2010 B2B Full - Pete Joachim
Ok - its been over a week. About time I write this. I know some people were curious to know more about this race in Wilmington, NC - as an alternative to a WTC event. So I'll try to note some differences but beware I've only volunteered at IMLP 2010 and did a couple WTC 70.3s.
Background: I joined EN about 3 weeks prior to my first iron distance race (B2B). I joined mainly to train for IMLP 2011. It was important to me to attempt an iron distance on my own first - w/no formal training whatsoever after 4 years. Just to see if I could complete it, much like teaching myself how to play golf (got to 5 handicap prior to switching hobbies), and teaching myself how to play tennis at a pretty decent level. So I managed to read alot of EN material prior to race day, guestimate my FTP and run pacing and scare myself enough to make the phrase "take it easy" my mantra for the day. Plus I didn't want IMLP to be my first iron race - after volunteering/watching/and training on the IMLP course last July - I wanted to know I could "go the distance" before I thrash in the water w/2500 people / ride and run the hills at LP.
Also, I just got a new and first ever tri-bike (GURU) and PM so this was my first race w/it (I know, nothing new on race day?!)
Pre-Race: With only 531 athletes in the full (about 700 in half), this is a much smaller venue than any WTC race. Expo is small and easy to get thru - no lines whatsoever. Required to leave bike at T1 nite before (that was hard to do - being the bike is so new). Pre-race dinner - decent food and the speakers consisted of the "tinmen" - an iron relay time where all 3 guys had heart transplants + many other physical issues to overcome. Pretty cool. Swam 20 minutes w/friend from local tri club who was gracious enough to show me the proper line to take at the end of the swim. Rode the bike a little and tried to understand my PM (SRM) but still having problems w/that. Only could get Power and Cadence to show.
Race Morning: There are 2 seperate transitions. T1 is near beach at water exit. Bring all gear and bags to T1 - they transport to T2 and SN areas plus pre-swim/post race bag. They did a great job w/all the transporting of the gear bags. I got everything back and lost nothing. Could take free shuttle from downtown Hilton (15 minute ride) or get there on your own. Plenty of parking at T1. It was pretty cool in morning - about 38 degrees - water not bad at 66. After dropping off gear bags, putting nutrition on bike, like most others, I put on wetsuit to stay warm to take shuttle bus to beach start (5 minute ride). We all hung out at end of road (sheltered from wind) while we put on body glide, etc. Always interesting to hear the stories from everyone pre-race. Some can't stop talking while others look a little shell shocked. You could be talking to someone about to go sub 10 hours or post-16 hours - at this point we are all the same - cold, nervous and wondering how the day will turn out. Being my first full, I wasn't nervous - probably due to the "ignorance is bliss" theory. Walk down to beach, hear national anthem and RD asks all first timers at this distance to raise their hand. About half the athletes raise their hand - I am not alone.
Swim 01:27:15: Now this event is 1 -2 weeks later than usual in the year. Big marketing ploy is that the swim has strong current working w/you and you'll do your fastest ironman swim here. Not so today. I checked the tide charts and at 7am the tide was either stagnant or working against us for a little while. Only the Half would get the incoming tide. Oh well. I don't fret the swim - I actually enjoy it. Beach start - cool. I head out pretty much in the middle of pack - we go out to middle of channel, make a right and go for about 1.5 miles straight down Banks Channel. First 500 meters alot of contact - nothing terrible. I try to get to the right side of channel but got stuck between too many people. Eventually got over to the right side of bouys (which were hard to see). With the wide channel and only 530 athletes this is alot less of a human washing maching than IMLP - so advantage #1. However, no line to follow, bouys hard to see and wide channel results in alot of corrections to swim path since it appears must of us don't swim straight. I picked out a watertower to aim myself at. Worked okay until got to turn where I realized I should be further left. Oh well. At least it was relatively clean water. A small chop picked up pretty good near turn - but I've been in worse. Sun comes up to right and definitely an issue if you breathe only to that side. I prefer left side breathing so not a problem. The first turn comes and you go between a green bouy and boat. That was confusing. They said we would go around a boat only? Alot of citing here that surely slowed everyone down trying to figure it out. Make left and soon as you see the big white condo marina - you aim for that and forget about where the bouys are. Glad I did this part yesterday w/friend Bill. You actually climb vertical ladders out of bay onto pier. This was difficult for many including myself - but the volunteers did a great job. I couldn't see 2500 athletes converging onto these ladders w/o issues. I knew time wasn't going to be great but still surprised it was THAT long. I wasn't tired or cold at end of swim but many were very cold. I wore foot booties not for the cold water but for the 0.3 mile run to T1 and was very thankful for that. Had 3 guys pull off my wetsuit, thru the shower and off. I jogged the whole way - felt good to run. Saw folks on way in, grabbed gear bag (you get it yourself) and into very crowded smallish tent. Tuns out only a handful of athletes broke 1 hour for the swim so tide must have been against us for awhile. I've done 1:10 and 1:08 in 2.4 mile swim only events.
