Don't watch the clock; do what it does. Keep going.
Austin 70.3 - Half Ironman Triathlon
Date of Race: 10/26/2014
Total Race Time = 7h 49m 40s
Overall Place = 1780/2634
Age Group = Female 30-34
Age Group Place = 98/155
Pre-race history: It took a lot for me to get to this start line this year.
The decision to transfer into Austin didn't come easy. I wanted to get some of the value for my close to $700 entry to IMCHOO. The transfer program allows you to transfer out of a full Ironman into another full or a half within the same calendar year as long as it is not sold out. Because the program is so new, they don't let you transfer into certain races "just because." Since IMCHOO was a late season race, the only two options were Austin 70.3 or Vegas 70.3 Vegas fell over a weekend I was unavailable, so Austin it was. Here comes the fun part. If I flew myself, my sherpa, and my bike to Austin, it would have cost almost $1000. I was trying to get some value out of what I had already paid, but spending that much more money just wasn't worth it. This is how the decision to drive 14.5 hours each way was made.
One week before the race, we had a family emergency and made a last minute trip to Puerto Rico. I arrived home from PR late Wednesday night, worked on Thursday and then headed to Austin first thing Friday Morning. My sister and I arrived in Austin Saturday afternoon, where I checked in and dropped off all of my gear and my bike. By the time we could stop to relax and grab a bite to eat it was close to 3PM. After lunch, we went to the hotel to wind down. We headed into Austin for my traditional Italian carb load and then tried to head to bed early to get a good night's sleep.
Race Day:
After an early wake-up, I made myself a PB&J sandwich (which i had absolutely no interest in eating) packed up our things and headed to the race site. We parked near T2 and the finish line and then had to wait in line for a shuttle to T1 and the swim start. I had already dropped my Run gear bag off the day before, so it was nice not to have to bring a lot of things with me. The line for the shuttles moved quickly and before we knew it, we were on the bus, and very quickly at T1.
I went to body marking and then headed to T1 so I could put my nutrition on my bike. I didn't start until close to 9:30, so we waited. At the swim start and at transition, there are these prickly things all over the grass. I made sure to keep my flip flops on until I was just about in the water to keep them off my feet. They didn't look comfortable.
Swim: After watching nearly every wave start, it was finally my turn. My warm-up consisted of swiming the 10 yards from the shore to the start line since this was a deep water start. As usual, I lined up in the front of the pack. The announcer counted down, and we were off. I don't seem to do well without a very good warm up; I have Rotator Cuff Tendonitis in my right shoulder, so starting a race at a fast pace typically isn't a good thing for me. I started at a decent pace and very quickly, I could feel my shoulder. My immediate thought when that happens is "there is no way I am going to be able to swim this. I grew up swimming, and I like swimming, but this is just miserable." Once the super fast people went ahead, I had my own space to do my thing. I was dealing with my shoulder, but I was hanging in there. I divide the swim of every race up into 4 parts and I set my watch to alert me when I have completed each part. I felt the first buzz. I quickly gained some confidence, told myself that this wasn't sucking as much as I thought and continued on my way. Once I made the first turn the water was much choppier. My watch buzzed two more times and I knew I was almost there. Just 528 yards to go!! This is where my swim fell apart. I got a side stitch in my right side. Unfortunately, this is common for me these days. (I only swim every other week at most because of my shoulder, so this really shouldn't surprise me.) I typically slow down a bit and really try to stretch out my stroke, which usually stretches out the cramp. This didn't work. I had to stop and tread water. I was pushing down on my side to hopefully get the pain to ease up. I started swimming again with a little side stroke mixed in. I stopped a second time to stretch my side. After that, I was able to finish up with a very very slow freestyle. I was just trying to make it to the end.
Swim Time: 35min 13sec
I had no official goal time, but i was aiming for 32. What is interesting enough is that my first four swim splits were even. I lost close to 2 minutes on the last split with the cramp. I would have been pretty spot on with the 32 minutes.
