Ironman 70.3 California - Triathlon1/2 Ironman

We were all treading water and before I knew it the horn went off and so did we. Started a bit outside and in the middle. A little scrum in the start but I'm learning to "just keep swimming" like Dory. No freaking out, no anxiety, just swam. Didn't have to stop at ALL! No breast stroke. Just kept finding feet to draft off of, then I'd pass and find another set. First time I've really been able to do that. The first 1/2 seemed to take a while. Then once we rounded the buoys to head back in we had the current with us and you could really tell the difference. Once we got closer to open ocean the waves picked up and I was loving it! I realize how much I miss swimming in the ocean. There were some people from previous waves having a tough time and I felt badly for them. Got passed by some fast guys from the wave behind us, but I just found some room and tried to ride their wakes.

Swam into the harbor and great vols were there to help pull us up the boat ramp and got our wetsuits unzipped and it was down to my waist by the time I was at the top of the ramp. Awesome! Ran taking my goggles and caps off and earplugs out, passing some folks along the way. It's always such a great feeling to finish the swim and be running towards the bike.

Not much.

This is a HIM and a training race, I was not going to break any speed records. My time was longer because of getting the wetsuit stuck on my heels and the timing chip. I even had a volunteer trying to pull the thing off and she couldn't get it....but did eventually.

Not have my suit stuck on my heels.

First part was nice and as per instructions, see how fast you're going and slow down a bit so you don't burn it all up in the first 20 miles. The first steep hill and it's the steepest of the several in the this race is around mile 27-28. Several people walked their bikes up. One guy was weaving back and forth up the road. The grade has to be 16-17% on this first hill. The others are long but not that steep. There was a gnarly-ass headwind the last 15 miles, including going up the last few hills. Once we got back on the flats, I tried pedaling as hard as I could in the hardest gear I could maintain and then I'd back off and then do it again. There were several of us (women) toward the back that kind of kept switching places and passing one another. I was passing a guy and made sure to be way out on the left when I heard the motorcycle race official ride up. He watched me pass and then looked up ahead to a line of cyclists, kind of drafting. But he saw one of these gals who I'd been riding with pass and gave her a penalty for not passing quickly enough. If anything they should have handed out drafting penalties. It was hard not to draft, with all of us in line and trying to hammer it home. She got a 4 minute penalty but took it like a woman and a good sport.

Early on in the ride, around mile 20, some guy said he already just ridden longer than his longest ride. He was already worried about being able to run. I told him "you're not there yet, just focus on this." Then I wondered what the hell was he doing out there without training? Why would you go into a 56 mile bike ride without riding over 20 miles? That's just kind of weird to me.

I would like to be a bit better bike fitness, but that's what I'm working toward so I guess I'm just where I ought to be going into an IM in 3 months. If I could change the wind I would. :)

I was glad to be off the bike and ready for the run. Some of my friend who were volunteering in transition came over to chat while I got my stuff together. Decided to take my jacket with me and wear it. Needed to hit the porta potty before so my T2 was much longer than it needed to be, but a girl's gotta do....

? Not have to go to the porta potty.

Started out feeling really strong. The first 3 miles kind of dragged along though and I thought, hell I've got a long way to go. The next 3 were better as I just focused on my form and staying focused on what I was doing -- running 13.1. I took it a 3-mile segment at a time. Aid stations were well stocked with bananas, water, perform, coke, chips, pretzels, sponges, maybe more. I usually just took water but did have a bit of coke that had too much fizz. I don't drink sodas so probably not the best idea, but it wasn't that much and it didn't seem to be too bad.

The 3rd 3-mile segment was tough. I had just left the turn around and got to see and hear from some support, including son and DH. I wanted to get to the next turn around. I just had to focus on a girl up in front of me, that I wanted to catch up with, and I did and passed her, then I forgot to pick out someone else, so I lost a bit of focus. That's been my issue on this run because it's pretty boring. The last 3 miles weren't too bad, especially because I knew I was on the way in. Overall, I ate 2 gels (more than usual), but they had caffeine and I knew I could benefit as long as my stomach held out, which it did.

I'd exchange sponges at the aid station. they had soaked cold sponges and I'd clean off my hands, wipe my face and neck, then put it in the back top of my shirt. It kind of supported my head and felt comfy. When I went to take it out, it was so warm.

The last 2 miles, I thought, "just two miles" you can do this. My hip, butt leg was hurting some but certainly no worse than it has in the past. I knew this wouldn't be anywhere near as grueling as my last marathon and I took some solace in that. :)

I wasn't as chatty during this run because I was really trying to stay focused. I did at one point ask my son and DH as I ran by and gave them a high five, "now why am I doing this again?" A guy in front of me thought I was talking to him and said "because we can." So right. I didn't tell him I wasn't talking to him because it didn't matter. Later DH said, neither he or my son had an answer for me anyway. :) They're not sure why I do it either.

I felt like my form was pretty good. I was definitely using those arms and core strength in the last few miles.

Maintain focus ALL the way.

Walked, kept walking and meandered through the food tent. They had enough oranges this year, so grabbed a cup of them and a water. The pizza looked disgusting. Don't see how they can eat like that right afterwards. Talked to some volunteers and thanked them for being there.
Got my stuff out of transition and talked to my friends working it, thanking them and just chatting on that endorphin high.

Packed up, headed back toward where I thought my son and DH would be, but apparently, we passed each other because they ended up at transition and I was at the merchandise booth at the other end headed toward my car. Borrowed a guy's phone to call and then we met up.


I wasn't tapered. This is a training race. That probably inhibited my ability to go faster. I'm not sure if I'm more mature or am losing some mojo but it wasn't about going fast for me yesterday. It was about giving it what I could in each moment. There was one time when I was running and passed a woman with one leg and the # 65 on her calf. She had been hit while riding her bike and lost her leg and was back in an attempt to win her age group. Gotta love that. What do I have to complain about? Absolutely nothing.


Ironman events are well-attended, well staffed and organized. They are the franchise "McDonald's" of traithlon, you know what you're going to get when you sign up for one --- the menu is the same, so to speak.

Great volunteers, good support and well-organized. I do wish the official would have seen the girl with the headphones on both the bike and the run course though. Maybe they did and she was disqualified. I could have used some tunes myself.

It's weird thinking that the next time I suit up for a tri it will be an ironman. I'm becoming more confident I'll be able to finish it and not be dying. I still have some training cycles to go through though. Bring it on!