10 days later

10 days ago was the day before KONA. The perspective that time goes on no matter what can certainly keep things from getting unmanageable in one’s mind. I was reminded of that recently.
So, Kona provides a fabulous experience for Ironman. As a relative rookie at the distance, I am still amazed at the experience.

Plan: Leading up to the race, I recalled the 2 things learned in 2007 that I would do differently:
1. Nutrition – last year, I got really sick while racing. Since then, I’ve ‘figured it out’. I made sure my accommodations would work for me. I had a kitchen and easy access to a grocery store.
2. Swim start – last year, I was hanging on to the dock about 50 meters back from the start. This year, I was more comfortable.

Adversity: There is always some adversity or challenge facing you of which you are aware; and then there are the things that you don’t know are coming. I knew that running was going to be difficult at best. Although I used visualization to ‘run pain-free in Kona’ and ‘miraculously be able to push off (it’s like riding a bike with a flat – my foot just doesn’t work), my chronic ankle sprain situation has reached a new plateau. I promised everyone who was concerned that I’d go to the doctor as soon as I returned. (Yes, I went).

Summary: On race day, I was quite calm and enjoyed the morning. I bummed a ride to the race from Patrick Evoe (first-year pro from Austin, Texas) and began the logistical preparations. The swim was beautiful, the bike was wonderfully challenging, and the run continues to offer some opportunity. The highlight of my morning is that Amanda’s friend, Summer, thought I was in the 20-24 or 25-29 age group.

The swim: I was very calm, which is progress. My time was different than I expected. Swim times remain somewhat a mystery to me.

The bike: I love the bike. Me and my speedy Trek are speedy. Yes, it was windy, but I harnessed tons of energy on the bike. My dad told me I was in 2nd in my age group off the bike….. I had the fastest split in my age-group, and one of the fastest amateur splits of the day. And I still felt I had lots in the tank.

The run: I ran pain-free for about 3 miles, then soreness, then at mile 10 it was arduous. The most frustrating part isn’t the pain, it’s the lack of functionality. As I saw in the ‘finish video’, it was ugly, kind of an uneven hobble. I think I was passed by 25 people in the last 2 miles (downhill). So, I went from 2nd to 22nd during the hobble-jog-athon.

Joy: Honestly, my favorite part of the run is seeing people I know and cheering for them. Ok, I like the finishing stretch, too. Most of all, the Ironman Journey fulfills me; the race itself is just one part of the experience.

Setting a record: I set the record for number of books read on a racing trip. 5. Seriously. 2,544 pages. All fiction. My favorite was The Almost Moon by Alice Sebold. When a book begins, “When all is said and done, killing my mother came easily.” I have to read it. Certainly parents mess up their kids, but as a mother, I had to find out more.

Sadness: 10 days ago, my friend, Steve, was alive. Now he is dead. http://southwesternpirates.cstv.com/sports/c-swim/spec-rel/101608aaa.html
That is real pain. The pain of suffering and loss that consumes.

Next: The bionic ankle (hopefully). We determine my plan of action tomorrow, which is also my 39th birthday.

Family: My family still loves me. Autumn and I went to Dallas and saw the King Tut exhibit and the
Dallas World Aquarium. We stayed overnight and watched Mama Mia and read books. We did her “Bug For President” assignment. Michael travels to Wyoming this week for work. The routine goes on. The melody of my life that brings me joy on a perpetual basis.

10 days later.

(I’ll post some pics if I find some and can figure it out).

This Ironman was an epic race and by far the hardest triathlon I have ever done. As my first pro race in Kona I am satisfied with my race and results knowing that I left it all out on the course. However, at the same time it was not exactly the race I wanted or the race I know I was/am capable of. Some of the circumstances were beyond my power, however, I focused on the things I could control and am proud that I pushed through to the finish line.

The swim is really the only part of this race where I am actually disappointed. This leg is the biggest difference between racing as a pro and as an age grouper. There are a lot fewer feet to follow in the pro field and they go out hard, VERY HARD! I was happy with my start and initially caught a good group and swam with it for about the first 3rd of the race. Then the group surged and before I realized what had happened I was off the back and couldn’t catch up, a rookie mistake. I swam the second 3rd alone, trying to stay positive and expecting to be the dead last pro out of the water. Then a trailing group of pros caught up to me and I swam the last 3rd with them making sure not to lose the feet this time.

Coming out of the water I was very frustrated, but I focused on staying relaxed and wanted to get on the bike as fast as I could. As I was running through transition a volunteer informed me my timing chip had fallen off. I had to get a new, chip which didn’t take too long, but I was one more thing to do and more time lost.

I began riding very hard, which was by design, to try to get my legs going. After coming back down the Kuikini highway around mile 8 I began feeling ok. However, as I was climbing Palani Hill I dropped my chain, however, I was riding so hard that I had wrapped my chain around my cranks twice before I could stop pedaling. I had to get off my bike in the middle of the hill and man-handle my drive chain for a what seemed like an eternity to get it free. “Stay relaxed and calm, these things happen, it’s a long race” I told myself. I managed to get it free and was off again, however, after that my shifting was not quite right and I ended up dropping my chain several times throughout the bike ride. Later in the race I stopped for tech support for a moment to try to get it straightened out.