T1: I got out of the water and ran up a small hill. My sister was on the side cheering me on and taking photos. As soon as I passed her, I walked to my bike. I took my time getting my feet dry. I have been having some blister issues on the run, and I figured it I could start the bike with dry feet, I may have a chance of having a blister free run. T1 was on grass; the same grass that had the prickly things. We had been told to carry our bikes to make sure that we didn't end up flatting out in transition. I think I was the furthest possible spot from the bike exit. I felt like I was carrying my bike forever. I finally set my bike on the pavement and I was off.
T1 Time: 5min 9sec
Bike: The bike started off ok. My heart rate is typically sky high after transition, so it takes me a while to get that under control. It also takes me about 20 minutes to find my bike legs. The beginning of a race is typically very slow for these two reasons, and this was no exception. Immediately, I noticed that the roads were terrible. Imagine a gravel road, but without the gravel being loose. That is how every single road was for entire course. The first half of the race I felt good. I stayed in Aero most of the time except when the road was really bumpy. For the first half, i found the elevation profile to be perfect for me. There were only a few hills, but mostly flat, country, Texas roads. My watch buzzed with my halfway split and I was shocked! If I kept it up, I would have only been 4 minutes slower than my fastest HIM split and I was actually trained for that one.
Here is where the happiness and feelings of being super awesome went down the drain. The roads continued to suck and there was now a headwind. I felt like I was barely moving no matter how hard I was working. That nice elevation profile I was enjoying; that was gone too. The hills appeared. Not like Atlanta Hills. In Atlanta, we have rolling hills - For every uphill, there is a downhill beforehand that give you momentum to get up the hill. Not in Austin. You are riding along flat roads in aero and oh look, a hill! Nothing to help you up. There were a few downhills, but nothing super steep or fast. After every downhill, we returned to flat before getting another uphill. After 30 minutes of this, I was done. I couldn't wait to get off the bike. This was all out miserable! Finally, I could see the race site and I don't think I have ever been more excited to get off my bike. Maybe in Ironman, but just maybe.
Bike Time: 3hrs 47min 48sec
I figured I would finish this bike course around 3:30. The first half of this course was at least 20 minutes slower than my second half of the bike.
T2: Again, I swear I was at the furthest possible point in transition from the bike entrance. I got off the bike and walked slowly to my spot. I racked my bike, and sat on the ground. I was miserable. The heat must have gotten to me, because I was nauseus. I really wanted to throw up at this point. I lubed up the blister prone foot, switched out my shoes, and got myself ready to run. I stopped for a sunscreen spray, waited in line at the port-a-potty and then headed out for the run which I didn't think I would be able to do.
T2 Time: 7min 44sec
Run: I starting running immediately after T2. I passed my sister who was cheering me on and then I immediately started to walk. I was so miserable. My stomach was off and I had no interest in the nutrition I had brought with me. It was HOT and there was zero shade. If there was ever a race I wanted to just flat out quit, it was this race, at this time. I'm sure I told myself something motivational because I kept going. This was an out and back course that we repeated 3 times. There was no shade on this course. There was also no flat roads - We were either going uphill or going downhill. Did I mention there wasn't any shade?
After trying to run at the beginning, I decided that I couldn't. I stopped at each aid station, grabbed a cup of coke, an orange slice, and water and ice. I walked just about the entire first loop. If you want to know how to do the mall walk shuffle, ask me. I mastered that skill during that first loop!
At the turn around, my sister was cheering, as were a few other folks. It looked like she made some friends! I made the turnaround determined to start running. I decided that instead of my typical 4 minute run, 1 minute walk ratio, I would move to running the downhills and walking the uphills. This actually worked! I continued to get coke, an orange, ice, and water at each aid station and this seemed to work out very well for me. My run wasn't fast, but my stomach had calmed down and my body equilibrium seemed to be back to normal.
