Better Late then Never: St George 70.3 Race Report.

Better Late Then Never… St. George 70.3 Race Report. 

This is my Journey into the World of Ironman. It's my journal/documentation of the ups and downs of what it takes to be an age-group athlete training for an Ironman triathlon. This is more of a way for me to remember what I am doing over the course of the training season, as any Ironman Athlete can tell you, sometimes the days can blur into one training day of swim, bike, run after another. So, while some may not find this at all interesting, those that wonder...could I do an Ironman? Do I have what it takes to do an Ironman? I give you a peek into my journey and days to complete my next Ironman.  Forgive any misspelled words/awkward sounding sentences. I'm pretty happy just to get them down on paper. Consider it a test of your mental skills to figure out what I'm saying. Hope you enjoy reading my journey.

Current Training Totals:

Swim        76,180 yds             31.32 hr/min

Bike         678.17  Miles         57:57 hr/min

Run          283.94  Miles         61:11 hr/min

Other/                                      24:30 hr/min

Strength

Overall  Training Time:         175:10 hr/min

Note To Self:  Never, Ever, travel seven states, move, start a new travel job, and then head off to do the hardest 70.3 race on the Ironman Circuit, in one week's time.  It’s just not a smart move to make. Really…it’s not. 

Pre-Race

I got in to St George on Wednesday Night. I had booked a rental in town, so the dogs came with me. It was a really nice rental, I was in love with the big huge walk in shower and the comfy bed. It was also nice to share it with some friends for the week so I didn’t have to be alone for race week.  

I  got to the race expo on Thursday, got in my workouts and got checked in.  I stopped by the Base booth for a bit. Then met up with some of my teammates and we all regrouped back at the rental for a BBQ that night to relax and catch up.  Noting that my bike was acting up, I had one of the guys check it out, as I had not had a chance to run it into the shop before leaving Prescott, so I dropped it off Friday AM at the bike mechanic at the expo.  Little did I know it would take until after 3 pm to get it back. So it made for a frustrating time, trying to get my bags and such organized.  Figuring out if I could even get in a workout.  I ended up having to bail on my workouts.  So I spent the day, hanging out at the Base Booth, making new friends, meeting old friends, and selling some salt.  

When I finally got my bike, I headed over to the Race site 30 minutes away, with my new Base buddy Ryan, and we dropped off our bikes. It was the first time I’d seen Sand Hollow, and it was beautiful….That aqua water.  My favorite color. It just took my breath away.  I was bummed it wasn’t warmer, and it was pretty windy, so we dropped off our bikes and got out pretty quick.  I was lucky enough to have my bike right at the end of the rack.  So I didn’t have far to go once out of the water. I snapped a few pics and back to the rental to relax, get warm as we got rained on,eat dinner, and get to bed early for the big day.  To say I was nervous, was an understatement.  I had talked previously with my Coach who made it clear, this would be my hardest 70.3 on my training plan. And I was very aware of how underprepared I felt, with the last few weeks of crappy workouts. I just felt like I was not ready.  But I wasn’t going to quit. I would treat this as training for IMMT, which comes in Aug.  This course would be very close to what I have to do for IMMT, but double. Oh Shit…what did I get myself into?    

 Race Morning

I woke up at my 4:45 alarm ( that was number 4), and was out the door with the dogs to go potty. Once back in, I got ready in my race gear, had breakfast, and got ready to go.  Before leaving for the race, I checked my phone before I shut it off and left it for the day.  The weather report seemed too good to be true: 66 degrees?  5 mph winds?  slight chance of rain between 11-1pm?   It seemed to good to be true. And it was….

Arriving at the T2, I dropped off my run bag and then got in line with my Base Buddy Ryan, and was directly behind my Teammates and Coach Jillian. I got a great big hug from her, and a sweet note to help me with my race.  We missed each other getting on the same bus, but that was okay. I needed to sit in the front, otherwise, motion sickness was going to rear its ugly head.  A 30 min ride to Sand Hollow and I made it with no issues thankfully.

