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IMAZ RR - Eckert

Jennifer EckertJennifer Eckert
in Races & Places 🏁⛺

Let me just start by saying this training works:  This was my 4th IM and my fastest yet...and I'm 5 years older!

We (my husband Mike and I) arrived in the Phoenix area on the 11th so I had plenty of time to settle in and get used to the drier weather.  We were staying with friends in Glendale which is about a 40-45 minute drive from Tempe.  I had decided about 3 weeks out that it would be best to stay closer to the venue the night before the race.  We were able to find a suit with a kitchenette to suit our breakfast needs and it was only 5 minute drive from transition.

Because we were in Glendale, we made the decision to limit our trips into Tempe.  I was glad we made it to the team dinner to meet some of you and put faces to names.  We stayed close to home on Friday and opted for a swim in Lake Pleasant which was very "pleasant".  A local fisherman told us the temp was 61 degress and knowing that Tempe Town Lake was about the same I was happy because it was a comfortable swim.  I did a 25 minute swim and a short 30 minute run with some strides and felt good.  I went home and assembled the dreaded bags!  I had my trusty Team EN lists which were great!  I decided to do some carbo loading and had pasta with turkey meat sauce and salad, then laid around and hydrated the remainder of the evening. 

Saturday we drove to Tempe and dropped off our bags and bike, making sure the gearing on my bike was set the way I wanted it.  I walked the transition area to get a better feel for entry and exit points. I wasn't able to make the Four Keys talk and was disappointed, but I did see Rich in the expo and he provided some good advice.  I went to lunch and had flatbread with chicken and salad and a large bowl of fruit and water with lemons.  My husband then says we need to go to the airport???  I thought he was pulling my leg, but in fact my daughter (and one of my biggest supporters, besides my husband) was flying in to surprise and support me on race day.  I was extremely happy to see her. She has a way of chilling me out.  That evening I had a light dinner of soup and some salad and more water, headed back to the hotel for a movie and then hit the sack at 9:30.

Race Day:

Up at 4:15 AM, breakfast of steel cut oats with honey and 1/2 banana.  Got to transition, pumped up tires, filled aero bottle with my NUUN and then hit the line for the porta potty.  I went to locate my friend Nick and we chatted, ate gel, drank some water.  I got into my wetsuit and made my way to the archway which was backed up with 20 minutes to start.  We heard the gun go off for the pros and no one was even moving.  They announce we have 2 minutes to get in the water.  I make it through the archway, then over the boat rental railing, then over the wall and jump in and my right heel hits the cement lip under water.  I proceed to swim towards the start and positioned myself a little left of center about 1/3 of the way back (I was hoping to get closer to the front but it wasn't happening).  No sooner did I get there, the gun went off.  I felt pretty calm, but there was the typical pushing, shoving, being swum upon.  I counted my strokes and chilled and finally found some free water.  You could hear people cheering.  The water, although murkey wasn't as bad as I thought it would be, but it did keep you from getting into a good steady pace because you tended to swim into people you couldn't see.  I became more aware of the feel of the water in front of me which helped.  I sited a lot more than usual.  My RR times were 1:17/1:18 so I was shooting for 1:20 or better. 

Swim time - 1:19:33; 3rd in AG 55-59

T1;  The wet suit strippers were packed.  I had my suit off down to my waist when I got to them and no one was available, so I sat down and pulled off my own suit, then made my way to changing tent....was that a long way or what??  I had to put on my HR watch and realized I had my Garmin as well (should have been in other bag) so I put them both on.  I hit the bathroom on way out.  This was the longest transition I've ever had...10:58.

Bike:

I headed out on loop 1 knowing I needed to keep in check and JRA for 1st hour,keeping HR in Z1.  I felt good, not cold.  Legs were a little stiff but loosened up.  I was mindful of folks around me, way to easy to draft out there.  At around mile 17, one of the riders coming towards us clipped a wheel and went down...HARD!  I could hear the scraping and shattering of a bike and the double hit of the helmet to the pavement.  I was lucky not to get hit as he was off to my left at about 10 o'clock and slid into our lane.  

