IRONMAN FLORIDA 2012 Race Report

 

My second IM experience parallels my masochistic path toward  consumer-driven, self-actualization in three sports that I have publicly declared hatred for at several times in my life. After Lake Placid (http://192.185.164.20/1430/endurance-sports-nutrition/ironman-lake-placid-2011-race-report/), I was hooked, or should I say sucked in by the M-dot bragging rights – I conquered a couple of fears in Lake Placid, but more fears manifested with the 2.4 mile ocean swim (especially after Gulf Coast tri  (http://192.185.164.20/1814/about-ilana/swim-in-a-tumbler-bike-in-a-hurricane-run-in-hell-a-love-story/) A HUGE hurdle to overcome – I had a paralyzing fear of  Sharks… snakes… minnows… drowning… Then I too have tri bike issues… oh yes, I still have training wheels on poor Dori (my tri bike) !! After a concussion resulting crash last year, I fear Dori more than sharks, minnows and drowning. These setbacks can be each mutually prohibitive in my quest for athletic supremacy.

Ultimately, however, there is one way I have found to push myself into anything (headfirst typically) – pay for it. I stood in line a year prior to the event. It was cold.  I had driven 6 hours especially for this moment. I was not about to turn away. BUT I also had four hours to embrace my craziness while waiting for the sign-in doors to open. My demons and angels were arguing, something to the effect of “there is no guarantee that you’ll have this time to train in the future – you might as well go for it.” I guess I’m easily manipulated by demons… and so I did.

This Ironman, for me, was a race of unlikely encouragement – both preceding, during, and to this point, after as well. Let me give you an example.  I pulled out my Lake Placid training schedule to tweak it for Florida.  I was already fairly well conditioned,  since just prior to this decision, I had done Amelia Island 70.3, and that was only 2 months after IMLP (http://192.185.164.20/1574/about-ilana/you-are-as-good-as-your-last-race/). An example of a week brought back some viscious memories. Oh well, the money is in the bank (Ironman’s bank, that is)… so this means “just do it” !!

TUE               Easy swim (just go with the master’s swim plan)

WED              5:30 AM, 20 mile run

THU               5:30 AM, Masters Swim,      7:45 AM, double spin class

FRI                 5:30 AM,  Masters swim

SAT                8:00 AM, Masters swim followed by a 10-14 mile run

SUN               8:00 AM 60 mile ride (cartersville)

I looked at the schedule from my laptop and my jaw dropped, eyeballs bulged, and tongue rolled to the floor ala Jim Carrey in The Mask – thinking to myself  “no freaking way I have done this before.”  I guess I owe a huge debt of gratitude to my then training buddy Faye who can attest we did do this, because we did it together. And of course to my Florida training buddies who also showed me similar selflessness and discipline as I prepared for this event.

Swim

I made conversation with some other wetsuit clad Ironman crazies on the beach, more nervous than I, as I visualized jumping into the Gulf of Mexico and navigating the live and dead bodies all around me.  I just had no idea what it would look like in practice. Standing in line at an IM start is far more than just another early morning. It’s such a landmark that I am still soaking in the magnitude of the emotions I felt next as I entered the water.

I was able to moderate my heart rate and conserve valuable energy I would need later in the race. In the rush of sighting in open water, passing people, and feeling so incredibly alive in this electric environment, I awoke from my daze at the end of loop one. I know I’m not a fast swimmer – I’d never swum a lap with intention of winning any swim medals (although, ha ha, I did in my 5k swim in June (but there was only one other person in my age group)  (http://192.185.164.20/1883/about-ilana/5k-swim-race-report-whats-the-point/). I was positive however, and was on pace for a PR in the swim. My goal entering the race had been a 2-hour swim. Looking at the race clock before the second lap began, I sensed a sub-1:30 was well within reach

Fortunately my wheels did not come off, figuratively – I survived the swim, Literally, Dori was right where I left her the day before.

I chose to view the swim as a confidence builder and engage the euphoria. I sighted  and smiled big as the sun cut through my mirrored goggles. I will never forget the stark contrast of what I feared heading into the swim and how I felt as I attacked it head on. I believe Ironman swim (once accomplished of course) is a statement against each of the foolish fears that keep us from thinking IM was even doable.

BIKE

I was incredibly apprehensive – Dori was the limiter from ever signing up previously Heading into transition I had expected to feel unprepared or at least a bit out of my element, since those Dori training wheels were screeching at me. Once my feet hit the steps and the volunteer pulled me across the timing mat, my game face was on and I was intent on speeding through the transition as efficiently as possible and recovering once I was safely clipped into my pedals.

