Venice, Florida REVOULTION 3 70.3 Race report ILANA KATZ MS, RD, CSSD
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Last month I posted a 70.3 race report for Amelia Island (DRC sports). I promised to write one for the Venice (rev 3) 70.3 exactly one month later. I have entitled it “the other half” because this was the year that two halves are as best as I can get to one Full. The reason was a good one, his name is Jarro Katz, now 10 months old and stunningly handsome. Yes, he needed more training than me, so signing up for an Ironman triathlon was not a fair decision. If you need to catch up, the first half:
http://192.185.164.20/2374/about-ilana/amelia-island-70-3-race-report-october-2013/
And now for “The other half…”
Venice is a diamond… I cannot exactly say “in the rough” since nothing around there is rough. Well, every diamond has its flaw: I discovered that Venice is actually the shark capital of the world a discovery made BEFORE the big event. It really solidifies what crazy people triathletes are… here are just a fraction of the sharks teeth picked up off the beach after a quick last minute practice swim.
Other highlights the days leading up to the race included beach yoga while observing some playful dolphins break the mirror effect of the smooth waters, and a practice swim where two manatees came to meet and greet… what a WOW moment !!
So now its time for why I was in Venice… Sofa King ready to put this baby to bed. During the Amelia race, I was having premonitions of this very moment – why oh why did I have to be such a hero and sign up for a second half so darn close… I was burned out, under trained as a result, and just not quite into spending most of the day awake, let alone awake physically active enduring an ocean swim, pretty windy 56 mile bike ride and a hellishly hot, all in the sun, (not so fun) half marathon. Oh well…. I was there, and not so square, so the commitment to myself to “just do it” began
SWIM
Nothing to complain about here. The ocean was literally a mirror, the water temp was perfect, and I did not even touch another human being while attempting to get to the end of the swim zone just like them all. I just loved the swim… other than the thought of all those sharks teeth I had collected looked like pink elephants in my subconscious brain activity. Whew, I survived… maybe it was the visual I was enforcing of real live dolphins and manatees rather than remnants of their mouths. I survived, the best part was over, and now its onto business.
BIKE
Having a personal stripper help you get ready is the best way to start off a bike ride. I thank Rev 3 for their strippers, as it is not often they are available in anything less than Ironman distance races. Strippers, for you dirty-minded non-triathletes, are these awesome volunteers that make you lie flat on your back once you get out the ocean, and strip off your wetsuit for you in no way shape or form that you could simulate that action without them. All stripped, and ready to rock and roll. Besides the strippers, I had my very own Sherpas standing next to my transition area filming my entire T1 action. Watching that afterwards really did make me laugh… and no it’s NOT on YouTube… (right, Lauri? RIGHT LAURI???).
The ride was good. I had left my speedometer in transition (by mistake on purpose) so had no idea how fast or slow I was going. All I know is that at times the wind was on my back, and I felt like I was in flight, at other times the wind was in my face, and my curse words were muffled, and there were also times when the wind was crossing left, right and center and my louder curse words were even more muffled… but on average, an almost 19 mph ride felt glorious to my usually-slower-than-that body. That sure is Sofa King fast, right? RIGHT? (I am not asking you, you 24 mph speed racers!!)
RUN
This was the challenge… yep, post Amelia Island race burn out, the only part of my training I actually half-assedly kept up was running, so the pressure was on. I could not let myself down. It was hot as hell by this time, and no shade to be seen for miles and miles. The silver lining is that there was ocean to the left, always a motivating distraction, and a water cannel to the right, with friendly boating people speeding up and down it, giving the runners some envy (I mean entertainment).
I set my gym boss to keep me straight. Yes, the BOSS was commanding 4 minute run and 1 minute walk intervals. I did it… In fact, I managed to stay disciplined the entire half marathon to the intervals even though I felt like I could (and this may be worth recording) run through the minute walks. For anyone that uses intervals as a training method knows how disciplined one needs to be even if you feel like you can run, to actually use those walks to even out ones heart rate. I am a big believer in the Galloway method, and this race, more than any others I have done, proved it once again.
My run was no PR, but it was almost a half hour better than the Amelia one, and that was secretly one of my only goals – negative splits compare to that forgotten first half (Amelia Island).
OVERALL
Well secretly one of my main goals was to finish closer to the 6 hour zone than the 7, and I did it. Furthermore, placing in my age group (ok, it was only 5th, but considering podium went 5th deep, I will take it!!) was a huge accomplishment for this sofa king (almost) old girl!!
THINGS I LEARNT IN VENICE
Sharks can have up to 3 000 teeth at any one time, and 30 000 in their lifetime.
Although Manatees are not as pretty as dolphins, they are just as friendly and playful, and it is a lifetime experience to share space in an ocean with such gorgeous creatures.
As much as I hate putting it on, I love my sleeveless wetsuit and even more, I love to have strippers remove it.
Beach yoga is the in yoga style, Nameste!!
The vast variations in climate within one country is fascinating. Went from sunburnt and hot in Florida, to freezing and pining for warmth in Georgia, in less than 3 hours.
I miss my puppy so much when I am taking a puppy momma break….
He misses me more and that warms my heart!! (He wrote me a letter while in Doggie boarding at Dogphoria) – here is the link… it’s a good read, and boy is he a smart (and very handsome) pup!!
http://192.185.164.20/2408/about-ilana/letter-to-my-momma-jarro-katz/
As always, I love the support of my personal sherpas, and in this case amazing, wonderful hosts (Lauri and Bob), Samson and Tee who tagged along to not only enjoy a weekend in Venice, but to help keep me committed to what I signed up for.
Thanks Dogphoria (http://dogphoria.net/) for keeping my boy happy and worn out – he has not woken up yet, since I got him… but its ok, since he cuddles up in my lap and I am in puppy heaven myself.
I also discovered what a sharks tooth looks like – seriously I had no idea they were black, and also had I not found those ones on the beach, I would have had no idea that the finisher medal is actually a sharks tooth (who knows what I would have thought it was – just an odd shape finisher medal, I guess)
And oh yeah, last but not least (since this is a huge part of the reason I do these crazy ventures) is that my SPORTS NUTRITION was perfect. No GI distress, constant hydration and energy, and even a second wind at the last part of both bike and run. If anyone wants the secrets to perfect sports nutrition, message me, or feel free to browse http://192.185.164.20/