My bike mechanical issues, my legs inability to ever wake up and the wicked wind made for a very hard ride. I normally an able to find a comfortable steady rhythm for at least the first half of the bike, however, on race day my legs never woke up and I felt like I had to push the effort the whole day, however, I focused on my PowerTap and held my wattage to make sure I didn’t blowup and saved something for the run. Just as an indication of how much harder the bike was this year, my bike leg was 5 minutes slower than last year, yet I held an average power that was 15 watts higher.

I was disappointed getting off the bike and I passed several athletes in T2 who were clearly about to drop out and I really wanted to quit; yet I knew I couldn’t. After all this is Hawaii the most famous and epic triathlon in the world, I couldn’t give up, that’s just not my style.

After a mile or so I began to find a rhythm on the run, I thought at least this was better than the “rhythumless” bike. I didn’t want to push too hard too soon and as a result I may not have run quite as fast as I was capable, but nonetheless, I knew that I needed to save something for the last 10k after the Natural Energy Lab. I focused on a fast light turnover and consuming as much fuel as I could at the aid stations. My FuelBelt is/was perfect to make sure that I was able to get in what I needed due to the congestion at some of the aid stations. After just a few miles I slowly began running my way back through the field. The last 8 miles were mentally tough as I knew I was not going to make it into the top 30 like last year, however, I pushed as much as I could. I was proud of the fact that with a pretty good run of 3:02 I was able to pass about 30 guys, my mental fortitude had paid off.

I crossed the line in a time of 9:10 as the 38th pro. I arrived in Kona, HI fitter and faster than last year where I posted an Ironman PR, yet this was not my day. After dealing with some (more than normal) adversity throughout the race I focused on staying positive and pushed all the way to the finish line. Normally over the course of an Ironman the thought of dropping out crosses my mind 3 or 4 times. However, today at least a dozen times I wanted to quit, at some points it was a serious consideration. A race that was not to my potential leaves me thirsty for redemption; perhaps this is why I am considering racing Ironman Arizona at the end of November… By the way, the last time I feel like I underperformed at an Ironman and sought redemption was Ironman Florida in 2005, the next Ironman I raced I finished 5th overall!

Ultimately it was a good race, I learned a lot and very I am proud of myself for staying in the moment, being positive and not giving up, after all the don’t call this Ironman because it is easy.
And for those of you that missed it, my post race treat…a cinnamon bun the size of my HEAD!

Thanks!

www.alexmmtri.com

This week I interviewed professional triathlete, Justin Daerr. JD started his triathlon career with a 12:55 Ironman in 2001, since then he has dropped a few minutes (and hours) to go 8:37 at Ironman Canada in 2008.

LT: Have you ever run over a prairie dog with your bike?

JD: No, but I hit a dog once on hwy 52. The dog and I both lived.

LT: What would it take for you to race an Ironman in a speedo?

JD: Go check out the photos from IMFL 2003. Apparently it doesn’t take much.

LT: Will you continue to shave your legs after you are retired from the sport?

JD: If I continue to ride: probably. If I don’t continue to ride: probably.

LT: I heard you occasionally sing on your long rides, what is your go to song when the going gets tough?

JD: I have been known to sing a tune or eight on long rides, especially if I ride with Denny. I can recall Denny and I going through a Tesla phase, but most recently I was seen singing NWA on the south boulder bike path while riding to the track. Marilyn McDonald can confirm.

LT: Would you rather have Marky V’s size 16 flipper feet (for super speedy swimming), or a pet squirrel?

JD: Pet squirrel.

LT: What is the silliest excuse/reason/conflict you have ever had for missing a workout?

JD: I couldn’t swim because Scott Carpenter pool was only open for dogs.

LT: Have you ever been arrested? Feel free to elaborate.

JD: No, but not because I didn’t try.

LT: You are known for having great hair, what is your secret?

JD: I take the advice of Pert Plus to rinse and repeat regularly.

Crossing the World’s Greatest Finish Line was so worth all the hours, training, and the past 12 months of dedication.  Rewards in life are so much more appreciated when they are earned.  In my opinion its the hard work and dedication of the participants in this event which make Kona’s finish line so special.  

Oct 11th was a beautiful day.  In fact it was the most sunny day of the 5 I had spend on the island.   Arriving that morning at the peer was truly amazing.  To be in the company of the best of the best in this sport was a gift to me.  To have watched the 29 DVDs of the previous World Championships and to actually be there - amazing is the only word that keeps coming to mind.  The amount of energy on that peer was crazy.  Yet everyone was so polite and gracious to one another - not an ego fest in any way. 

The swim start was bigger and more explosive then any of the videos I had ever seen.  The best part was being in the water and looking back at the sea wall and seeing the thousands of fans waiting of the Title Wave of the start to begin.  My swim went well - aside from wanting to punch out the individual that spent the morning touching my feet every 5 seconds as he/she got a free ride.  The bike started equally as strong as I got settled into the ride.  An hour or so into the ride we were all faced with the infamous Kona winds.  Holy cow were they strong and taxing.  The winds impacted my reserves a bit and decreased my ideal bike time, but if I am getting the opportunity to do Kona I want to experience all the island is known for.  

Thank goodness for RC Cola because by the time I got to the 14th mile on the run I lived off soda and bites of bananas.  The finish line was a dream come true for me.  To have all those fans cheering me on and to give so many high fives - again amazing is the best word that comes to mind.  This to only be topped off by my two daughters running up to me and giving me the best hugs and kisses a father has ever received.  

I want to thank all my fellow Team Timex Members I met at this event.  I gained many insightful points from you and I very much appreciate how welcoming you have been to me.