IMC Race Report - Ann Frost
Last Sunday's IMC was my 5th IM, my 2nd go at the IMC course, and my first IM since 2008 when I did IMC the first time, finishing 5th in W45-49 and getting a roll down to the Big Dance in October of 2008.
Three years later (and now at the end of the AG) I decided I would give it another go. I came over to EN in November this year for the OS plan very deliberately in an attempt to improve my bike - the weakest of the three sports for me. After the OS I then stayed on - great resources on line, saw improvements with the OS plan, and really liked the fewer hours than I was used to training (and so did my family!
On to the race. Starting out I had a sense that the stars were aligned for me. Checking in on Thursday, a parking spot magically appeared steps from the registration. Saturday, coming into town to check my bike and gear I found I had been given a primo rack spot - right on the path! And then, Saturday evening back at the house, I was getting the most AMAZING poker hands (we play every evening as a family) which I never do! Ha! I was not even that nervous. OK, I was a bit. . .
Sunday morning I headed over to the swim. In 2008 I lined up on the front and to the right and then proceeded to get the stuffing beat out of me for about 2500 m. I swam 1:03 and it was miserable. This year, I went to the left instead and again stood on the front line. Horn went off and seriously, after about 25 m, I had clear water. Which I then had most of the time. It was such a peaceful swim and so enjoyable. A couple of moments of brief contact throughout and that was it. Out of the water I came in the best frame of mind having thoroughly enjoyed the first leg of the race. 1:01:35 - Nice! PB swim by about a minute.
Off to the change tent where I had the whole thing to myself. Zipped in, put my helmet and shoes on, PitStop into my jersey pocket, and grabbed my gloves and ran out. No dawdling in the change tent: T1: 2:35.
Onto the bike and off down Main St. As I said earlier, the bike is my weakest sport. As a good swimmer, I get passed by hundreds (yes, like 4 or 5 hundred!) people on the bike. The ride down to the base of Richter is my least favourite part of the ride. It is boring (I have ridden it a LOT as I come out to Osoyoos every summer) and the passing is pretty depressing. At least this year we had a little tailwind! Uneventful down to the base of Richter. Then my favourite part: Richter and the rollers. As a light person, I climb pretty well so I don't get passed quite so much through this part of the course and being slightly OCD I know each roller by number and I enjoy counting them off! Ha! Just kept eating and drinking through this part. Saw my family at the top of the 8th roller, in the out and back, and then at the start of the Yellow Lake climb. Finished that climb and then got the headwind back into town. Darn! Rest of the ride was pretty uneventful. Total bike time: 6:02:51 – Nice! PB bike by about 16 minutes!
Into T2 to take off my bike singlet and helmet and put on my runners and socks. Got sunscreened up and hit the porta potty. Little mini rest there! Then out to start “running”. T2: 4:19.
Although this is my 5th IM, I am always stunned by the fact that at the end of the bike, I am going to have to run a marathon. Really?? So I play a game with myself – “Just get out to the turn around. You can for sure run for 2 hours.” I kept it very easy for the first bit. I kept my HR way down and just chugged along telling myself I would take it very easy out to OK Falls and then back through the hills until about 10 miles to go and then I’d see how I felt. I drank water, Coke, had a gel every 6 miles, and a salt pill about the same. Felt fine. The only thing that bothered me were my feet which would start to cramp if I lifted the pace at all. Saw Jenn Edwards at the start of the run and found Ben Kolpa too (by his 911 race number!). They were both doing great!
Saw my family again at around Mile 21 and my husband told me #5 in my AG was 2:30 ahead of me. That was my signal to see if I could lift the pace. So off I went to see if I could find her. Unfortunately, I got to within 1:06 of her, but that was not good enough. Total run time: 4:06:05 (and negative split due to the last minute chase!). Not quite a PB, but within about a minute of my time in 2008. I perhaps held back too much but I was afraid I might have overcooked the bike since I was soooo much faster and also had looked at the TIRP calculator the night before and knew I was not running THAT slow! I now know that I really am not affected by the heat and should just run the way I run.
Overall, I had a great race. And very happy with how I raced it.
Do I wish I had caught #5? Well, yes of course as she got the Kona slot and I didn’t. But I heard from friends here that IM Canada was her third attempt this year to get her spot (she was frustratingly close at Arizona and Texas before this) and am truly happy for her that she gets to go!
And, as we all know, we can only control our own race, not other people’s performance.
Total time: 11:17:23 (17 minute PB over 2008)
6/113 in W45-49
380th overall
45th Woman overall
Already signed up for next year when I will be 50. Who knew turning 50 could be so eagerly anticipated? 
Comments
I have learned this year that being small is a hill advantage...one of the few advantages
Did your age group have 5 slots or did it roll down that far? You have a fast time for getting 6th. Some great women racers up there!
I aged up this year and am wondering if it is a good thing or bad thing...
Aging up is always a good thing! Especially if you think of the alternative. . .:-)
---Ann.
Great job Ann! You looked so calm and smooth every time I saw you - always totally under control and composed!!!! You're a pro! And nice helmet, eh?
Regarding the swim line up: can you elaborate on "left"? I had a great swim in 2010 and lined up at the front maybe 3/4 to the left. This year I thought I was in the same place but maybe in retrospect I was only 2/3 down the line and also at the front. HUGE difference. Open water last year compared to elbows (to the face) feet, general mayhem and never did get to really "swim" this year. I'm thinking about lining up ALL THE WAY left next year. Thoughts?
Congratulations on the race and on turning 50! Did your hubby give up his IM next year for you or is he doing one too??? What a way to celebrate!!!
@Jenn, I was probably 7/8 of the way to the left - WAY over. In 2008 I was probably 1/8 of the way over and that was a DISASTER! Loved the helmet. It is Tony's and he insisted I wear it. Every couple of minutes counts, right? :-) It was a family decision who would race next year and since next year is my 50th, I got the green light. Tony turns 50 in another month so this is his year. He's doing LC Worlds in Vegas in November as his big event. We'll be in Hawaii watching the race on his actual birthday (since neither one of us got spots this year. Boo.) But it will be fun to cheer on folks!
@Tim, you're not kidding. The woman who won 50-54 this year was about 30 minutes ahead of me in 45-49. She would have probably won 40-44 too. Ouch!