Once there, Ryan and I gave each other good lucks, and I headed out to my spot to setup my bike. The clock was ticking.  We thought we had until 6:45 to setup, but in the end, we had 15 min, oops.  So It was a super quick setup. Got all my gear ready to go, and I was soon hearing the announcer calling us all out of transition.  Off I walked out of T1, with an hour wait until the swim, and I was in my wetsuit, and I was freezing…

The weather report as I stated earlier was too good to be true.  By the time we got to T1 , and off the busses…it was freezing, the wind was blowing pretty strong.  And it was cold.  The sun was not coming up, the clouds were full and you could just smell the rain in the air.  I had an hour wait until my swim start.  I managed to huddle behind the back of a building with other athletes, by this time I was in a full body shake. Even with the wetsuit on, I could not get warm. When I had used the port-a-potty, I didn’t want to get out, because there was no wind and it was warmer.    Finally, as my time drew near, I got in line with my age group, once again florescent pink caps. I swear, I have more dam pink caps….   I found Erika and walked with her and another teammate down to the lake, under the arch, and down the ramp to the water.  I was so cold. I was afraid to get in the water. But once I started to get in, I realized after my first dip under, that I was finally warmer.  Little did I know, that there in 62 degrees for the water temp, that would be the warmest I’d be all day.  Let the race begin. 

Swim

Once in the water, and after the initial cold dip in 62 degrees, I started to feel a bit warmer, thank goodness. But then the panic started to kick in.  Classic for my first open water swims of the season. Honestly, my races are the only time I get the chance to swim in open water, so the first race always tends to be the hardest.  I swam out with the rest of my group to the start about 100 m out, and then….we were off!

I had to take several deep breaths, get my head in the water and swim.  It was a bit of a rough start, it was the first time I got my goggles kicked off my face by another athlete.  I managed to adjusted those, and then just focused on one buoy at a time to swim toward. The course was a triangle so the first angle out, I was having the most difficulty, just getting comfortable in the water, getting hit by other athletes, trying to find a rhythm with the water starting to get waves.    

By the time I got to the first turn, I had gotten into some type of rhythm.  I was actually feeling better, I had space around me. I some how had gotten a feel for the waves and the water, and was able to breath and stroke in the waves so that I didn’t swallow half the lake.  So the second angle seemed to go a bit better once I got a feel for how the water changed when I turned with the waves.  Then, before I knew it,  I was on the last turn, and the waves came at me from the front, so I didn’t fell like I was making much progress, I felt like the waves were pushing me back out. So again, I some how managed to swim with the waves, keep from getting to much water in my mouth, and before I knew it I was finishing my swim.   

I managed a 49:16 on my swim. I was actually quite happy with that, it wasn’t my worst 1.2 swim, and with the waves, etc. I was pretty darn happy with that!!  

T1

I ran up the ramp and over to the wetsuit strippers, where I stopped in front of a guy who while helpful, hit my watch and caused it to stop then start and jump to the bike, so I had to stop it, then  I had to take time to put my arm back through the wetsuit, where I had to take off my watch, then get my suit off. A bit frustrating. But oh well, it is what it is.   

As I ran up the ramp, I was aware of the wind, and how cold I was now that I was out of my wetsuit, and wet from a 62 degree swim.  I ran to my bike, and as I began to get ready, I felt the rain start to pelt down on me.  I grabbed my arm warmers, the only thing I had, as I didn’t have a rain jacket with me.  (Stupid weather report!!!)   and ran to the bathroom real quick to pee out what I did drink of the lake, and apply some Ho Ha Ride Glide. :)   Once I opened the door, Man, I got hit with a cold gust of wind.  What the hell did I get myself into? Back to my bike, and then pushing my bike to the arch to get started. The rain was coming down stronger now, I couldn’t see out of my sunglasses, there was so much water on them, I had to take them off and wipe them, which didn’t really help.  So I just kinda stared at an awkward angle through my  glasses.  And as I mounted my bike and started to ride, it just got even colder, with the wind and rain pelting me.  

Bike

I managed to bike out of the park, and got on the road. I’m pretty sure by Mile 2 I could no longer feel anything. My hands were frozen, they were kinda claw like on my aero bars, I had to shift with the palm of my hand, and I couldn’t take any nutrition, as I couldn’t grab anything.  This was the first ten miles.

   At the aid stations, I stop to pee, I was so damn cold. And once in the porta-potty, I was so warm I was wondering if I could just stay there.  haha, it’s not everyday that a porta-potty becomes  a heavenly place.  Once out though, the wind hit again and I once again was freezing. I had the volunteers help me at every station to open my nutrition and pull my water bottles out so I could take a drink. I was that cold. At times, I was wondering if it was worth it?  I  was acutely aware that every bump I hit could send me flying and I would have no way to recover as my hands would not be able to grab the bars.  I saw so many bikes go by on the sag vehicle.  So many bikes in the first 10 miles.  I knew that I wasn’t going to quit, I may have thought about it, but then I just said,  “just keep going”, “a little bit more, see if it gets better”.  “The only way you can DNF is if they pull you off the course”.  then when I struggling with that, I then used my last resort, “think of the cool story you will have of this race when you finish”  I will commit.   So, I pedaled on. 

