On the anniversary of my last full ironman distance event I participated in my 10th half that crazy distance. Yes, I have a hard time saying “raced” for some odd reason… I guess I feel too much pressure having to “race” rather than “participate”. Mind you, if you shuffle the letters around, “raced” can be found in “participated.” Then again, I do need to get over it: “race” is what triathletes do, even if it’s not racing against fellow participants, one often has that sense of racing against oneself. Augusta 2015 was definitely that for me. The first time I did this race was in its inaugural year of 2009. I was well trained (at least in the run portion,) mostly because it was a last minute sign up but I had been training for the Marine Corps marathon which was less than 3 weeks out from the 70.3. I felt confident, I had done quite a few 70.3’s leading up to it, I was swimming and biking for cross training and I was ready for my 26.2 miles, so why not make it 70.3er?
Anyways, that was then… and back then, it turned out to be a personal worst for no apparent reason. Now don’t get me wrong, I am not one who races to get to the podium, so a personal worst is not that bad, its still a completion… I just had a bad day, and could not put a finger on it… so this year, I felt like “I was baaaackkk!!” I snicker to myself as I type this – really? Ilana, are you really baaackkkk!! Suffering from burn out this last year, not nearly as in shape as you have been for any other race in the past… haha!! Its more that my time in Augusta 2009 just did not reflect the athlete I was, so that’s why my so called race became about 2009 Ilana against 2015 Ilana, and I will have you know 2015 Ilana is older. Not just older, its that F F F F (can’t seem to say it… age group) and somehow also slower… not that that matters.
SWIM – basically the same as 2009. Put on my beloved sleeveless wetsuit. Jumped into the breathtaking Savannah river, and swam with a good current for a good half ironman swim time. Looking at most average swimmers, we all have about the same swim time, which to me proves the current has a lot to do with great swim times all around. Not to take away a good swimmers swim – those guys are in a different league and can swim in an ocean, lake or river fast, the rest of us need a current to say “wow – best swim ever.”
BIKE – well comparing, I was actually ever so slightly faster this year. Yay, Go 2015 Ilana… on your left 2009 Ilana!!! It really was ever so slight… as hard as I try, I have bike issues, and it seems it is a curse that will stay forever with me. For those of you that know me, I have a love hate relationship with my bike. As much as I would love to improve, my hands are solidly glued to the bullhorns throughout the ride, I do not do hill repeats and intense bike intervals, and I do not train with a power meter, possible reasons for my same old same old M.P.H… So that’s it y’all… and then the real reason – I have an unrealistic fear and a lack of bike skills, so I am pretty scared to go fast – so even when the opportunity presents itself (like a 7 mile steep downhill presents itself, hello Lake Placid) I hold back, embrace the breaks, and panic!! Deep down, I do not want to be a faster biker, I may die!
RUN – I was on it… I held onto and felt disciplined to my 2:00 min/30 sec run/walk intervals. I swear by Interval running, ever since I attended a Jeff Galloway program. It works, it reduces the risk of injury, it keeps you disciplined to a set pace, and you can look forward to some walking without feeling like a slacker. The only downside is every time I pass the photo opportune moments, or my fellow team mates, or the coaches I want to see me run, I happen to be on a walk interval!! I have to profusely point to my interval timer and shout “don’t take the picture NOW!!! Wait a few more seconds, I am almost on my run interval!!” Of course by that time the photographer has suppressed his giggle and is snapping away at those athletes running past me… no worries, I will be leapfrogging them as soon as my run interval begins. I bet all the Galloway followers know exactly what I mean!!! So yes, as I passed the Atlanta Triathlon tent and all my fellow team mates, and some very important clients – that is why I was so intently pointing at my Garmin… trying to explain why you caught me walking. I was not a gallowayer back in 2009 and my run time was a lot worse – just shows you – Thanks Jeff!! You are my running hero!!
THE DIFFERENCES:
In 2009 my age group (and ahhh, I was so much younger) was the very last wave – we started the race dead last, after 9:00am. It was a very hot and humid day, so much more energy was zapped from riding in the dead heat of the day, and then running in the blistering afternoon sun! it was also the inaugural year for Augusta 70.3 and even back then their claim to fame was hosting over 3500 double A-type personality athletes – there were a lot of organizational mistakes that needed ironing out – the major one happen to be for the very last wave groups like mine, because most volunteers had disappeared while we were trying to get through the later parts of triathlon, and water was nowhere to be seen. I actually spent 20 minutes going into the finish area halfway through my run, scrounging for some fluid that was no longer along the course. Maybe that accounted for the extra 20 minutes of my run time back in 2009, doh!!
2015, my time was 30 minutes faster, and yet my age is two age groups up… I did what I set out to do!! 2015 llana raced this one and beat 2009 Ilana. I both competed and completed!!! And although my burnout of endurance training this year never really subsided, I got it done.
Things I learned from this year’s triathlon season
- It’s okay to be burnt out, but just get in those minimal of 2 swims, 2 spins, and 2 runs during the week, and the longer stuff on the weekend. It’s not that much compared to all these fellow athletes posting their training time on Facebook, but it does get the job done.
- Giving up strength workouts in the gym does take away some power, so get your arse back in the gym 2015 Ilana… Now that the endurance will take a break, I plan to!!
- Good nutrition is always key!! (I have to plug my profession here!!)
- Sports nutrition always has new products – and this year there are a ton more new products to choose from – never do anything you tell your fellow athletes not to do – yes, I am guilty, I took a chug of Red Bull on the run at one of the water stations – and ugh!!! That’s all, ugh!!! (I did not develop wings)
- Take a break when burned out – this week so far I have done NOTHING and loving it!! But that conscious feeling of I need to get up early to work out is creeping back, so a break is GOOD!!
- I have the best training buds that keep me accountable.
