Wildflower Triathlon - Long Course - Triathlon1/2 Ironman

This was an average performance and a rather uneventful swim. For the amount of swim training I do (not a lot) I was perfectly satisfied. I kept a good pace, sighted reasonably well, stayed relaxed, and didn't waste too much energy.

Nothing, except more training, as usual.

I have my transition routine down pretty well. I keep it simple. Wetsuit halfway off and cap/goggles in hand by the time I get to my bike. Wetsuit off, shoes on, helmet and glasses on, bike off the rack and I'm off. I did take a few extra seconds to apply chapstick.

Nothing

My goal for this ride was to finish with something left in the tank. I kept my effort consistent and comfortable, took it easy on hills, and didn't worry about people passing me or me passing people or anything except my own race. I was so glad I had previewed the bike course 4 weeks earlier - that experience was essential to my success. I knew Nasty Grade was coming and I made sure to take it easy, keep calm, keep my heart rate down, and not worry about my speed going up the hill. I could tell a lot of people were spent after the hills, and I wasn't. My throat was sore and I was having a bit of trouble clearing all the fluid from my lungs (thanks, lingering cold virus and lagging immune system) but overall I was feeling good. I passed a lot of people in the last 10 miles without any special effort. At the end I knew my bike split was going to be right where I wanted it, and I started to get excited, but avoided hammering the last few miles. I wanted to get off the bike feeling good, and I did.

Nothing. It was a great ride, executed as well as I could have wanted or expected.

Again, simple. Bike stuff off, socks, shoes, race belt, visor, glasses on. That's it, it doesn't take long.

Nothing

I don't even know what to say about this. I just didn't know how hard it would be. I knew the long course run was supposed to be hard, but I figured it would be a longer version of the Olympic run. I felt awesome coming off the bike, but started to fade pretty quickly. I felt like I had some spring in my legs, but the heat was getting to me and I kept coughing and spewing green stuff out of my nose. I did ok for the first few miles, not great, but ok. Then we went off-road, down to the lakeshore, along the edge of a windless, sunny, stagnant cove where there was little shade and a lot of hills. Still, I was doing ok. Then I saw the mile 4 hill. I had heard of the pit at mile 10, but not this one. It sucked out all remaining motivation. I may not be fast, but I am a tough person and extremely stubborn. I don't give up. I dig deep, and find a way to push through. But this time, I went to the dark place, and never came out. For the rest of the run, I walked. A lot. First it was just the hills, but near the end, as my time goals began to slip away and I became more despondent, I just couldn't find the will to run, except occasionally. I did run down Lynch hill and through the finish chute.

I didn't know the course and I wasn't ready for it. I needed to be better trained for such a hilly run, especially given the fact that it was sunny. It was hot in the sun and I'm just not used to that, since I train mostly in the evenings and it's extremely mild here. I guess I could have given myself an extra few minutes on the bike, but I just don't think it would have made much of a difference. I don't think this was a result of overdoing it on the bike. I've done that before, I know what it feels like, and this was not it.

Met up with my family, who had been waiting for me at the finish for the better part of an hour. Ate ice cream and pasta, drank beer, relayed the harrowing tale of my "run". We camped another night, and Tracy did the Olympic. I spectated, chowed down on festival food, and drank beer. It was quite relaxing, although I could have done without the climb up the hill after the race.


I think this is something I need to spend some time figuring out. I know being sick was a big factor, but I know that wasn't all of it.


I think I'm going to put off my plans of doing an IM next spring. Wildflower and I have unfinished business. Meanwhile, I'm going to rest for a little bit, then get back into half marathon training and maybe find an Oly to do this summer. This fall, it's year #3 for the Silverman half - which is easier than Wildflower, by the way.