checked) I became a bike pee'er. Tuan had given me a tip the night before and I took his advice... at the next aid stop I grabbed a bottle of water and used it to clean myself off... still gross but a little less so! I pee'ed several more times during the ride as I followed my nutrition plan to a tee – Infinit every 15 minutes with a water chaser. S!Cap every hour with lots of water (usually I fall off the wagon about this)... I went to the bathroom at least 5 times and finished the ride feeling like I needed to again, knowing a transition stop would happen. I was hydrated and Jina needs a bath!
For the most part, other than my flat and earning a bike pee'er badge, the ride was uneventful. On 388, 5 miles from the turnaround, the road went to pot... and sucked... but I had ridden that section Thursday and knew what to expect. The turnaround was a hairpin in the 2 lane road. I'd say that was not a very bright idea on the part of the race organizers... at that point I was almost involved in a 3 bike pileup because a girl 2 people ahead of me decided midway through the turn that she wasn't gonna make it/didn't turn sharply enough and dismounted (never looking back), which caused the guy behind her to have to try to balance his bike and me to do the same... and, I do want to point out in our defense, we had backed off to give her room. I ended up clipping out at the last possible second to avoid falling over... Annoying but hey, it is what it is. Shuffled through the turn straddling my bike, got back on, and rolled a few minutes to my row of special needs bags, changed my feed bottle and my socks (putting my old socks in the ziplock bag I had my bottle in – in case of leakage). Reapplied lip balm... and was rolling again. Turned off 388 to a wind-y road with some speed, then turned back onto 20 (?) where the 4 or 5 rollers came up. They were nothing at all. Actually I enjoyed them because it gave me something different to do... i.e., shift!
All in all, I felt good with my ride. I stayed in zone most of the time, a few too high beeps (on the bridge and the rollers), a few too low beeps... and I knew I'd lost time because of the flat but I didn't do anything crazy and stuck with my plan. To be honest, I felt really happy. Not that I wanted to flat, but I got one and I handled it without blowing my CO2 or getting a pinch flat because I took my time and did things right – slow is smooth... The hiccup made me feel so much more deserving to become an Ironman! So, my ear to ear grin started early in the day. Well, it started after I warmed up and my teeth stopped chattering. There were some spectators along the way and I cheered for them and thanked them for coming... There was one jerk who passed me on the inside and I let him know what I thought of that... but with that exception, I was having fun... this is a good day to become an Ironman!
T2... not sure why the heck it took me so darn long... seriously. I was cold, yes. My feet were wet and putting on my compression socks took some time... and then I stopped in the porta potty... but 10 minutes... hmm... that one confuses me. Oh well... it is what it is. Coming out of transition I spotted the Dans on the hill overlooking transition and I waved. Went to the bathroom, and was off. I had to keep myself in check... was going way too fast. Was stopping to walk every few minutes to try to keep my average pace closer to 10:40-10:50. Early in the run a man ran by and asked if I knew the time of day... I hit a few buttons... 3:20. Wow... I'm right about on schedule and if I walked every step of the marathon I would finish. That was a very, very good feeling! At the first water stop I walked to take a gel and rinse it down with water – as I had in every RR and race... fairly soon after, my stomach revolted... I hit the bathroom at each of the next 4 aid stations... and I jogged between stations as best I could while racking my brain trying to remember Kitima's advice about GI distress. I just hoped I would "reset" soon... I thought about it and decided soda would work. Tried some... then added pretzels. If I had lots of fluid sloshing around down there I needed to send some starch to soak it up. After the bathroom break at the aid station at mile 5 I finally started feeling okay. A few burps, farts... and I was definitely feeling better... Good thing because I had just hit mile 6 and it was time to speed up to Z1 (10:22) and I was fast approaching the coaches at the entrance to the park and no way was I gonna walk by!
Instead of doing the first 6 miles around 11, I ended up closer to 12 – but with 4 bathroom stops, I think when I was actually moving I was close to an 11 minute pace... so I'm good with that. I felt good when I actually started the next segment of the run... was keeping it pretty close to 10:30s when I would hit an aid station for my 30" of walking... over time, though, I wasn't able to make up the walking time... and there were other bathroom breaks (of a more routine nature) thrown in there, too... so my total average pace for the next splits was closer to 11 – I think that translates into 10:30 runs and then the walk breaks and bathroom breaks... so, as far as I'm concerned I was executing as good as I could expect with the hand I was dealt that day!
Heading into town for the turn around I was super happy – spectators commented on my smile and cheered for me. I called out to one that it was a good day to become an Ironman because that's all that was going through my head. I was thanking everyone for being out there, I was encouraging the crowds to shake their cowbells (More Cowbell)! Just loving it. In front of the Summit/Spinnaker I saw the Dans and my mom cheering. Yay! I hit the turn, got my special needs bag and took a quick break to change my wardrobe. The EN jersey came off so I could put the long sleeve shirt on (over my armwarmers), then the jersey went back on. The reflective vest went on over... the headlamp went in the back and my gloves were in hand as I would need them soon enough... and I was rolling again. Passed my family again – handed "my Dan" my glasses and gave him a kiss... and loop two was underway.
