IMWI Race Report- Jen Jardeleza
Race Report- Jen Jardeleza
Race- Ironman Wisconsin
One year ago, I decided with the husband’s approval to sign up for Ironman Wisconsin...after he told me that I was nuts for wanting to do a race like this. He said why would anyone want to do a marathon after that swim and bike? I had truly wanted to do a flat course, but he insisted that since we have family in the area, it would be easier. I got sign up for the race on Monday before the computer site crashed. Tim decided to sign up as well and got in on Wednesday. What can I say but people think that we are crazy.
Training- Tim started the offseason back in November with Endurance Nation. I looked at the workouts and did maybe 60 percent of the workouts. It focuses on speed work and no pool time. I thought to myself, what do you mean, no swimming in the winter? I did manage to swim though, sorry RnP. I wasn’t nearly as dedicated as Tim who was kicking ass and dropping weight. I started with the half Ironman training and had a huge PR at Eagleman, PRs at every race except Racine half ironman (with my 2 flats). I can say that I made most of the workouts except when life got in the way. It was definitely hard to get the long bike rides in with our two little guys. All of the guidance from EN really allowed me to have the PRs and to finish this race. Also all of the support and love from my husband, family and friends made this possible.
Tues night-We headed into Chicago at 11pm. Arrived Wed morning. Wed- stopped by see family throughout the day.
Thurs- Hit dim sum with my mom and kids…Jackson loves the snails. We left in the afternoon and headed to Madison. Checked into the hotel around 5 and lounged. Went to dinner at Old Fashioned…and discovered cheese curds. Fried cheese curds are truly amazing.
Friday-We went for a swim at the venue with the EN crew. I felt like a slug, Tim was swimming faster than me…uh oh. Went to breakfast at Marigold…yummy. Went for a short bike ride to make sure the bike was in order. Went to packet pick up. It’s amazing to take a step back and soak it all in. The volunteers are amazing. There was a line at 925. We waited in line as they check you all in…and you get weighed in…and yes I took off my jacket and shoes...if you end up in the medical tent they compare your numbers. I signed my waivers, got my bib, and the pictures. I had ART work on my calf. We had dinner with the EN crew…truly a great bunch of people!
Saturday-We went for a quick jog and met Chip and Heather- our MMTC crew and chatted with them. I changed my inter tubes and we headed to bring our bikes and gear bags to check in. There is so much prepping for this day! We had lunch with our friend AJ and Tim went back to the hotel while I went to get some more ART on my calf. I met my college sorority sis and her husband who volunteered- Tony will be doing Ironman Wisconsin next year. I did not feel like eating dinner…so full from lunch. I went to bed early.
Sunday- Race day
2 am- woke up and drank smoothie
425- Woke up with a bowl of Wheaties cleared the GI tract without a coffee =(.
515-Walked down to transition with AJ, Heather and Tim. Body marked and pumped my tires. Stood in line for the bathroom...and down the helix Heather and I went. She started getting misty and so did I. It’s hard not to have an overflow of emotion on such a big day!
645-Into the water aka battlefield we went.
Swim- 1:12.20 pace 1:54/100m
Wow and I thought water polo was rough. I honestly felt like people where trying to drown me for the first 20 min. I was groped by strangers, kicked, punched…good lord. Swam inside the buoys and settled into an easy pace. No kicking. First lap 34 min. Came out of the swim and those wet suit strippers yanked my suit off. Ran up the helix. The changing room was interesting. Very attentive volunteers and women just stripping…came out of used the port a john, and headed to the bike.
Bike- 8:48
This will be long. So you start the bike by going down a parking garage helix. I had a flat going down the 2nd floor…and came out of the helix and nearly crashed into the metal gate…shit. There was nowhere for me to stop to change my tire so, I had a tire change at mile 1. I am not a competent tire changer…painful. Mechanics checked my tire and pumped it up so I wouldn’t have to use my c02. I planned on just riding along for the first 40, maintaining my zone 2 watts. I asked the special need people if I could grab another inter tube and they said no. Please no more flats.... Mile 23ish oh flat front tire again. Really? I have never had a flat…except in Wisconsin. So I stop and a family had their music pumping and my tire is not holding air. The valve extender is leaking. Crap on me. Waited more than 40 min for another inter tube. The first car did not have a 650 tube…so I waited and waited. Lesson for Placid- bring 3 or 4 tubes. It was quite windy and I was no longer looking at a 730 bike but a long day and possibly missing the cut off. I saw my boys on the end of the first loop and started to cry. Melissa and Ben were screaming and it helped me up the hill. Stopped at special needs and grabbed the rest of my tubes on the 2nd loop and stopped at a few stations to refill water and use the port a johns...I was not going to pee myself. Last section- I picked up my speed and the tire was again making a horrible screeching sound like a fire siren...but no flat.
