Florida 70.3
My first 70.3 in Florida. GLAD I DID IT.. a new race,
another experience…. I learned from it…. And I will become better from it! So thankful!
In a nutshell, trying to keep it RELATIVELY SHORT:
*race morning was a bit of a snafu family wise with some
unhappy campers and disagreements, ugh.
I didn’t even feel like doing it and wanted to be a grump and pout about
the uncooperative atmosphere, but decided to attempt to be an adult.
*arrived at race site, went to get body marked/checked in: I
am so used to bringing my bike the day before for 70.3, so it was different to
actually have my bike with me. It was a
simple set up, (we arrived early THANKFULLY because parking was a bit scarce!)
and I went back to car to sit for a bit, drink coffee, and regroup my brain.
*THANK GOODNESS I went early because when I went back to get
in to do one more time through my mental transition prep, I couldn’t even go in
then because line was RIDICULOUS! **if you are doing this race in the future-
keep this in mind- do not arrive at that
time and expect to walk in!
*RACE START: wetsuit
legal and I think that helped me tremendously with my mind and courage in “facing
the alligators!” I sometimes feel like
my wetsuit is protecting me!
Swim started and I felt great for about 2 minutes. WIERDLY, I remember for the next 2 minutes
that my LEGS were like DYING.. like they were exploding/tired/tight/wetsuit
bugging them? Anxiety in my LEGS?!! Not even joking---I don’t even know,
LUCKILY that went away! After that, I
felt FINE and couldn’t believe that frankly I didn’t even have alligator fear
anymore.. it was fine.. I just felt like any other race, I really didn’t have
fear, it was just a swim. Not only a
swim, but I felt strong (ish) and felt like my arms were doing a good cadence,
and felt like I was not going ever off course/ it was easy to follow, it was
GREAT.
(seriously, I cannot believe I Just said that).
Transition: got out of the lake and saw that my time was in
the 39’s and was happy with that- not sure what to expect since I felt so good-
I thought, hmmm maybe I was flying (for me) and it was 35-6, but, 39 was still
good for me/ under 40 and I was happy to be ALIVE!!!
Got on bike/headed out and felt STRONG. So my bike- first 25 miles I felt AWESOME-
really just “managing” not going past the line that I should. I felt like hmmmm, my legs are working… is it
appropriate or too much… or not enough?!
I felt like I was appropriate.
After 25 miles, OH MY GOSH the WIND AND HILLS. I felt them both. The wind was fierce and
worried me immensely. I didn’t want it
to blow me from the side and tweak my back… I also was super concerned about
safety. First: the roads were narrow and
NO RIDERS were “calling” their passes (saying on the left EVER EVER EVER. I Honestly was the only one I ever
heard). There was a guy that was
perpetually blocking me that I was back and forth trying to pass- he was prob. Getting
annoyed by me saying “on your left on your left” and I was getting annoyed at
him and his red cycle shorts riding on the CENTER LINE OF THE ROAD. THAT IS ILLEGAL DUDE it is BLOCKING and I finally did tell him..
but honestly, annoying. Completely.
Then the traffic- there were times on these narrow country
roads that the traffic was trying to get by in one direction- cyclists passing
on the right lane- 1 and 2 at a time…. And it was me passing for 56 miles
mostly…. And then traffic would come in the opposite direction- so the cars at
times would either stop, or pull INTO the lane with the bikes- then you couldn’t
even pass the bikes because the cars were cutting you off, ugh. Annoying. But it was what it was and for me, at that
point, I don’t even worry about speed/places/competing, I Just want to be safe
and LIVE!
So, I lost some time there (as did everyone around me and
any other places on the road it was happening).
Overall though it was a real nice bike course. I have felt at times at Eagleman (my typical
70.3 race) at 40—50 miles like UGH, I am SO READY to be off this bike, BUT.. I
did NOT experience this at Florida, and so about that I felt AWESOME! Yea yea
yea yea! My time did back off by the
end, but I think that was mostly due to hills and wind. I was really happy with my bike performance.
I felt strong and yes there are things I want
to work on (more on that later) BUT: I felt
success with this bike performance in such an early season race.
Run: I started off-
happy to be on my feet- saw Ryan and the kids and said to them” Ok, first lap, I’m
going to just take it easy” – meaning be steady and not be crazy. And it was a
strong first lap (4.5 miles).. basically I stopped super quick to go to the
bathroom (and solve a bit of a problem) but got out and managed 7:30-40-45 for
the first 4.5 miles. WOW. During this lap, I started my energy
shot/drink, took in water from the stations- that is all.
2nd lap. I
immediately on finishing first lap/beginning 2nd lap started to feel
energy and body beginning to feel the effects of the time/heat/jostling in
stomach. My quads once in a while would kind of give out if I stepped a funny
way. There were maybe 3 big hills on the
course that were really steep. People
were walking, but I ran up each of them and was 100% committed to doing this in
my head. One of them was on sidewalk and
I hate the hardness of sidewalk running on my joints and I could totally feel
it in my hips, but there was no road option.
