Survived another Ironman

[colby]

Thanks, everyone!!

I think I might have mentioned it last year that I signed up for this year, but I hadn't kept up with the forum for a while thanks to work so I didn't want it to seem like I returned just for everyone to watch my Ironman

Being able to jog/run half the marathon, then jog/walk the second half really took off most of the time. I took 10 minutes off my bike, a few off my T2 (last time I felt icky), and the rest off the run. Last time my hip was gimpy, too, so I'm really not sure how far I could have ran anyway.

I felt some rubbing on my bike after about 60-70 miles... but I couldn't find it. I don't think that helped my bike time up hills (and there are a lot of them). That plus the wind... ugh. Ugh ugh!

I heard some people talking today that they went to the med tent with a body temp of 93 degrees. When I got home I had to take off my wet clothes NOW, I started to get REALLY cold. My husband had to lie on top of my chest to get me to warm up, I was shivering so badly. What a weird feeling. They were offering space blankets and garbage bags during the run. It didn't really bother me when running to be in the rain, but afterward it was huge.

Today, I feel pretty decent. The aches and pains are moving... my ankles and toes hurt now (I didn't know toes could hurt). I can pretty much climb stairs (in a slow cripply sort of way). Sitting and standing, ugh. My core muscles actually hurt (at this point I think you build core muscles just so they can hurt ). I have several spots of icky chafing where my top met my bottom met my race belt, and my arm warmers met my tri top and maybe a seam on my jersey? Not sure, but boy are they red. I also have a couple of awesome sunburn spots... where they missed a whole spot on my left leg where my bike shorts end, where my bike gloves end and the wholes in my watch band are...

I guess to recap, since I didn't really post a report...

The weather was forecast in the beginning of the week to be 80% chance of rain. Knowing the area and having trained here, I knew more likely was clouds in the morning (or partly cloudy) with lighter wind, increasing wind and clouds as we passed noon, and then rain in the afternoon. That's exactly what we got.

I need to practice eating a large breakfast before my training rides/bricks. I had been eating two packets of oatmeal and a banana, but that's not really enough. I did three packets of oatmeal and planned on eating 1-2 english muffins with pb and 1-2 bananas, but I made it through the oatmeal and had to stop.

For the swim, I hung back a little bit. I had done a practice swim in the water the day before - it was 62-63 degrees. Wow, it was SO much warmer than last year. That 3-4 degrees makes a huge difference. My first loop was 0:43 or so, which was right on pace for what I expected - 1:25 or 1:30. Then the wind picked up... and so did the whitecaps/current (in a lake no less, but a big lake). I got out and they said 1:41 - holy crap! That must have been some serious current. I felt slow. (Same time as last year)

The wetsuit pullers that called me over weren't the best. They couldn't get the suit off my wrists - that'll teach me to put more bodyglide there (or do it myself, like last year). It came off my ankles pretty well, though. I put on my bike shorts, arm warmers, jersey, socks, and shoes, with help from the happy helper volunteers. I headed off to find my bike (one, two, three racks and down by the tree) and out on the bike.

I felt pretty good on the first lap. There was wind, and hills, but the usual for us around here. We saw deer pass by on the first pass of the big hills, and some people were pretty excited. All I could think of was hoping those deer didn't appear on the DOWN hill sections. They could totally take a bicyclist out - and they don't move for bikes like they do for cars. Eat every 15 minutes starting at 30 minutes, try to drink through most of an aero bottle every aid station, the usual. I did gels and accelerade like last year - worked fine. Not sure I need the protein, but it's all calories and didn't bug my tummy. Pretty consistent through the second loop, until the wind picked up and there was some kind of rubbing going on. Stopped to find it, gave up. Just wanted to be done and move on. Some issues with toe numbness, but I think that's all the hill climbing.

In T2, pretty uneventful. Take off bike shorts, change socks (oh that felt nice), put on shoes. Oh yeah, helmet. And gloves. Sunglasses. Right. I planned on jogging a decent pace then walking aid stations. That lasted through the first half of the marathon, maybe to about 14 miles. My arms felt like lead weights - thanks to that swim, I presume. I stopped and walked for a while - longer than I should have, I think. When I did finally start running again, my arms felt pretty good! I did a 10 steps walking, 10 running. 20 walking, 20 running, up to 50, then increased the running to 100 steps running, 50 steps walking. That actually worked really well. I think I'll try that in my next marathon if I run out of steam Oh, I forgot to say... about maybe the first 1-2 miles, it started sprinkling. Another 3-4 miles, rain. Keep going, very wet. Then, on and off showers.