T2- Long. Got some water and had some ART on my toe and calf. Well worth a longer transition time.
Run 5:14.17 11:59 mile
Well there was no way that a bad bike experience would stop me from a having a good run... J I followed my plan of the heat pace calculations and added the appropriate time for the first 6 miles…looked at the Garmin and was going too fast. Slowed down and listened to the EN guidelines. The first 6 felt easy and the legs were feeling strong. Started to try and pick up the pace and between the coke and attempted gels…very nauseated. Slowed back down and held the pace back to the second loop. I walked my 30 steps at the stations and just kept smiling. Bought a headlamp at Wal-Mart, Tim is always thinking! The 2nd loop and I was going strong. Stayed away from coke for the first few miles and started counting road kill. Saw Michelle cheering and she really lifted me up! Kept my pace and was feeling good. Saw Becky and Brian on the course and managed to chat with them and they told me to go. I didn’t make any friends. I picked off 200 people on the 2nd loop…the counting made my mind focus at the task at hand. Came around the Capitol and brought it home!
Time 15:42
I envisioned Tim catching me at the finish line…and he wasn’t there. I was worried and walked to get my phone. I was standing by the ladies at the lost and found and they asked- are you Jen? I was thinking to myself…what’s wrong with Tim. They said Tim was in the medical tent. I went to the medical tent and they told me that he was at the hospital. I was thinking how am I going to get to him…I wasn’t feeling that great. We had to bring our bikes and gear out by 12. Amy- A wonderful ironman volunteer angel somehow convinced the officials to let me take my husbands bike and gear and she brought the bike and walked with me back to our hotel. My phone was dead so I had to wait to find out about Tim. I charged it enough to turn it on, and called my brother. My brother told me he was in route with Tim discharged from the hospital. I saw Tim come in with paper scrubs- the ones they give to psych patients and gave him a hug. I don’t think I have ever seen Tim like this. He was hypothermic, hypotensive, vomiting in the medical tent…missed his IVs (the man has pipes that you could put 14gs in) EKG changes…I am grateful that my mother-in-law was still in the area and my brother could be with Tim at the hospital. I stayed up and watched Tim for the next few hours to make sure he was ok. Woke up sore but able to walk.
It was truly an amazing experience to do this race together, but the next time only one of us will race at a time, just in case this happens again. I can’t thank everyone enough for the support you gave us over the past year. And yes this was easier than my worst ER shift…people cheer for you, encourage you, they feed you, you can go to the bathroom J
Down time with tire issues- 1 hour 10 min.... 
Comments
Serious question: Where did you start the swim? We have very similar swim times but I did not feel very roughed up...no worse than a 70.3 race for sure, and a lot less than my previous IM experience. Maybe we can suss that out for benefit of other people.
Great race. Inspiring level of determination and perseverance. Nice to meet up with you and Tim again!
Venkatesh
Jen, I felt so bad when I saw you at the Bike Special Needs and heard your flat experiences. Bugs me that they won't let you deal with an emergency at special needs but it would be chaos for the volunteers and trying to keep the bags straight but for crying out loud the pros have professional help. Great job seeing it through and sorry to hear about your husband!!! Great job!!!
I totally feel your pain about a flat to start the ride. I had the same problem with my extender seal being crappy last year and I flatted the second I got on the bike in FL - was chaging my tire on the side of the starting chute . I am so sorry to hear that wasn't enough to pay your dues and you kept having problems. Grr. But way to persevere! (FWIW, I had 3 650 tubes on me and 1 more in BSN bag to be safe - all with 80mm stems bc I didn't want to deal with the extender not working).
Becoming an IM with all that to deal with should make you feel even more proud of what you accomplished! You looked great when I saw you at mile 23. You were actually the inspiration I needed to start jogging again. Shortly after you went by me I gave it another try.
Congrats again, welcome to the club!
I hope we can train together in the off season and for our IMs next year!
Mary
I was to the left of the boat ramp maybe 4 rows back?