A few miles in was the dancing girls (not as fun as the pink speedos, but hey, I'm a bit biased). I threw up my arms sang along and danced, which the ladies loved... I was having a ball! My speed was good... and I was keeping myself together. Over the next few miles (maybe around 15), I started noticing things getting tight... not heavy quads like I'm used to in a marathon, but muscles tightening... but it was never so bad that I had to have a conversation with myself to keep going. I hit mile 18 and so far so good. I was not at the line... hoping it wouldn't come and continuing on living in the moment. I know I was slowing down at this point... walking the length of the aid stations... and sometimes doing high knees and butt kicks to stretch... a few times I did actually stop to do some quad stretches... getting tighter but never wanted to stop and walk – I wanted to be done, not be out there longer!
My nutrition plan for the run went out the window the first few miles. I've never had GI issues before so I had to sort of roll with it. And I continued the run going by feel. I'm very glad I've done marathons before, so I knew what to expect and what might work. After mile 6 I had water at just about every stop – not necessarily a lot, sometimes just to rinse my mouth out. Perhaps having Perform every 2 or 3 stops... chicken broth maybe every 3. I didn't take S!Caps after mile 6 because the broth was out on the course for the second loop and I didn't feel like I needed it. Before each stop I would assess what, if anything, I needed or wanted, and I went with it.
The back side of the park was crazy dark. I'm very, very glad I had my headlamp with me... even with the extra lights it was impossible to see in some places. Scary, actually... out of the park some of the neighborhood streets were also pretty dark... and there were some cars trying to get through and runners on both sides of the street... glad I had my vest on and my lamp with me... Finally I hit the last strip. The dancers were gone but I could see the lights and hear the emcee...I knew I still had 2 miles to go but I was getting close... and feeling really happy. Based on my Garmin, I picked up speed the last few miles... maybe closer to a 12 minute pace... the grin came back for sure... and I was just so amazed. I ran through the town, past the Summit, around the corner at Alvin's island, and into the long chute leading me to my goal. The music was blaring... the crowd was cheering... I pumped my fists and was just so elated. I didn't even hear my name called out, I was just so happy!
A volunteer came to get me... he is an EN'er (Brian) and he asked how I was... fine. No need for medical. Someone else took off my chip. Brian got me a blanket. Got me my shirt and hat... then my Dan spotted me, I gave him a kiss and Brian gave him my stuff and continued escorting me through the chute – to the medal area and the picture area. It was nice to have my own volunteer, even better that he was a teammate (volunteering to do his first at IMFL next year). Then I saw the coaches... and my brother found me... I got food, got dry clothes on... while I was doing that Dan got my bags and bike... and we all walked back to the hotel. I was shivering once again. Teeth chattering and physically shaking. That was a long walk home.
Took a shower. OUCH. Despite all the body glide and bag balm I had some serious chaffing... then I stretched. Then I rallied to head to mellow mushroom with the Dans and my mom to meet the team. At 11:30 my brother and I went to watch the final finishers... which was just amazing! The music was blaring "tonight's gonna be a good night..." and it was the absolutely perfect song to bring them home... the perfect song to sum up my day because essentially that was my mantra all along: today is a good day to become an Ironman!
So, here's how it all turned out:
Swim: projected-1:15-1:30 / Actual-1:14:04 (this really shocked me)
T1: projected 6-7 / Actual - 12:10
Bike: projected-6:15-6:30 / Actual-6:32:26 (even with the flat, I'll take it!), 17.1mph avg
T2: projected 5-6 / Actual -10:50
Run: projected 4:30+ (absolutely no idea) / Actual 5:06:11, 11:42/mi avg
Total: 13:15:41
division place: 60/124
overall place: 1458/2402
My goal was 13-14 hours, hoping for closer to 13 (I figured I would take my Eagleman time, double it, and add an hour – that comes to just about 13 hours)... and that's pretty much exactly what I did. What is really amazing is that had it not been for the flat tire I might have broken 13! I loaded my Garmin last night and it clocked my ride at 6:15 – assuming that's right, I only lost 15 minutes changing the tire and stopping at special needs... both felt like forever... but slow is smooth, smooth is fast! I'm a believer!
What a day. I still feel the glow... and I can't thank the team and my friends (and my SO) enough!
Comments
Becky chicadee!!! I am THRILLED for you. I knew you were ready, and there it was. Congratulations on a great day, well earned and much deserved!
It sure can be cold there! Question--do you still get that stretch of riding with the wicked tail wind? I know they changed the course, but I hope you got to experience that! Wheeeee!!!! Congrats, again!
Well done.
Wonderful job, you should be proud. Congrats !!
Had no idea you were having GI troubles during those first 6 miles---I think the slowing down really helped not just your gut but the rest of your marathon. So well paced!
Enjoy your recovery and bask in the IM glow!!
Love it; what a success!
Nathalie
Congrats Becky!!!!!! Nice Execution and staying in your box!
Now you can go and enjoy the weekend with Dan at the B&B!
Congrats Becky! What an accomplishment! And thanks for such a detailed report. As a first timer next year, this information is invaluable!
- Brian
P.S. I'm the Brian that helped you at the finish line. You looked great...a very strong finish!
Becky:
Congratulations. Well done.
Best,
Brian
Really proud of you! Congratulations!
It was great meeting you at the pink Speedo mile 18 up at IMMoo. Great RR – thanks for taking the time to give the great detail.