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August 6, 2007
Steelhead 70.3 Race Report
Where to begin? I'm still pretty excited about this race so I warn you now - there will be many exclamation points!! :)
First of all, the trip itself. Probably one of the lowest stress trips we've had. The ride to Michigan was long (although keep in mind anything longer than 90 minutes in the car is long to me) but it went smoothly and we arrived around dinner time on Thursday. One quick comment - Ohio and Indiana in my eyes consist of nothing but flat cornfields and farms. That's all I saw at least.
We grabbed some dinner on Thursday and then drove the bike course. It was pretty nice - some rolling hills but overall much flatter than I was expecting.
Friday was the usual pre-race routine - doing a little of each sport, checking my bike in, getting my packet, preparing all my nutrition and praying it would cool down some. It was just so dang hot, as in high 80s and low 90s and very humid.
My prayers must have been answered because Saturday morning it was miraculously cooler and much less humid! Thank God!
I have to admit, I was pretty nervous for this race. I get nervous for all my races but this one had an element of the unknown that was a little unsettling. After getting my stuff set up in transition O and I started the 1.2 mile trek out to the swim start. I was so very excited to see that Lake Michigan looked calm and smooth, unlike the previous day when it was wavy and choppy and I swallowed more than my fair share of water trying to swim out to one of the buoys that had already been set up.
The Swim: goal time = 30 min/actual time = 32:34
Let me just mention that part of the swim time included running up a beach in deep sand. When I actually got out of the water I looked at my watch and saw 31:xx. I was relatively pleased. But more than anything what I have to say about the swim is IT WENT BY SO FAST, and that NEVER happens for me. I couldn't believe my eyes when I looked up once to site and I saw the last orange buoy that signaled home. Holy Cats! I felt strong and relaxed in the water and although I didn't go as fast as I wanted I was okay with that (for now).
T1 (2:50)
So running up out of water and then up through sand is not such an easy thing to do. I was dying! But I finally got up to my bike and got situated and got moving. I think I still have sand in between my toes and I'm assuming I'll never get it totally out of my cycling shoes... :)
The Bike: goal time = 2:40/actual time = 2:36:40
This was the biggest unknown for me. My fear was that if I pushed too hard the half marathon in 80 degree temps to come would be my death. 56 miles, after all, is a relatively long way to go. But of course I'm competitive and letting someone just pass me right by really isn't an option either. So I tried to find a happy medium. I really enjoyed the ride. It was that nice place where you are definitely working hard but you aren't red-lining it either. If I want to really improve at this distance this is the discipline I need to do it in - push harder on the bike but still be able to run strong. That might be easier said than done.
Regardless, my main focus on the bike was making sure I took some nutrition in. Despite my anti-nausea fixes before the swim my stomach was still pretty unsettled. I forced myself to take in 2 gels though and about 16 oz of (high calorie) fluid. Was it enough? No. But it was honestly all I could force in.
With about 5 miles to go I really wanted off my bike. And I thought about doing a full IM and not even being halfway done and that made me think I don't want to do a full IM any time soon. :)
T2 (2:12)
I was happy to leave my bike behind and get my running shoes on. Very happy.
The Run: goal time = 1:40/actual time = 1:35:56
Happy to get my running shoes on that is until I realized how bad my nausea was. UGH! Immediately upon starting the run my stomach was NOT happy. I let myself feel sorry for myself for about 3 minutes before I decided I had to just deal with it. The reality was, this nausea and I might be together for the next 13.1 miles so I better not fight it. I tried to relax and then I started to do math. I could keep my nausea at bay running 7:35-7:45 pace and if I could somehow just manage that for the next 13 miles I would still get my time goal of 5 hours. Just. Hang. In. There.
Around mile 3.5 of the run I saw O and he told me I was in 3rd place in my age group. I don't know if it was the excitement of realizing that I just might qualify for the this race or what but about a half mile later I threw up big time. Not pleasant, no but I instantly felt about 1000 times better!!!! I saw O again about another half mile later and screamed at him "I just threw up and I feel GREAT!" to which he replied "I love it when you throw up!" I wanted to cry with joy! Now I was comfortably running 7-7:15 pace and loving life. About a mile later I passed the 1st place girl in my age group.
