This was my 2nd
Ironman and I was hoping improve from my first performance in the same course
but the heat had other plans.
I got to Tempe on Wednesday night to get use to the
weather and the 2 hours of difference from the east coast. Flying direct
is way easier than flying with stops so is something to have in consideration
for the future. Thursday was cloudy and cold so my hope of an 80 degrees day
was done. I did packet pick up and it went o eventfully. Friday I did a
short brick and rested it was a nice day. Saturday I did the practice
swim. The water was not as cold as the other time I went in there. It was a
good practice swim. I rode my bike 1 last time make sure everything was
set up and rack it up. The rest of the day I spend it napping and getting ready
for the big day.
Race day woke up at 4:30 Ate
coconut milk A peanut butter Sandwich of three
breads a banana some and some extra protein shake.
Arrive to transition Pump
the bike tiers set up everything and did the long line to 1 final don John stop
and got in to my wet suit and went it to Tempe Town Lake. Right before the start I
thank all the gods for allowing me to arrive to the start line healthy.
Concentrate on the journey that I was going to have and relax to the sound of
this great song
Swim: 1:11:39
6 weeks before I did a 2.4
mile open water swim at the aquabike and I thought I could improve at least a
minute. I position myself to the right corner like last time but not to the
front. That was a big mistake!! The cannon went off and the war started for the
1st 15 minutes the swim was a warzone of kicks elbows everything you
could imagine and it was really hard to get a in to rhythm. Finally approaching
the first turn around I finally found some space to get in to a rhythm and from
there I knew I going strong. Coming back I just push but without hammering
much. I knew that I was going to pr but didn’t know by how much. I ended
with a PR of 10 seconds, not a huge one as I was hoping for but improvement
which is ok.
T1 6:08
T1 I knew it was going to be
a long base on all the running around that you have to do to get your T1 bags.
I was ready mentally for this and follow my plan to get ready not only for the
bike but for the run too. Everything went as plan.
Bike 5:36:23
The bike training suffer a
minor setback when my power tap pass out 2 month before the race and I
had to start training indoors do to not having enough day light. This changes
my strategy to ride by Heart Rate and perceived effort instead of focusing on power.
The ride started windy and
with a lot draft packs. But those packs were clear at the top of the roller
when the penalty tent was full of drafters. A lot of people pass me on
the first loop I kept calm and just pace myself. By the end of the 1s loop I
was feeling hot already, the wind had calm down. I started to spread water on
top and just kept my pace. Half-way point through the course I grab my special
needs bag got my PMB & Jely Sandwich replace my bottles. After refueling I
felt really good and began to star passing people a lot the 3rd loop
I rode strong. I knew it was hot as you could feel it especially in your back.
I coast on the down hills, continue to pass more people and mentally began to prepare for the run. I
improve my time by 7 minutes. I was really happy and excited to get of the bike
and begin the run.
T2 2:58
T2, The plan here was to get
my shoes on and don’t waste time. I think I really nail it.
The Run (or the debacle)
4:38:17
Going in to the run I felt I
was in a great running shape. My training runs were the fastest I have ever done
and I had great confidence that I would kill it. I was so wrong. I knew that if
I keep my composure I would have a pr but I did totally the opposite. I went
out hard didn’t took notice that it was 85 degrees and the last time I was in
that weather was mid-September. The 1st 4 miles I flew them
including running a few seconds with current Ironman champion Leanda Cave.
By mile 5 I started to slow down by mile 9 I was walking. I was cramping all
over my body including my arms and forearms and shoulders. I had never had that
feeling. I was struggling badly until someone told that was hotter than
expected to increase my salt intake. Bingo!! Didn’t took any salt tablets
because I wasn’t expecting to be that hot. Immediately in the next aid station
and grab all the salt stuff that I could find, chips cookies and was putting
them. From mile 8 to 13 I was walking and running. Once I hit 13 and the sun
was going down and the salt was in I was running again 8:30 to 9:30 pace till
mile 21 and the 10’s all the way till the end.
During the run a lot of
stuff went through my mind on how you can screw a race by small details, how
the 1 day journey you have so much highs and lows and you find a way to
overcome. How hard I have work the last year and here I was struggling but I
blocked all those negative thoughts and finished strong.
The Final time was 11:35:25
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