I actually sprinted to the finish. Seriously! Amazing. It felt SO GOOD to be done. And ohmygosh, the best domino's cheese pizza I ever had was on the other side of the line. I took an awesome finisher photo (it turned out so well) and the ones crossing the line are great, too. I could never get tired of hearing my name next to YOU ARE AN IRONMAN!!!

I felt my hip a little bit on the run and while walking. I have a chiro appointment and massage this week. It feels pretty good today - just mostly muscle pain in my glutes - thanks to my PT for rebuilding the system. (She also sent me a nice handwritten note wishing me luck. This woman is awesome.)

This guy at work signed up and did it as well. He did it the "other way" - push as hard as you can until you can't. He made it, but I would prefer my way - I'm not going to win, so how about being safe, having fun, and running a consistent race. Improvement means more to me than hurting myself - never did I want to risk NOT finishing.

And, yes... I signed up for the torture test again. I am stubborn. I would really like to lose the 15-20lbs that would slim off the last of me. I think my swimming has come a long way, but could use some more core strengthening. I need to work on my bike (weight+uphills = bad). And, obviously, my running.

PS: Checked my HRM. Didn't run it for the swim, and missed about 45 minutes of the bike (tried to start on the 0:15 for my foodtimer). Avg HR was 144 for that time, and I would estimate 7,000 calories burned (HRM says 5500, plus the swim and 45 bike minutes).

[colby]

Heh. I have been using Training Peaks where I purchased a race program specifically for Ironman Coeur d'Alene (not sure how specific it actually was, but hey, it was a decent plan - maybe next year a coach). Anyway, I got the most awesome email today:

Hello nicole. You have no upcoming workouts.

I laughed out loud.

[Mr. Bloom]

An Ironman! That's awesome

80 Minute Improvement! That's DOUBLE awesome!

[HillSlugger]

Awesome improvement in awful conditions. I heard there was hail?!?

Congrats!

[colby]

Awesome improvement in awful conditions. I heard there was hail?!?

Congrats!

There might have been in some places. Thankfully it didn't turn into a full blown thunderstorm as they had been advising earlier in the week - that could have been messy. That's usually when we get the POURING rain, more wind, and power outages.

About 2 months ago we had a whole month of dry summer weather... I think mother nature mixed up spring and summer for May/June

[KSH]

Hello *pokes her head in* Congraulations!!!! 80 minutes off your time is HUGE!!!!

[tribogota]

The ironman people truly impress me over and over again. And 80 minutes faster, that is just amazing. I did a tri sprint last weekend and felt miserable on the 5k...cannot even fathom 40k...
Congratulations!

[colby]

Hey KSH, good to see you.

Coincidentally (seeing someone from Bogota pop in), I met a woman from Colombia on the bike. I unfortunately dropped her on the beginning of the second loop on a hill (we had been pacing each other pretty well, she said I was her "bike angel"), but I cheered her on whenever I saw her. She caught up to me on the run and I again cheered her on.

I also met a guy that I ran/walked aid stations with for the first 6 or 7 miles of the run. When he saw me go the other way, he waved. It's amazing to me the people you meet. I really like the middle/back of the pack

Today I had a massage and a chiro appointment. It went well! My massage guy helped increase the blood flow all over (I feel better already) and my chiro gave me a very good bill of health (but knocked out some issues in my mid-back and shoulders). Both were very happy with how my hip held up. It's not invisible to me, but it's amazing how far I've come in a year.

I went swimming today, too. I felt like dead weight! Slow and sinking feeling. It was nice to do something. We were only there for about 30-40 minutes, just enough time to feel alive but not exhausted.

[jesvetmed]

Hello nicole. You have no upcoming workouts.

NICE... great way to start the day!
You probably don't know what to do with yourself at this point!

[kacie tri-ing]

Heh. I have been using Training Peaks where I purchased a race program specifically for Ironman Coeur d'Alene (not sure how specific it actually was, but hey, it was a decent plan - maybe next year a coach). Anyway, I got the most awesome email today:

Hello nicole. You have no upcoming workouts.

I laughed out loud.

So funny!!!!

[spindizzy]

Hello nicole. You have no upcoming workouts.

That is hilarious!! I signed up to do a trial version and I had to turn that e-mail thingy off - it was driving me nuts!

You had an awesome race. That's a huge chunk of time to take off. I like your plan to help you with the run, counting steps. The battle that goes on mentally is so tough..your brain telling you to stop, try again next time; your heart saying "uh uh- I worked too hard to give this up."

Way to go!!!!!!