I haven't been on here in a while...I'll do a catch up post later, but for now...here's the scoop from Sunday's Ironman 70.3 Chattanooga. This was a team race for Speed Factory Racing, the team that I swim and hang out with. Coach Sean has been my swim coach for a while. We had some team shenanigans on Saturday before the race.
I knew a few days out that it was going to be hot for the race. I also knew we haven't had much of anything resembling heat to train in. I haven't had an opportunity to acclimate...physically or mentally.
We went for a run as soon as we got to Chatt on Friday evening and it was really hot. Only ran 3K and a little over 11 min/mile. I felt ok about it. Saturday morning we rode easy on the riverwalk and it was part of the run course.
Sunday morning we headed over and D was nice and let someone turn into the garage ahead of us. Which was cool. But then that car got into the garage and then the machine stopped working. I had to wake up the security guard snoozing in the booth to get a mechanic out. Eventually we got in there and parked. Set up transition and got on the bus only a few minutes later than planned. Made it over to the swim start and got immediately in the potty line. It took forever. Finally got to go (after the pro gun) and then hustled into my wetsuit. I scurried toward the start and ran into Ron. I talked to him for a few minutes and then moved up into the line. Then we were chatting with some people...and found out that the swim was indeed shortened. And the line moved slowly. It was much later than planned before I got in, but it was familiar...like Louisville but not freezing.
The swim was shortened to .75 miles because of the current being too high for the upriver portion. It wasn't as fast as at Louisville but still really quick. The map shows I did a good job sighting which is amazing since I haven't been in open water for more than 300 yards since Louisville.
T1 was long because I didn't figure out what end of transition I needed to be on until I was at the other end. It's fine.
The bike course was beautiful with two challenging hills and the rest was what I often train when I ride at EC or in Brown County. Apparently I flatted at the end or in T2, but it didn't affect my bike time. It was a really solid bike split and I'm proud of it. Muncie last year is my only faster one (I think) and it is a much flatter course. Around mile 40 the neuroma was bothering me for a bit but then it stopped.
T2 was fine and what I expect for this type of race.
The first mile of the run I ran most of and then walked a minute. Second mile I was trying 5:1 run/walk and made it to the end of that mile. We were on the highway in full sun. My gut wasn't super happy with me and I knew it wasn't going to be a run day. I thought I could gut out race walk and keep it under 15 min/mile and I did through maybe 10. Then the second time up the big hill I got lightheaded and questioned if I could even finish. I saw David around 12. He made a Red Bull reference I I said it would make me puke. I may have felt better if I puked. I couldn't even run downhills. I didn't run in the chute. It was 86 degrees feels like 92. I am happy I finished and it wasn't my worst time by 90+ min. Really 3rd fastest adjusting for the shortened swim.
Good physical and mental challenge. I hurt at the end. I hurt the next day. And today. I'm sunburnt. I'll recover to do it again.
I knew a few days out that it was going to be hot for the race. I also knew we haven't had much of anything resembling heat to train in. I haven't had an opportunity to acclimate...physically or mentally.
We went for a run as soon as we got to Chatt on Friday evening and it was really hot. Only ran 3K and a little over 11 min/mile. I felt ok about it. Saturday morning we rode easy on the riverwalk and it was part of the run course.
Sunday morning we headed over and D was nice and let someone turn into the garage ahead of us. Which was cool. But then that car got into the garage and then the machine stopped working. I had to wake up the security guard snoozing in the booth to get a mechanic out. Eventually we got in there and parked. Set up transition and got on the bus only a few minutes later than planned. Made it over to the swim start and got immediately in the potty line. It took forever. Finally got to go (after the pro gun) and then hustled into my wetsuit. I scurried toward the start and ran into Ron. I talked to him for a few minutes and then moved up into the line. Then we were chatting with some people...and found out that the swim was indeed shortened. And the line moved slowly. It was much later than planned before I got in, but it was familiar...like Louisville but not freezing.
The swim was shortened to .75 miles because of the current being too high for the upriver portion. It wasn't as fast as at Louisville but still really quick. The map shows I did a good job sighting which is amazing since I haven't been in open water for more than 300 yards since Louisville.
T1 was long because I didn't figure out what end of transition I needed to be on until I was at the other end. It's fine.
The bike course was beautiful with two challenging hills and the rest was what I often train when I ride at EC or in Brown County. Apparently I flatted at the end or in T2, but it didn't affect my bike time. It was a really solid bike split and I'm proud of it. Muncie last year is my only faster one (I think) and it is a much flatter course. Around mile 40 the neuroma was bothering me for a bit but then it stopped.
T2 was fine and what I expect for this type of race.
The first mile of the run I ran most of and then walked a minute. Second mile I was trying 5:1 run/walk and made it to the end of that mile. We were on the highway in full sun. My gut wasn't super happy with me and I knew it wasn't going to be a run day. I thought I could gut out race walk and keep it under 15 min/mile and I did through maybe 10. Then the second time up the big hill I got lightheaded and questioned if I could even finish. I saw David around 12. He made a Red Bull reference I I said it would make me puke. I may have felt better if I puked. I couldn't even run downhills. I didn't run in the chute. It was 86 degrees feels like 92. I am happy I finished and it wasn't my worst time by 90+ min. Really 3rd fastest adjusting for the shortened swim.
Good physical and mental challenge. I hurt at the end. I hurt the next day. And today. I'm sunburnt. I'll recover to do it again.
Comments
Post a Comment