EagleMan Ironman 70.3 Triathlon - Triathlon1/2 Ironman

Last year, I couldn't see from one buoy to the next. This year, I decided that the best thing to do was find someone and stick with them. I followed #363 (Patrice Weil) the whole way. She did a great job siting. I noticed that if my mind wandered, she'd pull away, so I stuck with her.

142/518 women finishers for this stage

Nothing

According to the "Post Race Endorphin Report" that we just got, my T1 was my best event of the day out of the 5 stages. It figures--the stage where you can make up the least amount of time. Oh well.

I bought race wheels to help me go faster and I went 6 minutes slower this year than last. I borrowed Zipp 404s last year, so the wheels weren't the problem. I am just a lousy cyclist. I suspect it is because I train the least for the bike. If only I had more time to train.

The wind seemed to bother me more than usual. It seemed like it was always in my face. People were passing me like I was standing still.

I took 3 Endolytes every hour on the bike. I also had Clif Bloks and a chocolate Power Bar. I took a chocolate GU about 30 minutes before getting off the bike. I started out with 2 bottles of half Gatorade/half water. I finished the first one by the 11 mile bottle exchange. I took a bottle of water there. Finished that water by the 22 mile bottle exchange and got another. Skipped the next one. I took a yellow Gatorade at the 4th bottle exchange. It was really lousy and I didn't drink much of that. I also got a water there.

282/518 women finishers for this stage

I went from 2nd in the age group down to 6th place in this stage

Definitely train harder for the bike. I say this every year and never do it. I've always got an excuse--no time or my back hurts, etc. Actually, I think my lower back problem is the main reason I went slower this year. I had a rough Spring.

Had a problem running in my biking shoes after getting off the bike. Actually, I hardly call what I did running.

Started out running fast. I think I saw 8:24 for the first mile. The second one was slower and then things started looking bad. The demons came to visit. "You have to walk, you can't run..." Then I got nauseous. I simply can't run when I'm nauseous and the demons agreed. I stopped in the porta-pottie figuring I'd feel better after that. Then I said to myself, just run one complete mile without stopping. You can do it. And I did! Then I said, "you ran one, you can run more." So I ran the rest of the way only stopping at the aid stations, which they had a lot of. The turnaround came before I knew it. Then I thought, all I have to do it make it back. At mile 9, I passed a woman in my age group. Good thing I did, because that moved me onto the podium. Of course, I had no idea what place I was in at that point. My left calf was on the verge of cramping for the last 3 miles. I couldn't push it too much because of that so I just tried to run steady.

156/518 women finishers for this stage

Not much you can do when it's hot as hell on the run course.

Went to the medical tent and got treated like a queen. They couldn't have been nicer. I was a bit melodramatic with the crying but I was in a lot of pain. Who would expect my shin to cramp so badly? I couldn't even sit because it kept getting worse.

After an IV, I started to feel a whole lot better. I was still tipsy for quite awhile when trying to walk.

Thank goodness for Fred. Linda and I wanted to go to the porta-pottie and Fred lent his arm for us to lean on. Then he walked me to transition. I was okay walking on my own after that.

The Kona slot distribution was a bit of a downer. Nancy already had her slot so it rolled down to second place. Claudia Cortes was second and didn't want it. What a shock! Then it went to third--Marianne Moore, who was only 1:12 minute ahead of me. She was ecstatic; I was bummed. 4th place was only 12 seconds ahead of me. I have to shake off the visions of Hawaii dancing in my head.


The award ceremony was cancelled due to the impending storm. They will mail out the awards.

My goal for the day was to get my picture taken with Julie Moss. I never even saw her.