After passing her and knowing my main goal was to protect my spot, I started to really try and focus all energy on getting from one aid station to the next. Because all of a sudden, it was getting really hot and the reality of having 6-7 more miles to go started to set in. At each station I made sure to get in a full cup of water. And I also started to hoard the best invention known to man - the ice cold rectangular sponges they were handing out. Holy Double Cats! These things were amazing. They were just simple little sponges but filled with cold, cold water that everyone was stuffing in their tops or under their hats and...oh my...I was beside myself with joy every time I got one!
Although I was starting to tire considerably I was still running in the 7:15-7:20 range. And with each passing mile the possibility of breaking 5 hours started to turn into reality. And I started to get emotional. Because just like anything that you work really, really, really, really hard for...when you realize that it just may happen...you truly feel a deep, deep joy.
The last mile was tough. Very tough. It felt much like the last mile of a marathon actually. But I knew I had a great race on my hands so I just kept pushing. And when I rounded the last corner and saw the finish line about 200 yds away I finally allowed myself to smile.
I kid you not when I say the moment I stepped over that line and heard the beeping of my chip registering my time, I threw up again, and again, and again. I have no idea how that didn't happen earlier in the race - but I thank God it didn't! The medical volunteers dragged me (and when I say drag, I mean drag) to the medical tent and threw me up on the table, legs up, ice cold towels all over me, bags of ice all over me and then the jabbing of the IV in my hand. But you know what? I couldn't have cared less. I was so happy to have finished and accomplished my 2 goals by going under 5 hours (4:50:09) and also by earning a slot at the 70.3 World Champs in Clearwater, Florida in November.
After about 10 minutes in the medical tent I started to feel much better but they wanted me to get the full liter of IV fluids so I laid there for another 30 minutes or so and I just watched through the side of the tent as everyone finished - some looking strong and some looking haggard but all looking very, very happy.
When they finally let me go I found O and we celebrated. We got my stuff from transition and then we waited around for the awards. I happily stood in line to claim my Clearwater slot. I'm pretty sure that smile from the finish line never left my face all night.
Now a couple days later (and still VERY sore! :), I am still pleased with how things went but definitely scheming for the next race and how I can make it better. After looking over the full results and comparing splits my theory is, the best place to make up more time is on the bike. And of course, figure out my nausea so I can run the way I want to for the whole race and not just 2/3rds of it.
So after a few very light days of training it's back to business! My motivation right now probably can't get any higher. Nor could my appreciation for all those that support and encourage me day in and day out. THANK YOU SO MUCH!
Pictures to come...
And just in case you are interested, mile splits for the run: (missed the first one), 7:39, 7:31, 7:38, 7:10, 7:06, 6:59, 7:12, 7:17, 7:23, 7:28, 7:22, 7:21, :38.
Posted by beth at August 6, 2007 4:42 PM
Comments
hey beth. i am always so impressed how you are able to push yourself so hard and really bring it on race day. i really admire that and i aspire to that myself. like, i'm NEVER sore days later!
that is so strange about the nauseau. i hope you figure that out. and definitely don't turn down the IV. that's good stuff!!
Posted by: Audrey at August 6, 2007 7:06 PM
Beth you are an animal! Congrats!
Posted by: Dawn at August 6, 2007 8:39 PM
beth, O: you didn't just go under 5hrs: you went 10 mins under 5 hrs!!
Stellar race. I'll do some research on this throwing up thing. I have this friend who has the same problem. I'll "interview" him and see if anything comes up...
I agree at first the bike seems the obvious place to shave time off. Truth is you can lower all areas, especially swimming. That was where you were most relaxed. I know, immediately one would think the opposite because you perceive that to be your weakest sport. Just like a bat can seem so unwelcome because of (lack of better words) justifiable preconceptions.
However, no throwing up stimulus during the swim, right? take care!
Posted by: corrado giambalvo at August 7, 2007 5:53 AM
Awesome race report... i do hope you get a handle on the nausea... and recover for the ITU World Championships... BOOOO YAHHHH....
Posted by: Kranky C Dale at August 7, 2007 8:28 AM
Congratulations Beth! I hope you get the whole nausea issue figured out soon.
Posted by: brian at August 7, 2007 8:53 AM
Was the nausea a problem before your bike accident? If not maybe you should see your MD.
Posted by: Dawn at August 7, 2007 1:01 PM