IMC 2009 RR- No I did not pee on my bike!

[lkinkade]

This turned out to be an amazing day. I had such a great race and really felt good the majority of the time. I attribute this to the insightful coaching I received from Ben and the perfect race plan. Granted I had to actually follow his plan to reap the rewards but all of those hours of training were worth it. Even though the race was just one day I feel like so much of the experience was the 10 months leading up to this day. When it came to race day I felt totally prepared and ready to tackle this course.
Race morning woke up at 3:45 after a restless night of sleep. For breakfast I had 1 cinnamon raisin bagel with butter and honey and ½ cup oatmeal and cottage cheese. During the morning I sipped on electrolyte drink and probably took in an additional 100 calories.
Around 5 AM met up with Kirk and Marne and headed over to the transition area. This was fairly well organized. Dropped off special needs bags and got body marked. Headed over to add a few items to my transition bags and then to add my nutrition to my bike. Ran into Ben and he was kind enough to fill up my tires for me. I then stood in the porta potty line with Mary for the next half hour and also started getting in my wetsuit. Around 6:50 took my gel and water and then headed to the swim area.

Swim 1:13:17
With Ben’s advice I positioned myself about 5th back in the center to the right. I checked with the woman next to me and she was targeting the same finish time so I figured I was in the right spot. Did the count down and then the group in front of me took a few steps and then plunged in. This was exactly like you hear about it being. Controlled chaos- thrashing bodies everywhere. I was totally surrounded and I realized that there was no changing my mind now and that my only choice was just to go along with everyone else. I know my HR was high due to the stress factor but I really wasn’t having to work all that hard since I was being carried along by the current. I was kicked in the face and my goggles were knocked loose (thanks to Kirk and Marne the day before recommending I put my goggle straps under my cap). It was crowded all the way out to the second boat turn around. It started to thin out some and I was having to work harder since there wasn’t always someone in front of me. I kept looking up and the buildings didn’t seem to be getting closer- I probably should have just kept my head down since it was impossible to get off course. I finally made it and swam until my hands were hitting the ground. Ran out of the water and Ben was right at the arch cheering me on.

T1 4:35
I stripped off the top half of my wetsuit and there were people beckoning me forward. I laid down and they whipped off my wetsuit so fast! Pulled me up and pointed me in the right direction. I think someone must have handed me my bag- it is all a blur. In the changing tent someone came over to help me. They emptied out my bag- put on my shoes and socks for me! In the meantime I was putting on my heart rate monitor, glasses, helmet and having a cup of tea (just checking to see if you were paying attention). With a 5 min transition I can definitely do this faster in the future.

Bike 6:51:38
Goal HR 130-135, Actual 137
Calories: 1000 infinit, 200 Cliff blocks, 2 gus (1 w/ caffeine), should have had a little more since I started the run hungry.
Grabbed my bike and ran out to the mounting area and headed out. What a rush having all those cheering spectators out on the course…I felt like a pro. I had the biggest, dopiest grin on my face. Waited the normal 20 mins then started taking in the calories. The first 43 miles really just flew by. My time was much faster than I had thought it would be so I was very pleased. The last time I had rode this stretch I had done a 100 miles the day before so I remember it being much harder than it actually was. My target HR was 130-135 and I found it quite easy to stay in this zone. I could have gone harder and faster but I knew I had a long day ahead of me. Hit the turn off to head up Richter pass and I was already in need of my second bathroom break. Ended up waiting 6 mins for the porta potty! This was a popular point, next time I need to go at the stop before. I had been hydrating aggressively so this was already my second stop. I realized at this point I was almost through 1000 calories of Infinit and decided to slow down my intake. There is no way I was peeing on my bike with so many people around. Someone would have gotten sprayed and it wouldn’t have been nice. I headed up Richter pass and was trying to keep my HR under 155. This was difficult and I was going pretty slow. Saw my Dad and his wife about half way up. I thought I was going to miss them since I was ahead of schedule. It was cool to seem my Dad so excited. I could tell he was really getting into the whole thing or maybe it was just his sbux kicking in. The rollers flew by. I kept waiting to feel really tired but it just never seemed to happen. Skipped the special needs and kept on riding. When I finished the out and back I knew I was in the home stretch. Going up Yellow Lake was fun with all the people on the course cheering us on. Some many great positive people to support us all. I loved all the signs and costumes it added a nice diversion. Once I started the descent into town I kept waiting for it to feel easy. It just never seemed to be that easy coasting I remember. It never happened. Come to find that the winds were fairly high- I guess it just wasn’t me.