The other down side, was that my Cadence and Power meter did not work. So I ended up having to do the entire race by feel.   The next 20 miles from Mile 10 to 30 were mainly survival. Telling myself to just pedal. There was about a 10 min span where the sky opened and I got some sun to sorta dry me out, and then my legs started to thaw out, which then made me aware of how tired they were, from pedaling hard, because I couldn’t feel them to know I might have been pushing to hard.  But soon, it was back to cloudy skies for the rest of the race, with some type of rain falling, medium, light, misty. It was all there, all the time.   By the time I reached the aid station around Mile 34,  just before the big Climb up Snow Canyon, I was frozen and going hypothermic.   I stopped, managed to use the rest room. They had the cop cars there to get athletes warm in, but I knew if I went into one of those, I was finished. So I used the warm porta-potty, Using my thumbs to hook my bike shorts to push them off, and on. And  then when I came out. I was given a poncho when I said I was really cold. So as the guy started wrapping it around me, I made some comment about, “tie me up tight”, which got a good chuckle out of the guy, and me too, then I followed with, “so I don’t become a sail”.  Then I point to his gloves, and said, got any of those?  Which they respond with nice blue hospital gloves that I use at work. So, off I went, with my poncho, tied up tight, and blue gloves to tackle the 7 mile climb up Snow Canyon, in the rain. 

This picture says it all, that was how I did my ride.  One pedal at a time.   The good news was that my core was starting to get a bit warmer. It was the first time I could feel my fingers and hands all day.  And finally, finally I got to the top. Now I knew it was 10 blissful miles of all downhill back to the T2.  But it would be a cold 10 miles with the wind. I ended up taking off my poncho and gloves, as it would be a pretty big sail.  I thanked the volunteers at the top, and away I flew down the hills.   My Garmin had my fastest speed at 42.4 miles down the hill.  I was again aware that if I even hit one bump, I’d be done for. So I had sent up a few prayers to keep me rubber side up. I wasn’t going to stop. And I just kinda didn’t care at that point. As I finally got into transition, I saw my teammate Marc cheering me on. I think the only words I said was, “I’m so cold.  I’m so cold”  But, I did it. I made it through. I knew I could do the run, it would be ugly, but I’d earn that damn medal today. And I would work hard for it. 

4:13:18

T2.  

I got to my spot, got off my wet shoes, and helmet, I put on my dry socks and struggled into my compression sleeves for the calves, more so for warmth, but I know I would be happy to have them.   I then switched out my hat, got on my nutrition, my race bib, and went to use the heavenly warm porta-potty. (yep, I still loved them and didn’t want to leave).  But I knew I would finish now, The only way I was DNFing was if they pulled me off the course, So off I went. 

Run

I ran past Marc again on the way out, I again, I think i just mumbled “I’m so cold, I’m so cold”, at least that’s all I remember.  

I knew it was a hilly course, it took a bit to get my legs under me, slightly cursing those that were running in to be done,as I was just beginning. So I just focused on one mile at a time. Somewhere in there, I saw Jillian, we cheered each other and kept on going our separate ways. 

The first big hill, was killer. I sadly walked most of it. Then after I got to the top, I got pissed, and I forced myself to run, Even if it was for 30 seconds at a time.  I didn’t even give my body a chance to protest.  I kinda just said “F-You, lets go”  the sooner we run the sooner we finish.  I slowly managed to get in a slow but steady run, saw some of my FC teammates on the run. And I kept going. The back half was two out and backs and again I had to do my 30 seconds on/off.  I knew I was slow, and I hurt and I was tired.  My body was cold. So, so cold.  But, I kept going.  I just focused on one mile at a time.   Running the down hills and flats, and if I couldn’t make it up the hills, then it was 30 seconds run, 30 seconds walking, no excuses. 

Finally on the last 4 miles, all downhill, I picked a pace that I could manage, and just ran, well jogged as fast as I could to the finish, I had to stop a few times, as my heart rate felt off and I couldn’t quite catch my breath.  I knew I was tired, but I’d only let myself walk for 30 seconds, then push on.  

Perhaps one of my favorite moments looking back, was when I was about 1/2 mile from the finish, I had been running, and then stopped for a quick second to catch my breath.  I had had Jillian’s voice in my head all the race.  “anyone can run two miles”, “anyone can run a mile”    And then the second I stopped…I heard it for real. As she had been sitting on the corner waiting to see that I was coming.  This awesome loud voice  “REALLY???? 1/2 mile from the finish, and your going to walk???”  LOL or something like that. I got a smile on my face, or maybe in my mind, because I was feeling a bit out of it by this time. And I started back up.  I recall having a brief conversation with her, she had my keys, and if I walked, I wasn’t getting them back. LOL!!  And I was to meet her somewhere, which I repeated back to her to remember, then I immediately forgot when I ran by her. (sorry coach)

So, I ran down the last of the 1/2 mile. I could hear the guy calling in the athletes. He said there were 70 left on the course and was hoping to get them all in. I, of course, was now running down the chute by this time, I didn’t care that I was one of the last 70 in. I did it. I was not one of the 26% or 700 plus Athletes that DNF’d.  I toughed it out and I finished. I Earned that Medal.  