Once I hit the turnaround we had a tailwind and were sailing down the road, hitting 26-28 MPH.  It was a blast.  Loop 2 was similar going out but at the turnaround the wind had shifted and we now had a pretty stiff headwind.  I was wondering if I'd made the right decision to use my aero wheels, but I was able to stay aero and handling it okay so I was happy.  I decided to stop and pee ( I can't do this on the bike either!) and get my 2nd bottle from special needs and eat a gel and stretch while I waited for the one person in front of me.  It felt better on the bike after the little stretch.  Loop 3 was similar but the head wind wasn't as bad until you go closer to town.  I had to stop and pee one more time on that last loop.  In hindsight I felt I could have gone a bit faster on the bike, but I kept reminding myself that the race didn't start till mile 18 on the run and held back.  Goal was 6:20

Bike Time: 6:31:31; 2nd in AG 55-59

T2: 4:57..all I had to do was change our HR strap with Garmin strap, put on shoes and hat ... and pee... what took so long?

Run:

Headed out for the run and the Garmin wasn't connecting with satellite.  Once it hit I was running a 11:06.  I saw John Stark standing off to the side and patted him as I went out (I don't have Team EN top, just hat so he probably wondered who the hell I was).  I knew I needed to slow up and really worked hard on this.  I saw 11:26, then into the 11:30's and tried to maintain that easier pace.  I had a serious conversation with myself at this point becase I was wondering how I was going to do this.  I had to trust in my training, I was strong, I'd done this before, I could do it again.  I just kept putting one foot in front of the other.  I started having some lower abdominal cramping but was able to run through it.  It would come and go throughout the evening. I had my own bottle of IM perform and was glad I brought it.  I would fill it with ice as I drank it down.  On the 2nd loop I grabbed a power gel with caffiene.  I knew this would help with some of the discomfort as I don't eat caffiene.  It did have an effect to the positive.  I saw Rich on Mill Street and waved..again, I don't think he recognized me due to lack of TEAM EN clothing.  He told me to just keep the pace, nice and steady.  On the 2nd loop heading to Rural Road, my knee gave out a bit.  I was on the uneven ground near the levy..did anyone else hate that?  I checked it, eased up and stayed mindful of it, but it too passed. Now my baby toes were starting to be uncomfortable, I knew blisters were forming.  I had an extra pair of socks with me but didn't want to take the time to use them.  If Chrissy Wellington can finish with bloody feet, I can suffer through a couple of blisters!  I was able to run Papago hill on every loop, albiet slow, but this motivated me.  I would walk aid stations and take in 2 waters and at times some coke and start running again.  I was feeling better on the 3rd loop and took 2 more gels, more coke/water.  Heading up Papago Hill the last time I had to PEE!  I had seen a sign early that said "just pee" or "It's okay, just go" and I tried, but I knew if I let it loose, my shoes would be a lake! I hit the porta potty for the final time and headed home. I saw my friend Nick who was having a tough time and he gave me tons of encouragement to keep moving.  I was able to p/u the pace in the last couple of miles and when I saw my husband before the turn into the finisher's shoot, he hollared that I was in 5th place! I was so elated I didn't even look at the finishing clock for my time and the volunteer told me what it was.  My goal for the run was 5:20.

Run Time: 5:26:37; 5th in AG 55-59 (never saw the 3 women who passed me!!!)

Overall Time:  13:33; Personal Best by 27 minutes

I had a great day that was somewhat an out-of-body experience at times.  I'm so grateful for the support of my family and friends and the on course support of my best friend and husband Mike and my beautiful daughter Sarah.  I didn't know how I would do on race day because on Thursday evening prior to the race, my Mom who was 91 and had  battled dementia for many years passed away.  I talked to her quite a bit that day and I think she was there pushing me along!  You're right Rich..it puts it in perspective.

 

 

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