The rest of the run course was uneventful and actually quite boring. The race ended inside an arena. I was actually most looking forward to that about the race, and I suppose it was kinda cool, but not what I had expected.
Run Time: 3hr 13min 46sec
I anticipated close to 3 hours for this run, but that just went way out the door the minute I had to walk the first loop.
Post Race: I met my sister and Kimberly Daniels who had been doing her first half and we walked over to get food. I took a piece of pizza and that was it. My sister refilled her soda for me with coke since the race only had diet left. We chatted with Kimberly a little and then headed out. We immediately left the race site (i changed in the car) and drove three hours to Houston to get a head start on the drive.
What would you do differently: For starters, there are a few things I would do differently that were completely out of my control. This race was just about a week after we lost a loved one. The travel for the funeral right before the race combined with the emotional roller-coaster that week was not really conducive for a good race. Driving for two days and then racing the next day - again, not a good idea. Our plans had changed a good bit though and I did what I could do.
Rate your overall experience with this race: This race gets a 3. The only reason it is rated that high is because the race was well run. The logistics were perfect, and the volunteers were super friendly. That being said, DO NOT EVER DO THIS RACE! The race site and the run course were ugly. My poor sister was stuck in a sports complex with an unfinished arena, a show barn (where they were holding a dog show at the same time,) and a rodeo. There was nothing for her to do and it wasn't a nice setting for her to spend the entire day in.
The roads on the bike course were miserable. Add that to the crappy hills and the bike course was just not fun. The run - three out and backs in the sports complex and an ugly road; no shade. I am absolutely glad that I did this race, and like any race, I absolutely enjoyed myself. But the short is, I will not be doing this race again, and you shouldn't either!
Strength does not come from winning. Your struggles develop your strengths. When you go through hardships and decide not to surrender, that is strength.
Arnold Schwarzenegger
Austin 70.3 - Half Ironman Triathlon
Date of Race: 10/26/2014
Total Race Time = 7h 49m 40s
Overall Place = 1780/2634
Age Group = Female 30-34
Age Group Place = 98/155
Pre-race history: It took a lot for me to get to this start line this year.
- March: Bike accident - broken hand
- May: Surgical pins removed - all clear to start training
- May - August: ZERO motivation - 1 to 2 long runs, 1 long bike, little to no swimming
- August: HIM with ZERO training (I wouldn't recommend this)
- August 28: Told by doc if I did IMCHOO, I would likely end up with a stress fracture or worse. Used the new IM transfer program to officially transfer out of IMCHOO and into Austin 70.3
- August 29: began 8 week training plan for Austin
The decision to transfer into Austin didn't come easy. I wanted to get some of the value for my close to $700 entry to IMCHOO. The transfer program allows you to transfer out of a full Ironman into another full or a half within the same calendar year as long as it is not sold out. Because the program is so new, they don't let you transfer into certain races "just because." Since IMCHOO was a late season race, the only two options were Austin 70.3 or Vegas 70.3 Vegas fell over a weekend I was unavailable, so Austin it was. Here comes the fun part. If I flew myself, my sherpa, and my bike to Austin, it would have cost almost $1000. I was trying to get some value out of what I had already paid, but spending that much more money just wasn't worth it. This is how the decision to drive 14.5 hours each way was made.
One week before the race, we had a family emergency and made a last minute trip to Puerto Rico. I arrived home from PR late Wednesday night, worked on Thursday and then headed to Austin first thing Friday Morning. My sister and I arrived in Austin Saturday afternoon, where I checked in and dropped off all of my gear and my bike. By the time we could stop to relax and grab a bite to eat it was close to 3PM. After lunch, we went to the hotel to wind down. We headed into Austin for my traditional Italian carb load and then tried to head to bed early to get a good night's sleep.
Race Day:
After an early wake-up, I made myself a PB&J sandwich (which i had absolutely no interest in eating) packed up our things and headed to the race site. We parked near T2 and the finish line and then had to wait in line for a shuttle to T1 and the swim start. I had already dropped my Run gear bag off the day before, so it was nice not to have to bring a lot of things with me. The line for the shuttles moved quickly and before we knew it, we were on the bus, and very quickly at T1.