T1 14min: This was long. I, as most, did a full change. I had worn swim/tri trunks and tight t-shirt under wetsuit - both now wet and cold so they came off. Basically did this standing up in tent. I went slow to make sure I didn't forget anything. Made sure to lube and go thru everything i had in bag - basically had too much in bag. Alot of people were shaking and shivering - i really wasn't that cold. Went with bike shorts, bamboo shirt under cylce jersey (good call), arm warmers (no problem putting on b/t/w), full head coverage and bike shoes w/self made toe warmer (dad's dress socks cut in half ...lol). Stuff wetsuit, googles, cap, in bag and put in bin as you leave tent (no personal volunteers for this). Due to all the gear lying around and tight quarters, it was easy to lose stuff, get it mixed in with some else's gear, etc. So I missed putting on my gloves. Jog in bike shoes to bike at other end of field (you get your own bike - not a volunteer). Put on camelback, sunglasses, wave to folks and off I go. The whole thing seemed way to casual - but it was w/in the mantra for the day - slow and easy.
Bike 6;26: W/ the steady northern wind, we knew we were heading into a headwind for most of the first 75 miles. It was consistent, but not terrible, nothing we all haven't bike in before. This was going to be my first century, let alone 112. Immediately on bike it felt like a training ride rather than a race. First 9 miles are thru suburban boulevards to highway and it shocked me to see so few bikers. We are all just so spread out and being only 510 (20 dropped after swim) it just wasn't like the traffic build up I saw at IMLP or other large events. Didn't really have to worry about bike traffic the whole day. The highway (140) heading west was great. The cops had us on the left lane so we didn't have to worry about exits ramps, etc. Very cool riding here. Saw one girl who apparently crashed - not sure how? I had conservatively estimated my FTP to be about around 215ish so I was going to keep the PM to around 150-165 and I think I did a great job of that (but don't have the ride recorded on my SRM? so no data?). At no point did I ever feel like I was pushing the pedals too hard, pushing to big a gear or really working too hard. I stopped at SN and it was like a full blown picnic there for some. I used potty (2nd time) in the church and went thru my SN bag - again too much stuff in bag- didn't need it all. Did use extra socks as hand warmers for a little while - but only my toes were cold during ride. 2 small peppermint patties as treat. Off we go to turn around. Note: best roads I have rode on for that long. Really a A+ for road quality (helps that do not have to deal with snow/salt/sand every winter). Only saw 2 flat tires (and I am Mr. Flat Tire Guy). At turn around I was ready to push w/the tail wind. And you really did notice it - I think 3 people passed me on the last 40 miles and one was girl/guy that were clearly working together. Stopped once more go to potty (had to go, but body not want to work / wierd) and then off to finish. Didn't even notice the 100 mile mark. Last 4 miles kind've suck w/traffic into T2 (which is the biggest congested area of the whole course) . Had to follow a rider in w/o passing due to car traffic. I remember saying to myself I could go 150 miles today if needed. So i figured I should be set for a good run since I was really wasn't as sore as I expected to be (except for my butt..lol). Bike course is really flat so wind is your only hill. Low bike traffic due to # of athletes and excellent roads to ride. Scenery - very rural. Thought my time would've been better - but time was a secondary concern on this day.
T2 12:00: Another congested tent. Did a full change again. A lot of confusion here by athletes with what to do w/ gear bag and where to run out. I think some athletes just don't want to have "think" at this point. The volunteers were good, could've used a few more, though. But remember, at WTC events, most of the volunteers are next year's athletes so they know the deal, how your feeling and what you need. At B2B its mostly kids - who are great but sometimes the athlete needs a little more. Again very casusal thru this T2 and it seemed like an enternity - oh it was....
Run 5:07: Was hoping for 4:20 - 30, but really did not know what to expect - given 3:57 is my marathon PR - maybe that is too ambitious. I believe my vDOT to be about 43 based on my 5k times and I pretty much match the anticipated run times for every distance that the formula spits out - accept for the marathon.
I knew that up to this point I really hadn't pushed any of the events, nutrition was surprisingly not an issue, no injuries or weird muscle/joint issues and my mind was still in the game. Weather was cool which is good. But still, it was hard to believe that you were choosing to now run a marathon. Marathon is the only distance I have yet to negative split in a race - and this race would be no different.
The Run is a 2 loop course w/4 distinct sections. First 2.5 miles is the worst - 2 bridges crossing the Cape Fear river into town. 1.5 miles in downtown w/all the spectators, 1 mile transition section betw downtown and Greenfeld park and 1.5 miles in park (my favorite section). The 2 steep short hills in downtown, plus the 2 short bridges are the only hills.
