On an incredibly hot day in Boulder, I walk away from my 7th Ironman as a pro pleased with my swim + bike but disappointed in my run performance. I struggle to keep my head in the game in the later stages of the marathon and to find a way to really empty the tank physically and mentally.

Pre-Race:

I broke up the drive as usual. Arrived at lower elevation on Thursday, 3 nights before the race, which I prefer. The drive didn’t quite go as planned (detour, no open pool) and there were a few last-minute issues coming into Boulder, but I stayed calm and managed the best I could. Things finally calmed down Friday night and I was feeling pretty good. Workouts had gone to plan, and I was settling in. Nerves were minimal although I didn’t know the course very well. Saw some of the bike course but hardly any of the run course. But I had studied the map plenty and was feeling confident that I wouldn’t get lost or confused.

It’s the taper that I like: Keep moving and stay in rhythm. Works for me! I was feeling fairly confident that I could manage a decent swim and bike and first half of the run. I was feeling a bit too laid back about the second half of the run. I knew it at the time: Why am I not worried and nervous about how much this is going to hurt? Shrug. Are you sure you are mentally ready to go to really dark places? Shrug. – Not the best prep, I guess, but it’s how I was feeling at the moment. Should I have stressed myself out by forcing to worry about it? Not sure. It’s not that I thought I was going to crush it. It’s just that I thought I would figure it out when the time comes. Ha! Unlike me but I enjoyed the calmness before the storm…

Race morning:

More of the same. Things went well and when they didn’t – I figured it out. I know enough female pros at US races by now that it doesn’t feel lonely. I wasn’t nervous but definitely excited. It was the MOST GORGEOUS morning with a beautiful sunrise and perfect temps. Got in a good warm-up on land and a little one in the water. I like it that way. I don’t like swimming for 10 minutes and then having to get back out, standing around and getting cold, which inevitably happens. Would rather only do a dry warm-up.

THE SWIM – 1:00:20 (1:33/100m)

I figured that, unless I completely blew it, I should be swimming with some girls. I was planning on NOT leading for once. It’s been a while that I have swum behind someone. Either I am alone or pulling someone. Well, more of the same here, too. Got a decent start, although I was aware of the altitude and tried to be a bit more mellow than usual. The other girls had the same idea, which made this a very enjoyable start for once! A few girls took off quickly but not too many. I tried to get behind some feet but they were all over the place and I didn’t want to deal with it and so I decided to do my own thing (and then I wonder why I always end up my myself, ha) and just swam. Not very fast so I wouldn’t end up leading our pack but that’s exactly what happened. Oh well. It was a NICE swim. Very easy to sight, great water temp, sun behind clouds for the way out. I knew it wouldn’t be a great time if I was the one leading, but I also knew it wouldn’t be terribly slow if I could keep the pressure and focus on. The girl behind me slapped my feet approximately every 2.6 seconds and, while I thought I was going to LOSE it and PUNCH her in the face, I also knew that it would help me to keep a decent pace. At one point, one of them tried to come around me and I was like YAY but then she pushed me to the side and started to go off course and I was like NO THANKS and went back to leading.

Came out of the water at the front which was fun. Turns out I was in 4^th at the time! Didn’t know my time, didn’t care. Not thrilled but not bummed and I didn’t burn any matches. Now knowing my time, yeah, that’s about what I could expect given the circumstances. Would I do anything differently? I believe I could have swum with the girls just up ahead. IF it had worked out that way without killing myself. But it didn’t. No regrets.

Division: 4^th, Gender: 12^th.

Transition went well UNTIL I got to my bike and found my shoes and helmet/visor sprawled on the floor. UGH! Had to futz around with the visor for a while. Waste of time.

THE BIKE – 5:05:01 (22.03 mph)

I never biked WITH anyone per se, but Green and Goodall were usually somewhere in the vicinity. Either behind or in front. We all did our own thing, but it was nice to have some company after getting dropped right away by Naeth and Jahn. I don’t know how to ride ‘with’ other people in this long of a race. Either they happen to be doing exactly what I want to do, or I have to let them go. I mean, how can I ride outside of my comfort zone at mile 50 of an Ironman? Maybe I need to learn to do just that!

My best bike split in an Ironman so far, I think! At one point I thought I could go just under 5:00 but then the heat and wind got to me and I fell off the power. Neither was really bothering me, but it did affect me. Still pleased with the overall effort in those conditions. I didn’t eat and drink QUITE as much as I would’ve liked but still within the range of calories/liquids that I needed. It’s hard to take in that much when it’s so hot even KNOWING that I need it. At about mile 50 already I started to douse myself with water whenever I got dry. Best cooling technique on the bike by far.

I enjoyed this course more than I thought I would. It’s actually quite pretty. Not enough hills for my liking but just enough to make it a decent ride.

THE RUN – 3:48:35 (8:43/mi)

Yikes. That was a ridiculously slow run. For most of us. And I am still not exactly sure why! Yes, of course it was HOT. Like 100+ degrees hot. But I don’t think that was the only reason. I like the heat and I race well in it. It doesn’t usually slow me down one minute per mile! It’s hard to train well for a 3:20 marathon, feel like that is a realistic and achievable goal, and then fall short by almost 30 minutes. There’s also the fact that most of the run was on concrete, some parts were VERY lonely, and the winding up/down path made it hard to find a rhythm but, in the end, the sad fact remains that: I just didn’t have a faster run in me that day. Not emotionally or mentally. I would like to claim that I also wasn’t physically capable to run faster but as we all know: The mind runs the body! As we were all struggling, I was able to make up time on some of the women in front of me, but I also knew that Ashley P. was chasing as hard as she could, making up time by the mile.

OVERALL – 9:59:45 – 7^th Pro Female

I was able to sneak in under the 10-hour mark and I am proud of that. In the end, I am pleased with my swim and bike and the effort on the run but, as with most of my Ironman races, I am left feeling that I should be able to dig deeper at the end. Something is holding me up – most likely my subconscious smart self that would like to keep enjoying this sport for many more years and isn’t interested in the medical tent – and, while it is unfulfilling shortly after the race, I can’t argue with it. But I CAN try to work on the mental side of this sport and crossing the IM finish line knowing that I really did give it EVERY last ounce of energy.

Thank YOU and my sponsors for making this all possible! And a big hug and huge thanks also to Triny W. for hosting me this weekend after getting into a horrible bike crash this summer and not being able to toe the start line herself. This sport is full of wonderful and generous people and that is my favorite part!