T2 6:23
Reached the transition area and they whisked away my bike. Ran over to grab my bag and head to the changing tent. Sitting down was a mistake. As I am sitting all of a sudden I felt really fatigued and I can’t believe I still had 26 miles to run. I changed my shoes and put on my garmin. Headed to the porta potty again! Then off I go.

Run 4:34:58
Goal HR 145-150, Actual 147
Calories: not sure lost count. I was taking gels, water, Gatorade and one small cup pepsi.
I am heading out and the crowds are cheering so loud. I think wow what support then I realize that I am being passed by a pro as they are finishing. I then see my family cheering me on and I get a burst of energy and think this is going to be a good run. Since my first name was on my race number I could hear people calling my name. I wasn’t always sure if it was someone I knew or not so I just waved and smiled. I was finding it really easy to run faster but held myself back and trying to not get carried away. I saw so many friends and Vo2 team mates on the course that it helped pass the time. I stuck with my plan to walk through all aid stations to get fresh sponges and take in nutrition. Had two more potty breaks taking me up to a total of 6. Is this normal? I felt really good all they way to the half way mark. My Dad, his wife and my Grandpa were there to cheer me on. I skipped the special needs and kept going. At this point I knew that I was going to walk all the hills going back. I was still feeling okay until about mile 18 and then it really started getting hard. At mile 20 I knew I could come in under 13 hours if I just kept on going. I started doing the math in my head trying to figure out if I could slow down anymore. My HR was below the 145 but the pain in my legs was so uncomfortable I just couldn’t make myself go any faster. Those last three miles I was definitely digging deep to keep on running. At this point I wasn’t smiling I just wanted to get this bad boy done. I saw the family twice again right before the turnaround. That extra needed boost I needed to keep going.

It turned out to be an incredible day. No I did not sign up for next year but I hope to do it again soon. Maybe I will be an every other year IM’r. I will continue to focus on Half IM”s and shorter distances working on my speed. Thanks to all my great training partners and Vo2 team mates for supporting me and being there for all those long workouts.

Thanks, Lee Ann

side note: If you are a first timer I would highly reccomend a training camp. I went to one put on my Ben and Cindy about 8 weeks before the race. Before this camp I had never rode over 70 miles. Doing back to back days on the bike of 100 miles was really good preparation and gave me the that extra level of confidence I needed.

[Mary]

Great job for your first Ironman Lee Ann It was so much fun to see you out on the course and as usual you always had a smile on your face. It has been so inspirational watching you this year and training and racing together. Just imagine what you can do next year

Great RR and congrats on a great first IM finish Lee Ann! Sounds like you paced and managed your day very well.

[MikePritch]

Way to stick with the plan and have an incredible day! great RR too.

[max]

Very good result and something that you shoudl be rightly proud of! It makes all those brutal sessions (that was just the music) at EMC seem worthwhile

[benbiggles]

You executed a great race Lee Ann. As for six bathroom breaks, not out of the ordinary and as you had no 'issues' to speak of it does not make me think you were 'over hydrated'.

I am very very proud of how this day turned out. The two times I saw you, coming out of the water, and at about 5km into the run you looked fantastic. Way to tough it out during the later miles and to have the presence of mind to know you could break 13 if you stayed focused was impressive.

Looking forward to next season.

[chrisesposito]

Lee Ann,
you looked really good each time we saw you. Congratulations on having such a good day.

It's a damn shame you actually have to follow the plan to get it's benefits, though


Chris

[Heidi]

You rocked it Lee Ann, way to go!

[porterb]

Great job Lee Ann! Sounds like you had a wonderful first encounter with the Ironman!

I must say though, peeing on yourself, while very unacceptable in pretty much all other sports and situations, is quite the sensation and I would say, worth it.

[lkinkade]

Originally Posted by porterb

Great job Lee Ann! Sounds like you had a wonderful first encounter with the Ironman!

I must say though, peeing on yourself, while very unacceptable in pretty much all other sports and situations, is quite the sensation and I would say, worth it.

Porter- I don't have issue peeing on myself but peeing on others really is not my thing :-). I have never been on such a crowded bike course- I thought with that distance that I would have many miles where I saw no one but that was not the case.

Thanks,
Lee Ann