I was steady the first loop - definitely holding back the pace - running between 9:30 and 10:00. Stopping at aid stations for 20 seconds at most. First time I began to feel bad was around 10 mile mark. Started w/some coke and broth. Got to SN and this is probably the worse part of the run for everyone cause you basically run w/in 100 meters of the finish. There is only 1 narrow road leading into the T2 battleship park and it gets used for everything and is very congested. I spent about 3-4 minutes on side of rode near SN putting on new socks, changing bottles on my Fuel belt, adding more gels, putting on vest and basically getting motivated to move on. A nice volunteer did help me here. Next 2.5 miles kind've sucked getting back over to town, sun was setting very quickly. Saw folks in town and Dad ran w/me for .25 miles. Pace basically slowing down, but not walking any more than 20 - 30 seconds at aid stations. ran past mile 18 and didn't really think of it much. If I had 2 miles to go I knew I could pick it up but not with 8 to go. I felt like I would bonk if I pushed to hard - so I kept it slow and steady. High schools girls at turn around aid station in park were the best - alot of energy - true motivators. At times you are alone alot on this course and in the dark (w/it being post daylight savings time). Some would say it was too dark in park - couldn't see more than 5 feet in front of you in some places. I kind've liked it though. My pace was slowing and my walks were more frequent but never more than 1-2 minutes. Once back in town - you knew finishing was not a problem. Saw folks agains - mom ran w/me a little. Then they take water taxi over to T2 while I run the bridges one last time. Last 2.5 miles I stopped once for broth and just kept w/my slow jog. Walking actually hurt more than jogging (thats a first). Into T2 and down to finish (OMG - a few athletes are still turning around - another loop - glad it was not me). The finish was nowhere near as "grand" as IMLP or any WTC 70.3s I've done. Not a big deal. I did hear them announce my name. I could stop immediately at finish and turn and see my folks basically standing right at the finish line. I'm not a big fan of crowds especially after an ironman so this was good. RIght to food and to "warming tent" which was very nice cause you got cold in a hurry once you stopped moving - spent a good half hour in warming tent. They brought in stretchers or 2 guys while I was in there - just precautionary I believe.
Post Race THoughts: It felt somewhat anti-climatic. I think the nature of going slow and easy and never getting my heartrate up to high or intensity level up made it feel like I wasn't really racing this day - just slowly slogging thru the day and it all eventually catches up to you somewhere during the run. I thought it would be worse, that I'd be more sore, that I would have major nutrition issues, and that recovery would take forever (I did a 5k 6 days later - friend's race). So I think i basically paced myself correctly given the distances, the weather, the unknowns about my ability at this distance. Sure I could've pushed the bike harder, push harder earlier in the run - but I'm guessing I would've hit that proverbial wall and bonked and had a miserable 2nd loop of the run. I'm sure I could halve my stoppage time w/ease now that I've gone thru these steps. I'm guessing after a season of EN training, I'll have alot better idea of where and how much I can push my body - to get closer to the edge of my "physical/mental cliff".
B2B: If you only do WTC events, you may feel a let down doing this race in terms of its "grandeur". But if your okay w/ the smaller race scene its a keeper. Next year its on 10/29 so its 2 weeks earlier - so I'd assume weather a little warmer and it'll be pre-daylight savings time. The swim venue is always a love/hate thing - but I liked it. The run course is decent and bike course is good and on excellent roads. The small scale has its advantages (mass swim start is better, bike traffic is less, hotel stay is cheaper -no 5-day minimum, race cost, expo lines 
. They did a great job with the two transitions and getting gear bags where they need to be. Volunteers are not as "experienced" as at WTC events so set your expectations correctly - you the athlete do more for yourself. You may have periods where you bike and run by yourself. Its a big first-timer event (both half and full). Given the right weather conditions, its a fast course so definitely a PR course. The roads are not closed on bike or run so you have to stay alert - don't assume, especially near town.
The biggest issue that has plaqued this event is the logistics of T2 - the battleship park (b/t/w the battleship is definitely a worthy 3 hour tour - very cool). Its limited in size and road access. They needed more water taxis to keep the long lines moving especially with the Half going on the same day (my folks had to deal w/this). This will also force the RD to keep the size of the race down. During my run I saw athletes riding their bike back over bridges to town carry all their gear bags. That shouldn't happen. But in the end, I would do it again (half or the full).
Thanks to my sherpa's (mom/dad) and my friends at the Wilimington Y Dub Tri Club.
January OS - hear I come......
Comments
Dominic
Super day. Sounds like you finished beyond-belief strong! Congrats!