About 2 miles in on 2nd loop (so about 6.5 overall) I did
stop to walk at a water stop, and also grabbed soda. I knew honestly that I shouldn’t get the
soda, but for some reason it is all I want and it feels good the bubbles in my
throat and I wanted some of the caffeine.
I drank about 3 sips of it and began running again. I don’t know if this was the cause of my
nausea- I think I was a little nauseas before this… but I need to figure out a
way to not give into a “soda craving” during a race and stick with my water and
blocks. I had probably 3 blocks/honey
stingers by this time, but frankly I just do not want to eat anymore at this
point, and putting them into my mouth just kind of feels grose and they just
kind of sit in my mouth and accumulate
nastiness and annoyance to my mouth. I
was struggling to finish 2nd loop, but I did and thought ok, this is
it, I’ve got one more. Mentally going
past finish line 2x before having to start out on final loop was a
challenge. I was probably somewhat
barely moving at this point.. but was proud that I was moving. Every step was an effort, but I was totally
taking it. Hills again/pushed myself
through. The sidewalk hill I had to walk
probably 20 -25 seconds of because I was really worried now about getting
sick. Turned the corner about 9.5/10
miles in and had to go to the bathroom… (like #2- n ot bad, just could feel it
and frankly wasn’t sure if it was making me feel like I had to puke- sorry for
tmi) so I did a super quick stop, got going again, but still struggled with
energy and nausea. BUT.. I also was
totally IN IT mentally still- NOT GIVING UP.
I think this is why overall I felt I “did well” on the run. My time wasn’t obviously the speed I would
have liked/expected/trained for. BUT.. I
knew I could have given up one million times and I never did. I also kept telling myself one of my race
mantras, “you can be courageous or you can be comfortable” and I was choosing
courage every step. At one point
probably 11 miles in, I spent probably an entire mile of the race visualizing
the beach. I literally took 1 mile to
slowly go through imagining the feeling of sand on my feet, the sounds, the
beauty, the feeling of my legs in water (which I was REALLY CRAVING at this
point!) I was imagining just floating and joy of the waves that I knew I would
have the next day… So this really helped take my mind off a bit of pain. During the run there were 2 women who passed
me in my age group (funny thing I think they may have been the only 2 who
passed me- but they both unfortunately had my age group on the back of their
legs)…. I wasn’t thrilled about this, but it is funny, at the time, I was
totally fine and okay with it because I knew that was not what I could do- I couldn’t
hold onto their pace, and I could only be where I was. I sometimes like that about races- where you
get to the point of not minding someone beating you because it is not an option
for your body- you have to do what you are only trained for- I wasn’t at the
place to go that speed on the run…
So I finished. 10
minutes of really just walking around and couldn’t even really talk to Ryan and
kids, just had to walk and then sit in shade.
Then I tried to get some food because I thought it would be smart, but
warm pasta after a race like that just makes me feel even sicker. There were grilled chicken pieces to put in
the pasta and I had that on the side and tried to put it in my mouth but had to
spit it out. Luckily there were orange
slices and I had probably about 10 of those, oh they were sOOOO good. Thank goodness for them. I was sitting in the shade and just started
shaking and getting huge goosebumps, so had to move to the sun and it felt so
so soothing on my body… I was trying to
not drink any diet soda afterwards, but I did after 15 min approx. let myself
have some “sips” just not gulping it down, and it didn’t seem to make me sick.
(A few races last year I got sick after and I wasn’t sure if it was the diet
soda).
Ugh.
Eagleman is 8 weeks.
I want BETTER. Swim- want to keep
it strong. That is all. So I will
possibly devote a bit less time to swim.
Bike: I want to work
MORE – not necessarily to become faster, but- to make sure my body is as unphased
as possible by the length/intensity, and I can get OFF the bike with energy and
MENTAL energy as well.
Run: this is what I need
to work on.
I need to work on fueling to make sure I don’t feel nauseas.
I need to work on running on TIRED LEGS. (I have done several long bricks, and I need
more and more and more and more.)
(and I will).
And I need to work on constant pacing after 5-6 miles in the
heat. I need to work on eeking out
15-20-25 sec per mile. Each mile. Not letting the miles drift. Not needing to stop for bathroom breaks.
I need to work on QUAD STRENGTH. I am going to have 5 weeks beginning
immediately of STRENGTH WORK. (legs)
and (also triceps)--- what the heck- my triceps were tired from gripping on the
bike in all the wind!!
I was happy with my “performance” on swim bike run.
I was happy with how I trained for this early season race,
and how I did on race day. Honestly I
wasn’t “thrilled” with my placing (13th age group—there were 3
internationals so it was kinda “like” 10th ish, but… ugh. Would have wanted top 5, right).. (and then
top 3!) So… I was a little frustrated, BUT I know that just means there was a
strong field and that is great. Eagleman
though is my A race. And I was 3rd
AG last year and want to be top 3 age group again. I do and I will go for it for the next 8
weeks with everything I have😊
Well done!! Eagleman is all yours... just didn't bury yourself preparing for it!!!
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