I went to body marking and then headed to T1 so I could put my nutrition on my bike. I didn't start until close to 9:30, so we waited. At the swim start and at transition, there are these prickly things all over the grass. I made sure to keep my flip flops on until I was just about in the water to keep them off my feet. They didn't look comfortable.
Swim: After watching nearly every wave start, it was finally my turn. My warm-up consisted of swiming the 10 yards from the shore to the start line since this was a deep water start. As usual, I lined up in the front of the pack. The announcer counted down, and we were off. I don't seem to do well without a very good warm up; I have Rotator Cuff Tendonitis in my right shoulder, so starting a race at a fast pace typically isn't a good thing for me. I started at a decent pace and very quickly, I could feel my shoulder. My immediate thought when that happens is "there is no way I am going to be able to swim this. I grew up swimming, and I like swimming, but this is just miserable." Once the super fast people went ahead, I had my own space to do my thing. I was dealing with my shoulder, but I was hanging in there. I divide the swim of every race up into 4 parts and I set my watch to alert me when I have completed each part. I felt the first buzz. I quickly gained some confidence, told myself that this wasn't sucking as much as I thought and continued on my way. Once I made the first turn the water was much choppier. My watch buzzed two more times and I knew I was almost there. Just 528 yards to go!! This is where my swim fell apart. I got a side stitch in my right side. Unfortunately, this is common for me these days. (I only swim every other week at most because of my shoulder, so this really shouldn't surprise me.) I typically slow down a bit and really try to stretch out my stroke, which usually stretches out the cramp. This didn't work. I had to stop and tread water. I was pushing down on my side to hopefully get the pain to ease up. I started swimming again with a little side stroke mixed in. I stopped a second time to stretch my side. After that, I was able to finish up with a very very slow freestyle. I was just trying to make it to the end. Swim Time: 35min 13sec
I had no official goal time, but i was aiming for 32. What is interesting enough is that my first four swim splits were even. I lost close to 2 minutes on the last split with the cramp. I would have been pretty spot on with the 32 minutes.
T1: I got out of the water and ran up a small hill. My sister was on the side cheering me on and taking photos. As soon as I passed her, I walked to my bike. I took my time getting my feet dry. I have been having some blister issues on the run, and I figured it I could start the bike with dry feet, I may have a chance of having a blister free run. T1 was on grass; the same grass that had the prickly things. We had been told to carry our bikes to make sure that we didn't end up flatting out in transition. I think I was the furthest possible spot from the bike exit. I felt like I was carrying my bike forever. I finally set my bike on the pavement and I was off.T1 Time: 5min 9sec
Bike: The bike started off ok. My heart rate is typically sky high after transition, so it takes me a while to get that under control. It also takes me about 20 minutes to find my bike legs. The beginning of a race is typically very slow for these two reasons, and this was no exception. Immediately, I noticed that the roads were terrible. Imagine a gravel road, but without the gravel being loose. That is how every single road was for entire course. The first half of the race I felt good. I stayed in Aero most of the time except when the road was really bumpy. For the first half, i found the elevation profile to be perfect for me. There were only a few hills, but mostly flat, country, Texas roads. My watch buzzed with my halfway split and I was shocked! If I kept it up, I would have only been 4 minutes slower than my fastest HIM split and I was actually trained for that one.
Here is where the happiness and feelings of being super awesome went down the drain. The roads continued to suck and there was now a headwind. I felt like I was barely moving no matter how hard I was working. That nice elevation profile I was enjoying; that was gone too. The hills appeared. Not like Atlanta Hills. In Atlanta, we have rolling hills - For every uphill, there is a downhill beforehand that give you momentum to get up the hill. Not in Austin. You are riding along flat roads in aero and oh look, a hill! Nothing to help you up. There were a few downhills, but nothing super steep or fast. After every downhill, we returned to flat before getting another uphill. After 30 minutes of this, I was done. I couldn't wait to get off the bike. This was all out miserable! Finally, I could see the race site and I don't think I have ever been more excited to get off my bike. Maybe in Ironman, but just maybe.
