IM Kansas 70.3 (Page 9)

With IMWI training camp the weekend before, Hy-Vee the weekend after and IMWI in September....IMKS 70.3 will be a "train through" race....so I have no goal but to practice race strategy and fueling. 

First, maybe disasterous was a bit of an exaggeration.  It was my first and only HIM, and I finished, and was proud to have done so.  But, it was much slower than I had expected based on the training I had done.

My problem was mainly the run.  I was forced to walk part of the run, and even when "running" my pace was 2-3 per mile slower than I expected.  I was pushing hard, I just couldn't make my body go any faster.  Add in some nausea throughout the run, and then cramping in my calves and quads starting at about mile 10, and the run was pretty much a deathmarch. 

I attribute most of my problems to pacing on the bike.  I did an OK job of pacing the first 35 miles, but the last 21 miles were quite hilly and there was quite a bit of wind.  My HR ended up well out of my planned range.  By the time I got back to T2, I was toast.

I like ballyard7's advice of finding a comfortable gear on the bike and then going one gear easier.  My plan this year will be to keep my HR in my planned range on the bike regardless of wind or hills. 

wintimtim - 2008-04-23 6:57 PM

moneyman - 2008-04-23 3:18 PM <  My plan this year will be to keep my HR in my planned range on the bike regardless of wind or hills. 

 

 

Did nutrition play into any of the problems? I'm worried that I'll blow that portion of the training and end up crapping out

No, I didn't really have any issues with nutrition.  I had planned on 300 calories an hour on the bike and was able to follow the plan.  The only thing I would change is that this time I am going to stick with liquid calories only (gatorade endurance and GU) instead of solid food, and probably cut back to about 250 calories an hour.  I started using solid food on the bike on my long rides because started to find myself feeling hungry, but it left be feeling bloated during the race.

You have a few more weeks and a few more long rides to practice.  I have been expirimenting with GE since it will be on the course.  If you can tolerate it, that is one less thing to worry about.  Unless it gets really hot, I think I can also forego the e-caps and rely on the GE for electrolytes as well

If you get in the race and have trouble taking in calories, that is a pretty good indication that you are going too hard.

At this point, I am much more concerned about pacing than nutrition.