First, I must start out this race report by stating that I'm thoroughly blessed to have made it to the start of another Ironman race. This time BOTH Ross and I trained for the same race --- as I've mentioned before this alone was an accomplishment. In my training this year, I tried to focus on more biking and more bricks (biking to running). I also tried to add a little bit more running distances to my training - last summer I was battling a heal spur so I took every opportunity to stay off my foot.
The race started out great! I had a great swim and a personal best on the bike. I didn't have the mental walls that I encountered in Louisville around mile 100 this time. I felt great through the half-marathon point on the run ---- AND THAT IS WHERE THE WHEELS FELL OFF! My heart rate was really high, I had chills, and my pulse was high. I battled this for the next 13 miles - ugh! Only to end up with a marathon time ONE minute less than my biking time! UGH!!!!!!!!!!! But here are some highlights of the race and course:
Hands down = SCENERY!! Let me tell you, the scenery in Colorado is AMAZING! I found myself during the swim, gazing at the mountains in the background of the Boulder Reservoir - this was in between trying to fix my leaking goggles (GRRR!) and trying to take my mind off the fact that my wetsuit collar was rubbing my neck RAW ---- AGAIN! This has happened in other races to me and it's painful! My swim time ended up being only 3 minutes slower than Louisville so I was pretty happy with that.
The biking scenery was also amazing - so amazing that I think I spent most of my time out of the aero bars of my tri bike (the race photos prove it! --- oops!). Well, at least my neck wasn't sore :) There was one part that took me back to my training route among the Amish cornfields --- even smelled the same. I totally wasn't expecting the last 8 miles or so to be a series of HUGE hills - they were rough, but at least I wasn't thinking about how much time I'd already spent on the bike --- I had to focus on navigating the hills. Ross helped me with changing between my upper and lower ring on my bike and I ended up doing this successfully in the race (I have a fear of changing rings in my bike because 1 time I had my chain come off - because I didn't change the gears correctly - and due to my toe clips, I fell off my bike... this is what I fear will happen to me again)
On the run, I got to see Ross - the first 2 times we both gave each other 2 energetic thumbs up that we were doing great each time! Then the 3rd time Ross saw me - I was sitting on the ground or maybe laying on the ground.... my heart rate was high. I tried to keep going - with a 0.5 mile run and 0.5 mile walk combo --- trying my best to catch up to him on the run (I was only about 3 -4 miles behind him). I did this as long as my heart rate stayed down (it really seemed to go up when I reached the 0.5 mile mark). Then I look up to find Ross waiting for me under a bridge--- he was struggling a bit at this point so he decided to wait for me and we ended up walking the last 8 miles (maybe more) together --- pulling each other along --- although I think he pulled me more. But it was nice, hand in hand we finished the race together --- one day before our 13th wedding anniversary.
I got to see Dimity McDowell from Another Mother Runner (anothermotherrunner.com) in the bike to run transition tent. I was SO excited!!!! I saw here and immediately yelled "Dimity!!!!" I listen to her podcast all the time and I knew she was going to be volunteering at the event - she lives in Denver. She did an Ironman last summer and is TRULY my inspiration!!!!! She helped me get my things together for the run portion and got me on my way for the run! I was so happy to see her - she is amazing. She helped me put my fuel belt bottles in my belt and I realized later that day that I've been putting them in backwards for many years now! :)
Ross and I got to enjoy one day in Denver before driving to Boulder and then we enjoyed some state parks after the Ironman event in and around Boulder before heading home. We shopped at Whole Foods nearly every day! :) My parents kept the kids for a week at their cabin and we are truly thankful for their help so we could fly out to Boulder!
And now for the part of my lessons learned from Boulder.
1. I learned that I CAN improve my biking --- for now mostly by spending MORE time on the bike (not so easy with 4 kids --- but I tried my best, at times it meant waking up @ 3:30am to get in a long ride on Mother's Day before the kids woke up .... but finding a flower and special note on my bike made me smile). I even improved my bike aid station stops (in Louisville, I stopped my bike and clipped out to get water) - I mastered catching water bottles on the fly this time!
2. I learned that the Ironman Marathon is a BEAST!!!! I've done 20+ marathons and can't seem to conquer this one - BUT, I WILL! 26.2 miles in tough alone but after swimming 2.4 miles and biking 112 miles ---- it seems impossible to me at this point.
3. I improved my transition time (T1 and T2) by more than 5+ minutes each!
4. My nutrition (eating "real" food - such as PB sandwiches, granola bars, electrolyte drink) is NOT enough to get me through the race --- probably another reason why I'm falling apart in the marathon. I'm trying to change this (part of the reason my blog seems to be abandoned) - I've been working with a triathlon coach for the last 5 weeks - he's been working on my racing nutrition and giving me some challenging workouts - but it's a GOOD change and I love the challenge and I really like working with him. He "watches" my Garmin data (which means no sneaking in extra runs - haha!) and sends me detailed workouts and nutrition plans. I'm going to tackle IM Wisconsin next SUNDAY - yikes!!!! ANOTHER IRONMAN!!! And I'm excited to see what I can do in Madison.
5. I learned that I can mentally break down the 112 mile bike into smaller segments and get through. I had some mantras going in my head and even used some of them on the run - it really helped me get to the half-marathon point on the run this time where I truly believe a combination of my failed nutrition plan (not enough calories and electrolytes) AND altitude got the best of me and my heart rate. But I'm definitely NOT giving up and I learned so much about myself this racing season! I am truly thankful for the support from my husband and family.
And now for some pictures from our Colorado adventure in no particular order:
We went to a forum @ the Training Peaks headquarters and listened to Apolo, Craig Alexander, and Mirinda spoke.
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