As I ran across the finish line, he called my name and said I’m from….Michigan?? Mississippi?  I recall murmuring Michigan to the gal volunteering next to me, who hollered it out to him. and he announced it.  and then, just like that I was done.  I was so cold. I got my medal placed over my head, my finisher hat. I got some water. I hobbled over to get my finisher pic, with a crazy smile that proves I was cold and out of it with a dazed look on my face.   I was pretty sore,  but so damn happy I was done. I just wanted a hot hot shower and dry clothes, and a comfy bed. 

Run:  2:56:52

Swim         49:16

T1                9:07

Bike    4:13:18

T2                  8:38

Run    2:56:52

Overall      8:17:11

My longest race to date. I didn’t care that I was slow. I committed, and I got it done. Slowly, but I got it. And I vowed then and there I’m never doing this race again!!!!

My next goal was to find Jillian, I had forgotten where I was supposed to meet her, I had no idea where the T2 was, thinking she might be around there. I was walking down the block, thinking I was going the right direction, and luckily ran into Erika and Marc,  we chatted for a few minutes.  Thankfully they were able to get me toward the T2, and as I walked back the other direction. I found the expo and T2.  I didn't see Jillian, so I walked over to the Base Booth where I was greeted by Matt and Ryan, getting a hug for finishing the race. Then they told me that the timing had been off, so they both though I had finished 2 hours earlier, and then when they couldn’t find me, I think they were then looking in the DNF tent for me. I’m blessed to have such good friends and teammates looking out for me when I come to races alone. It’s why I love this sport,  the people and friends I meet, we all watch out for each other. 

I finally found Jillian in T2, as I was getting my bike, we chatted for a bit, she helped me get my stuff, and walked it to my car, where blessedly it was parked right next to the transition (thanks Matt for that :) )  Jillian and I recapped the race, and then I was off to the rental to get warm.  When I got back to the rental, my awesome friends who stayed with me, had cleaned the place up so I was able to not worry about hobbling around to clean the place up, I took the dogs out to go potty, and then I sat in the amazing hot hot shower, until the water ran cold.  

I can honestly say, that was the hardest race, 70.3, I’ve done to date.  I don’t know if I can rank it up with Boulder IM DNF in 14.  that honestly felt like a near death experience I never want to repeat again.  But It was pretty darn close. I can’t decide if I’d rather be freezing or over heating.  I’m thinking freezing, and lesson learned, that even when the weather says perfect conditions, I know better, and will pack rain gear (i guess, buy rain gear is actually what I need to do).  

I was dead set against ever doing this race again. I made a point to say this multiple times to Erika, Marc, Coach Jillian, Matt and Ryan. But now….after time to reflect, I may just have to come back and do it again. Now that I know the course.  And I always seem to need to do a race twice to prove I can do it better.   And I didn’t get to really enjoy the beauty of the course, as I was freezing and just trying to stay on my bike and not fall off.    

The water, I now remember, was a beautiful aqua blue.  My favorite color.  I didn’t get a chance to enjoy that either. 

This race was also important to me, as it was my 42nd race (running, triathlons, duathlons, adventure races, etc).  In my 42nd year.  42 is a significant number for me. It’s my favorite number. Maybe because it was my basketball number in high school, and my track number, etc.  So, having this race be number 42 is kinda of special. While it wasn’t any kind of PR.  I learned from this race. And isn’t that the whole point?  By racing, I learn something new about myself.  Every time. I think that is why I love doing these events. I learn that am strong, that I can push my body to limits. I learn that I won’t give up, even when my mind tries to tell me too. I learn when I should stop (DNF IMB 14) because it could be potentially fatal.  I learn something new about my self every time I toe the line of a race.  And I take what I learn to help me strive to be better on the next one and life in general.   To help me feel alive and blessed to have the chance to do these things while I have the chance. I may not be as fast as I want, I may not have things dialed in as much as I’d like( ie. nutrition), But I won’t give up. I will give everything I have on that day, and know that I did the best I could with the circumstances of that day and what I have in me.  One day, I will have that perfect race, were everything clicks.  It will come…and it will be pretty darn amazing.   I know it.