IM Washington 70.3 Race Recap

7 Hours 13 Minutes 17 Seconds

 
That time is AMAZING!! I really thought I would finish somewhere between 7:30 and 8 hours so YEAH I am happy with this time!

But, here's the thing...
I didn't even realize until yesterday afternoon (Thursday - 4 days after the race) what my time was. I have been so disappointed with my run and that's the feeling I have had this past week - disappointment with tears.

The swim and bike went great!! Both those times were "Dream Times" for me, and even though I was/am happy with those times, the run was soooo hard I just came away from this race with a lot of sadness and disappointment.

BUT (that's the last but)...
The race is finally sinking in - and yesterday afternoon when I realized my overall time was 7:13:17 - I was starting to feel happiness!!! My mind started to do a shift and I am now feeling much better about the race day.

So let's get started with the recap.

Pre Race

I didn't sleep hardly at all the night before the race so I was already awake when the alarm went off at 4:00 AM. I drank some water with electrolytes, ate my breakfast (eggs and rice), got dressed and then Pat and I were out the door by 4:30.

We got to the transition and I started setting up my transition area. This involves putting the drink bottles on the bike, putting the food in my bike bag, setting up the bike shoes and socks, sunglasses, bike gloves, and helmet along with the extra food I carry in my jersey pocket (it all doesn't fit in the bag). And then the run portion includes the race number belt (race # is attached), the visor, dry socks and running shoes. A few extras for this race included a bottle of water so I could wash the sand off my feet after coming out of the swim, sunscreen and a peanut butter and jelly sandwich to eat during the T1 or T2 if I was feeling hungry (I just took one bite during T2).

After I got set up Pat and I walked to the swim start. It was a little over a mile and we got there around 5:50 AM. I sat down for a few minutes and then around 6:00 AM I put on my wetsuit (which in case you are wondering usually takes me 10-15 minutes - I am extremely picky about how it goes on so it takes me a little while to get it situated just right).

The announcer told people to start lining up in their designated areas. So I hugged Pat, Jen and my Mom, thanked them for coming and then found my place in line.
 

Ready to go

 

Jen and Mom during my swim

Swim 1.2 Miles - 30 Minutes 

30 MINUTES!!! WOW WOW WOW WOW!!!!!
That is my fastest swim ever! It wasn't all me - the river current definitely played a big part in this swim time. But, I was so happy with this time - never imagined this would even be possible. I went into this swim thinking I would do it in 50 minutes but maybe I could get it done in 40-45 minutes so when I got out of the water and saw 30 minutes I was shocked - biggest smile I have ever had finishing a swim.

This course started 1.2 miles from the swim exit and followed the shoreline. Toward the end of the course, there is a long island that we swim on the outside of (not inside - inside is a marina, outside is the river), and at the end of the island turn right into the marina/inlet to finish out the final part of the swim.

Funny story...
I didn't know where I was on this course. When I lifted my head to sight the sun was right in my eyes and I couldn't see anything except the person right in front of me. I heard a man's voice saying "hard right, hard right, hard right"... I lifted my head, looked around and noticed I was at the end of the island. I actually stopped swimming for a minute and asked the man (he was one of the safety guards in a kayak) - "Am I at the end already?" (I didn't know my time but I knew I hadn't been swimming very long)... He said, "YES, do me a HUGE favor Little Lady and take that hard right!"  it wasn't derogatory - and it made me laugh inwardly.  The safety crew were working very hard to keep swimmers from going past the turn in because if we went too far, we would have to swim back up current in order to finish. So I made the turn and headed for the swim exit!  
I saw Pat on my run out and yelled "30 Minutes I can't believe it!" I was so happy!!

And I'm off - furthest pink cap

Big Smile

 

T1 - 9 Minutes 58 Seconds

It was a long run/walk from the swim exit to my bike in transition. I knew it would take me a few minutes to get there.

Transition was uneventful other than it was only 53 degrees at 7:30ish AM and I was cold and starting to shiver (brrrrr). I got to my bike, put on sunscreen, sunglasses, gloves, helmet, socks and shoes, and then ran my bike out of transition. 

Bike 56 Miles - 3 Hours 25 Minutes 15 Seconds 

WOW WOW WOW WOW!!!!!

Again a dream time for me! I never imagined I would finish that course in less than 3 1/2 hours. I really expected my time to be around 3:40-3:45.

So again - completely stoked about this bike time!

As I mentioned in earlier blogs that this would be a hilly course and I did a lot of work over the summer riding hills and doing hill repeats.  The training really paid off! 3:25:15!!! AMAZING!

At the start of the bike, I was really cold. I just had on my tri kit, I was still wet from the swim and now I was riding a bike with cool air blowing on me. I was really worried for a few minutes because I was not getting warm and really shivering. I kept telling myself I would be fine - I knew there was a long hill coming up and if I could just get to it, I would warm up!  When I started climbing the hill, I did warm up, stopped shivering and never thought about being cold again. 😀

Also at the start of the bike my left quad and hip flexor tightened up. I noticed it almost immediately and the whole ride my leg felt like it was in a light cramp. But it wasn't really impacting my pedal stroke so I just told myself to keep going and deal with it later.... the "later" becomes significant during the run. 😔

The bike course was a lot of fun. Lots of hills, lots of spectators, and I just felt really good this whole time. It actually felt easy!

