1.2 mi swim, 56 mi bike, 13.1 mile run
Swim: 51:20 (2:34 /100m) (26th place, 1778th overall)
T1: 11:22
Bike: 3:52:46 (14.4 MPH) (20th place, 1704th overall)
T2: 14:10
Run: 2:45:07 (12:37 /mi) (22th place, 1723rd overall)
Total: 7:54:44, 23rd place F20-24 (out of 24, +1 DQ, +1 DNF), 1730th of 1795 overall (+90 DQ's and DNF's)
Until the half-ironman, I had never been in a race I thought there was a chance I might not be able to finish. A friend of mine told me I would be risking my life to attempt to finish since I hadn't prepared enough. I wasn't worried about finishing in general, I was just hoping that I could make the cutoffs in time so that I could continue to the next event. (I needed to finish the swim in 1hr10min and the run in 4hr, which weren't too far off from my expected times.) It would have been a huge letdown to have trained for months and months and flown to California only to do a 1.2 mi swim and be told that since I had finished too late I wouldn't be able to continue to the bike or the run.
My friend's words didn't really hit me again until the night (or two?) before the race, when I had to sign the race waiver. It basically said, by signing this I am agreeing that I have sufficiently trained for this event, because if I haven't I could risk injury or death. But I took a deep breath and signed and hoped for the best.
I had been watching the weather report for over a week before the race, and a week previous it had been touted as a clear day. But as the days grew closer, the chance of rain and thunderstorms went from zero to unavoidable. This added another layer of doubt: as if it weren't bad enough having to worry about going so fast in the dry weather, now I'd have to battle the rain, and on thin little tri bike tires that's not a trivial matter.
The morning of the race, I got to the transition area right as it opened. I didn't even really have much to do, and ended up just walking back and forth and checking out all the other athletes and their set-up, wondering if I was crazy for being there.
Before my swim start, I went to the changing area to put on my wetsuit and chatted with a bunch of other women there. They kept asking about my wetsuit (which is a radically new design) and it helped put me at ease by conversing with them.
Still working on:
hurt to walk on way to ocean, long way. start of swim, woman with cap help, dunked under, still helping her at gun, pretty good swim though got passed by a lot, thought i was goign way out of pier but we didnt' even go past final boardwalk, pulled calf with 10-20 min left to go, had been doing 50/50 backstroke but could only do back, someone helped me out of water, but then running fine. walking up hills on bike, saw dennis at monster hill, last 5 miles took forever, pouring rain through most of bike, sunny in t2 and put on sunblock, felt like running vicotry lap, running with woman through most of run, then picked up pace at end b/c wanted to beat 8 hrs.
Preliminary Results from IronmanCalifornia.com
Comfort Inn Marina, Oceanside: both nights before race, Jacuzzi in room! Ready to race! Amidst the transition area Waiting in starting chute My swim wave about to start Running to T1 despite a calf cramp Pulling off my wetsuit top Getting ready for the long bike My trusty Cervelo Dual waits while I use the potty Ralphs (Kroger) grocery was the sponsor Running down a chute to start the run Oceanside pier I walked about a third of 13.1 miles, here with water and
gatorade in the aid station Running to the finish! I AM A (HALF-) IRONMAN! Walking in transition and rehydrating It was an even better day than expected! Post-race meal of choice: chicken pad thai Best sports massage ever In my souvenir jumpsuit Randy's donuts en route to LAX My congratulatory sunflower My heart rate graph: 155 = avg HR (bike/run)
183 = max HR (bike/run)
3404 = calories burned