Heading into race day, I had set a conservative expectation of finishing the bike portion in 7 hours. I knew that I was capable of faster, but I did not want to use any other prior benchmark against which to gauge my progress, since this terrain was unique.   I made a decision to proceed without one, however, in an effort to actively and explicitly trust all of the training that had already been put in.

As a practicing sports dietitian, my nutrition plan was solid (well the plan was solid, the nutrition itself was liquid). The only snafu there is my bike skills. Unfortunately I do have to stop to refill water bottles and this happened at least 4 times, since it was hot and humid, with major head and cross winds to constantly fight.

The ride felt wonderful, much like the swim had. Around mile 90 though, there was a wall… one of those that has a glaring sign on it reading “it’s okay to throw away your bike and walk away.”  I managed to maneuver past this wall, and move forward.  I was able to maintain reasonably even splits for the course. One was even a 20 mph split – whoo hoo, go Dori! On the road back to town, I intentionally backed off and made sure to spin relatively easily as I prepared mentally for another big question mark of the day – the marathon. All things told, I completed the bike portion in just over 6 hours. A definite PR for this distance, as well as.

RUN

The first thing I noticed as I ran through T2 was an increased attentiveness from the volunteers. They were constantly making sure that competitors were doing ok and undoubtedly looking for any red flags that might indicate someone should drop out. I was prepared to lie regardless of my apparent state, but seemed to convince my volunteer and she was able to assist gathering my things and slap me on the back as I kept moving along toward the final stage.

Looking back at my training, I focused on the object of my fear (learning how to ride a tri bike) and the need for volume (the bike), but realize that my runs must have been up there in volume too, since I was just going with the motion.

Three things kept me on track to meet my goal of running the entire marathon. Firstly, I felt like it was a food fes at each and every aid station. I had been given so much council on what to take to stay cool (sponges, cups of, water over the head, etc), how to plan nutrition (nearly unlimited options – pretzels, cookies, chips, Perform, water, chicken broth, flat Coke, oranges, bananas, GU Roctane, Chomps, etc) and how many steps to take (goal was pass through aid stations as it were a walk interval).

As my year’s supply of adrenalin waned between miles 8 and 23, I relied on the 2^nd area of encouragement. It felt incredibly cheesy before I was completely tired and grasping for something to pick me up, but I made sure to highlight my sofa king tri top every time I saw someone giggle at the sofa king concept). I can always know when someone gets the “So-faKing” deal. I would  nod my head and say, yes, so-fu king doing this Ironman!!”  Once I stood tall to show off my choice of apparel, much to someone’s confusion. They responded “I bet you want to be on that sofa now, right sofa king?”

And for those of you who saw me several times on the course, your acknowledgement of what I was trying to say was enough encouragement to get me to the next aid station or arbitrary landmark I had put before myself to move towards

Halfway through the marathon, I had the privilege of being escorted during one of my minute walk intervals by somewhat of an entourage. My Sherpa Jay, and tri buds Kate and Marsha were motivating me forward. It helped me forget about the huge forming blisters under my feet, and kept me moving despite them.

By the time I made the final turn toward the finisher line crew’s booming pronouncements I was filled with such a strong tangible picture of the sacrifice and support required by me, my friends and supporters to cross that finish line. I did it, and it was almost a 2 hour PR (13:14) off my Lake Placid time !!

Final Thoughts

I am a big believer in the importance of focusing on process rather than purely on outcome. IMFL was a taste in the self-coached athletic pursuit where you begin on one side and walk out the other largely transformed. I got to do the training, but saw the important people in my life selflessly support that training. Through my first Ironman, (Lake Placid) and now this one (Florida) I now have received a gift to pass on to someone else who might have a debilitating fear, physical ailment, or general lack of confidence. I also have a few more minutes to shave off of this time in my next attempt if a sub 13 hours is in me !!

Things I learned along this journey:

–          If you don’t have any Ironman friends, then go to a place where runners or bikers hang out. Look for the Ironman  symbol (M Dot) on their training clothes. An Ironman would never be caught running or biking without their Ironman stuff.

–          The finisher medal can be worn for one day per the number of miles raced and everyone knows that an Ironman is 140.6 miles. So wear that medal for 141 days (always round up as opposed to rounding down your finishing time).

–          Your human body is capable of accomplishing great things.

–          You must be diligent and consistent in your training; careful about recovery; mindful of getting enough rest; choosy about your gear and attire; and, bottom line, smart about your nutrition.

–          Pain is temporary, Pride is forever.

–          Tri bikes really are faster than road bikes, even with the training wheels still attached

–          Training wheels are training wheels, regardless of their visibility to the human eye.

–          We are judged by what we finish, not by what we start, yet showing up at the start line is a monumental act of bravery.

–          Words of advice  — “If you’re going through hell, keep going!”