I had been watching my time the whole way. I really felt like I would finish right around 3:30-3:40. At about mile 50 I was just under 3 hours with 6 miles left to go and I realized I was going to make the 3:30 mark. It motivated me to pedal faster and faster and faster! It was such a FUN finish to the bike. When I got done I forgot to look at my time so I didn't know exactly how I did but I knew it was under 3 1/2 hours.  YAY!!! Later that night I asked Pat what my bike time was and when he told me 3:25 - HUGE SMILE!!!! AGAIN WOW!

T2 - 9 Minutes 49 Seconds

I got off the bike and my left leg felt terrible. I walked my bike back to my transition spot, took off my bike gear and then put on my running gear. I also took the time to use the bathroom - I was sure I needed it but when I got in there nothing happened. I spent too much time doing this but I really didn't want to stop during the run so I just sat there ... hence the really slow transition time (maybe that's TMI? )  😉

RUN 13.1 Miles - 2 Hours 58 Minutes 14 Seconds

SIGH!!!!! So disappointing!

I really hoped I would finish this run in 2:35-2:45.

I walked for the first few minutes as I left transition. My left leg did not want to move. It wasn't cramping but the quad and hip flexor were so tight I just couldn't make it swing. I stopped at one point and stretched but it didn't help. So I kept walking (kind of gimping). One spectator said to me, "just keep moving they'll loosen up". I nodded at him and said "Ok". I don't know who he was or his qualifications to tell me anything but at that moment I chose to believe him - I needed it!

After a couple minutes I started to run and then tried to follow a 5' run/ 1' walk plan - I think I followed this plan for the first 1.5 miles but, then things started going downhill. My leg got tighter and my feet started cramping. I made it to the turnaround (it was an out and back course), and was happy to be on the way back. I told myself it would get easier because I was almost done. I tried running 2'/ walking 2'... did this a few times but couldn't keep it going. I dropped to 1' run/ 1' walk but couldn't keep this going either. I finally just walked. It was a brisk, powerful walk but I couldn't run. With 3 miles left I was really mad at myself... kept saying "people are waiting for you, get going"...just kept repeating that. It did not help other than to make me feel even worse. I had no doubt I would finish but I was mad and disappointed.  I worked so hard and this run is not how I wanted this day to end. SIGH!

Toward the end of this course there is a big hotel with balconies right on the path we were running - the balconies were filled with spectators. I had about 400 yards left (down a short hill, around a corner and then uphill finish - not nice...). There was a woman standing on the path in street clothes who saw me coming. She came right up beside me and said "Let's finish this out with a run, start running now". I shook my head "no", and then mumbled "maybe up here in a bit".... She didn't accept that... "NO YOU START RUNNING NOW, COME ON, YOU CAN DO IT. WE'LL DO IT TOGETHER". She was yelling this right beside me. Surprisingly I was not annoyed (I think I just didn't care anymore at that point) but she was SO INSISTENT that I actually started running.  And I got the biggest cheer I have ever heard from all the spectators who saw and heard all this happen.  I may have smiled a little bit. I kept running and then another guy saw me and said "It's just another 200 yards, keep running - you can do it." 

I really didn't want to run and I felt awful - I know I looked terrible but I did run through the finish line.

Those 3 people made a huge difference for me that day. The guy at the start of the run, the insistent woman and the last man.  I will always remember them!

As I ran through the finish chute I saw Pat and my Mom on one side, then a little further up on the other side I saw Jenny. I think I smiled at all of them but I'm not sure.

I FINISHED!

Finished!

Finished

My true 💖 (tag hanging out for the whole race?)

Post Race

I did not know my run time or my overall time. At that point I didn't even care. I was so disappointed in how that run went, that's all I was thinking about.

When I came out of the finish chute Jen got to me first (Mom and Pat had a longer walk around to get to me). I saw her and started crying but I'm not sure she knew that (sunglasses). I stopped myself and then I started hyperventilating. Jen was very concerned - "What's wrong". I couldn't answer because I was hyperventilating so I covered my mouth with my hands and took some more breaths and recovered enough to tell her what was happening. Pat showed up and I think Jen said something like "Oh good Pat's here" 😃

I stood there for another minute and then started cramping up so we started walking around... I said as long as we are walking, let's walk into transition and get my stuff. And that's how my race ended. We didn't even get a post race picture. I don't think anybody even thought about it at that point - I was just DONE (mentally and physically)!

Final Thoughts

I spent the last few days feeling dejected, disappointed and whenever I thought about the race tears welled in my eyes. That run was so hard and took so much out of me that even though I had a great swim and bike I couldn't even think about that... my mind was totally focused on the run.

But, now, I am feeling better. Writing about the swim and bike have helped me realize how awesome I actually did on those 2 parts of the race and the times are AMAZING - I am so proud of those times. I am also starting to embrace the run. Even though I had a terrible run day, I got through it. Sometimes getting through the mental side of this sport is tougher than the actual physical side of things. I am thankful for the woman who made me run at the end! I got to run through the finish chute and without her, I don't think I would have been able to make myself run - so yes I appreciate her and the effort she put in to make me run! 😀

AND

7:13:17
 

Amazing Time for 70.3 miles!