Thanks for all the support on race day I could feel your fast vibes out on the course! It was great having Erin and kids, my parents, my brother and his family and Edie Guess (Brent was with me all day long) out on the course to cheer me on, they helped bring me home!
The race went really well and I finished exactly where I had hoped if everything went perfectly. 9hrs, 12min, 3rd in my age group, 38th overall (including the pros, 12th amateur). I got my Kona slot (the top six in my age group got to go, 9:19 was the slowest qualifying time out of my age group, very competitive field, (at IMAZ07 I qualified with a 9:59....) so it's back to Hawaii in October of 09!
Below is a quick recap if you are interested (Yes I know I have the grammatical skills of a 2nd grader)
The swim was good, my slowest leg, it was a rough start and my goggles fogged and the early morning glare made it impossible to see anything. I figured I swam well over the 2.4 with all the zig zagging I was doing to try and stay on course, it never really allowed me to get into my rhythm but all the early morning master swims payed off because I felt strong the whole time and came out of the water ready to attack the bike.... 1:04....
The swim to bike transition was a long run up the beach and with the cooler temps I took some time to put on dry cloths... 5min
The bike... The first 20miles of the bike was a parking lot, with so many people coming out of the water so close together the course is just packed, I was passing people the entire time then at mile 20 we headed East on a long 30mile stretch straight into a10MPH wind it wasn't that bad and things spread out so I was able to drop into my rhythm (HR of 145... approx 260W average, per my data from back home, I wasn't riding with power). All you do is eat and drink and peddle. OK.. I was warned about the drafting and how bad it can be at Ironman Florida, the rule is 4 bike lengths between you and the next rider... the course is really flat and one big 112 mile loop so it's hard for the 12 referees to marshal it all... but they did their best. Well they weren't wrong, I would be riding along and then from behind I would be swallowed up by a group of 30+ riders all grouped together in a peleton, it was crazy seeing them peddle and coast, they would pass me by but I just stuck to my plan and personal ethics. At one point a guy got mad at me as I was dropping back through the group to let them go by, he said I was blocking him and messing up his draft, I told him I was very sorry... and that I would see him on the run...;o) At about half way the course turned South and West and the wind was largely at our back, this is when I started pushing it a little and pull in all those groups that had passed me earlier. Here's the best part, on one section of the course I was in such a zone, with no one in front of me for half a mile, that I missed a turn on the course, luckly the crowd stopped me w/o to much time lost, but when I turned around there were several other guys right behind me who had followed me because they were drafting on me, I appologized to them... HA... Mile 80 is typically where the race really begins and in the past has been were I start to struggle, but all my rides with Todd and Bruce payed off big time, I just felt stronger and stronger, and was blowing by groups, at one point I looked back over my shoulder and had what looked like half a mile train of bikes behind me all single file, I was the engine of a long train.. Choo Choo.... but even by the end they could'nt hang and I "road them off my wheel"..... 4:57... my training said I could do 5hrs... very satisfying because I did it fair and square.
Now you always worry what run legs will be waiting for you in T2, did I go too hard on the bike, did I eat and drink enough, how is my body going to react after 5hours in the aero position... but I knew I would have to have a solid run in order to have a shot at Kona...
I started the run out hard... but my run legs had made the trip and I knew I just needed to dial the pace back a bit and just grind it out and it would be ok...
Our house in Panama City was right at mile one of the marathon which consisted of two 13.1 mile out and back loops, so I would get to see my family 4 times, what a huge boost! My brother and dad were tracking me on line so as I went by they would give me my position... 23rd in my age group off the bike (that surprised me a bit but with all the drafting I knew some pretenders were in front of me and you can't hide in a peleton during the run).. At the first time check (6.5miles) 18th, at the 2nd check (13miles) I was 12th,I knew I needed to be top 6, and I was making up a lot of ground but at the start of 2nd loop you get mixed in with all the people coming off the bike starting their 1st loop so you have a hard time telling who's the competition. Mile 13-20 are always tough miles in any marathon and for one that has 2.4miles of swimming and 112 miles of biking they become down right unpleasant, aerobically I was fine, all that air at sea level is great but my body was starting to break down. People say a flat marathon is easy because you don't have any hills but what they don't realize is you are using the exact same muscles every step of the way.. my quads and hamstrings were starting to complain. I just found my zone and worked through hoping I wouldn't cramp up.. I made it to mile 20 and I knew I was home.. I just pushed it home and when my dad and brother told me I was in 6th back at the last check (20.. miles) I knew I had probably made it but I still pushed in because I didn't want to leave it up to chance... 3:02 - 6:58 pace... I had a delusional goal of sub 3hrs but that will have to wait until Kona. ;o)
The finish: Came in strong knowing there is still more to give... Kona...
MY FAMILY, having my family there at the finish line to hug me is what makes it all worth it, because let me tell you I don't smell like roses, and supporting me all day (and all year) just so I can go out and play is something I will always be grateful for.
11 months until Kona...
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