Bike Time: 3hrs 47min 48sec
I figured I would finish this bike course around 3:30. The first half of this course was at least 20 minutes slower than my second half of the bike.
T2: Again, I swear I was at the furthest possible point in transition from the bike entrance. I got off the bike and walked slowly to my spot. I racked my bike, and sat on the ground. I was miserable. The heat must have gotten to me, because I was nauseus. I really wanted to throw up at this point. I lubed up the blister prone foot, switched out my shoes, and got myself ready to run. I stopped for a sunscreen spray, waited in line at the port-a-potty and then headed out for the run which I didn't think I would be able to do.
T2 Time: 7min 44sec
Run: I starting running immediately after T2. I passed my sister who was cheering me on and then I immediately started to walk. I was so miserable. My stomach was off and I had no interest in the nutrition I had brought with me. It was HOT and there was zero shade. If there was ever a race I wanted to just flat out quit, it was this race, at this time. I'm sure I told myself something motivational because I kept going. This was an out and back course that we repeated 3 times. There was no shade on this course. There was also no flat roads - We were either going uphill or going downhill. Did I mention there wasn't any shade?
After trying to run at the beginning, I decided that I couldn't. I stopped at each aid station, grabbed a cup of coke, an orange slice, and water and ice. I walked just about the entire first loop. If you want to know how to do the mall walk shuffle, ask me. I mastered that skill during that first loop!
At the turn around, my sister was cheering, as were a few other folks. It looked like she made some friends! I made the turnaround determined to start running. I decided that instead of my typical 4 minute run, 1 minute walk ratio, I would move to running the downhills and walking the uphills. This actually worked! I continued to get coke, an orange, ice, and water at each aid station and this seemed to work out very well for me. My run wasn't fast, but my stomach had calmed down and my body equilibrium seemed to be back to normal.
The rest of the run course was uneventful and actually quite boring. The race ended inside an arena. I was actually most looking forward to that about the race, and I suppose it was kinda cool, but not what I had expected.
Run Time: 3hr 13min 46sec
I anticipated close to 3 hours for this run, but that just went way out the door the minute I had to walk the first loop.
Post Race: I met my sister and Kimberly Daniels who had been doing her first half and we walked over to get food. I took a piece of pizza and that was it. My sister refilled her soda for me with coke since the race only had diet left. We chatted with Kimberly a little and then headed out. We immediately left the race site (i changed in the car) and drove three hours to Houston to get a head start on the drive.
What would you do differently: For starters, there are a few things I would do differently that were completely out of my control. This race was just about a week after we lost a loved one. The travel for the funeral right before the race combined with the emotional roller-coaster that week was not really conducive for a good race. Driving for two days and then racing the next day - again, not a good idea. Our plans had changed a good bit though and I did what I could do.
Rate your overall experience with this race: This race gets a 3. The only reason it is rated that high is because the race was well run. The logistics were perfect, and the volunteers were super friendly. That being said, DO NOT EVER DO THIS RACE! The race site and the run course were ugly. My poor sister was stuck in a sports complex with an unfinished arena, a show barn (where they were holding a dog show at the same time,) and a rodeo. There was nothing for her to do and it wasn't a nice setting for her to spend the entire day in.
The roads on the bike course were miserable. Add that to the crappy hills and the bike course was just not fun. The run - three out and backs in the sports complex and an ugly road; no shade. I am absolutely glad that I did this race, and like any race, I absolutely enjoyed myself. But the short is, I will not be doing this race again, and you shouldn't either!
Strength does not come from winning. Your struggles develop your strengths. When you go through hardships and decide not to surrender, that is strength.
Arnold Schwarzenegger
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