It has taken me a few days to get my thoughts together for this one – but hey, not only does one get lost in time after an endurance event, but it also was probably the hardest 70.3 I have done to date. Although nothing compares to Ironman, this race had me concerned that it was meant to be only an Ironman training race, yet it totally kicked my butt!!
I arrived at this even after some hardcore bike rides behind me. After joining Atlanta Tri Club (ATC) I got in some regular group rides. I have also been running above average distance per week compared to my usual since I have a very motivating training buddy, and Jarro’s pleading expressions are so hard to resist… translates to a run almost daily, even if it’s a quick active recovery deal. My swim training is pretty consistent, since I feel committed to Concourse Masters and will show up rain or shine for Pete’s Tue/Thurs encouragement. Seriously, nothing “shines” at 5:15am, including me, but the point is, I have been swimming!!
These countless hours of course, added up, even after the worst Winter ever !! Before I knew it, I had covered at least 3 fifty plus or more mile rides, 2 in rainstorms, 1 close encounter with a sports utility vehicle, 3 boxes (yes boxes) of gel packets of all flavours, from gross to mmm … its got to be real peanut butter !! (have you ever tasted the peanut butter gu’s – I can spread that $4!t on anything!! In short, I felt prepared for my 70.3 miles of pure painless joy to share with a few close, yes very close, friends. I have done 8 of these half ironman things (needless to say 2 full ones) previously, and yet, this one in particular was the most physical enduring experience of my life, even above the jumping out an airplane and all the other Olympics and sprint races all put together.
My inspiration then, where does it come from – I am inspired by all my fellow athletes who do this, especially the ones that continue to land up on the podium. For another, my clients, they are the people that appreciate me more, just because I do this and therefore I understand. And yet another, the countless groups of athletes I present to. I have come across so many inspiring stories along the way, and I just want to be that to someone else. After all, endurance sports is my self made job description. I have always insisted on walking the walk, not just talking the talk, so to continue being a confident, professional sports nutritionist and competent professor too, this is a no brainer, even for someone who is no natural born athlete.
Swim
It was nerve wracking at first, with the water temps being 70 something I anticipated jumping in and having my breath taken away. My sleeveless wetsuit is both a blessing and a curse – I love it for the shoulder freedom, but for these cold swims, it does take longer to warm up. Actually, no great shakes to report for the swim – it was pretty pleasant, with the water temp actually higher than the air temp. Spending some time fighting for a space, getting into a rhythm and enjoying the bridges of Knoxville turned into a dream rather than the anticipated nightmare.
Bike
Dorette, previously known as Dori, is still my hero… and still remembers her chant “Keep on Swimming… Keep on Swimming” although she has totally lost the Dori persona. I renamed my bike (yes, I am that girl) Dorette after converting the nightmarish tri bike into a hybrid road bike. I have readapted to being able to change gears now, and not risk my life even though I still have a deathly fear of moving my hands off the brakes. And on a course such as this one (which can certainly simulate the Gaps of Georgia’s downhills) this is no joke.
My inner speedracer persona did not emerge on this cruel, brutal and evil course. In fact, as the minutes and hours ticked by, my motivation to be in Dorette’s company, waned. I guess being in the foothills of the Smoky Mountains puts that in perspective. Hey, its not about giving up on a challenge, for me, it’s the fear of the screeching downhills where I lose that ability to make up time of my slow climbing. Even when I secretly gloat at the big strong males I pass climbing, their whizzing, speedy descents cause stress (and ENVY) and my inner speedracer creeps deeper and deeper into nothingness. I am all about the flat – I know it is not everyone’s cup of tea, but it sure is mine… I missed you Florida !!
My hydration is still an issue on the bike. You didn’t hear that from me (a sports dietitian expert). For real, it is, and it has nothing to do with “knowing better” it has all to do with lack of bike skills. For me to refill water bottles, I have to stop. And so I did, twice. ß That’s ny excuse for my low miles per hour, and I am sticking to it!! I am still calling out to all the willing bike coaches out there… help me!!
Run
After jumping off the bike in ecstasy, I was totally looking forward to the run… (although deliriously, I was hoping I had misconstrued that for Rum!! Oh well, not so much!!)
Seriously, the first five miles felt like a death trap. At some points I was actually in tears, realizing that I was not really Wonder Woman after all. I am not sure who sewed that “W” onto my PJs, but whoever you are, that is not funny!!
Luckily I got into a rhythm after those first few miles, each one feeling like a marathon in itself. And the foothills of the Smoky mountains insisted on remaining in presence. Cruel, evil course you Rev3 race directors!!
Luckily, as usual, my second wind kicked in after the first few miles… well in this case, it was more like the first 10 miles, but at least a quarter of the run producing negative splits was not all bad. Maybe it was that peanut butter gu I had remembered to consume.
Transitions:
Well, what can I say – if I am ever asked which discipline of triathlon is my strength, I reply in full honety “Transitions”. T-zero was a nightmare, since it was forecasted to be a cold and rainy day. What to wear became anxiety inducing. In fact, I had decided on a fleece once I got out the freezing river, and even left my arm warmers and sleeveless tri top back in the hotel room. However once in T0, it seemed fairly warm…. So I ran back to the hotel room to collect these blessed items, and all though this cost me a T0 win, it was the best decision made of the day. A fleece would have been overdressed (even though I have been told a true woman can never overdress – I think this was lost in translation somewhere??)
T1 – thank goodness I had arm warmers and a sleeveless, as now the air temps where rather pleasant, and dry… thank the good lawd!!
T2 – stripped off arm warmers, replaced my tri top with a running tank, since at this point, having survived that cruel and unusual punishment of the bike course, I was proud to be sporting my ATC logo !!! And another great decision, since the run turned out to be another hot one… 60’s? my arse Mr. weatherman!!
Things I have learned from this race
· Not every day is Wonder Woman’s day. Sometimes Superwoman wins (that bitch)
· Dori still chants “Keep on Swimming” even under the guise of Dorette
· Aero position is underrated
· I need a new magnet for my car (I have all the other race distances that I have participated in)
· River swims rock !! Not only rock you into motion sickness, but rock, as in pleasantries!!
· I love my sleeveless wetsuit – not only do I get the “Go Team” chant when the logo is present, but it aids in shoulder perseverance.
· I need to go back to Mallorca (I did a training camp there that improved my bike skills tremendously, it’s looking like I need a refresher)
· Toenails are under-rated
· Peanut Butter Gu’s are deliciously yummy or is delicious really spelt d.e.l.i.r.i.o.u.s..
· WTF doesn’t really stand for “Where’s the Finish”
· Run is not spelt R.U.M (someone swapped the “m” nad “n” keys on my keyboard before I signed up for this race, and that was cruel!!
· Having a puppy in the house means improved running aerobic capacity, even if it is only 10 miles in.
· Deciding what to wear for a colder weather triathlon is the most difficult decision on race day.
· The weather man can be wrong, and in this case, he was wrong for the best
· Knoxville is a cute little college town with some gorgeous scenery within the foothills of the Smoky’s.
· Just keep moving forward as the finish line is always on the horizon
· I have tons more training to do before Ironman Chatty and that’s in about 135 days, 14 hours and 20…19… 18 seconds time
· I appreciate the support of friends, family, clients, ATC teammates and my students more than they can imagine…
Thank you, see you at the next one.
Ilana
