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| D3 crew eating pre race lunch |
This past weekend I had the opportunity to race in
Cleveland, yes epic Cleveland said no one ever, apologies to those who
live in Cleveland. I’ve historically passed
on the opportunity to race this race primarily due to my focus on Ironman
and 70.3 racing. With this year being
about “something different” and my coach forcing strongly encouraging me
to race, I decided to go for it.
The training was not 100% Olympic Distance focused as I did
race Whistler 70.3 2 weeks ago and I am FINALLY starting Ironman training, but
I did my fare share of short and hard on the bike in an attempt to get
accustomed to 90-95% efforts on the bikes and well my run, we tried.
I booked a place with Coach and one my athletes in the “not
re-gentrified” section of Cleveland. Literally
next to the airport and under the flight path, this turn of century house was
just fine. Affordable indeed, clean and
actually worked well for the 3 of us as we were up early so the planes did not
bother us.
Getting to Cleveland is not easy as in no direct flights and
well its further than I was thinking, as in nearly all day travel +3 hour time change. So, we settled in Thur PM in time for dinner
after hitting the Whole Foods! YES 3
miles from us - so a big win. Whole
Foods can make up for a lot!
I had very little anxiety or nervousness, which has been the
case for this year to date, saving it
all for IM COZ. Friday was a nearly all-day
event . We started with swim practice,
in the lake that was just closed for eColi and was 78.5 degrees so no wetsuit,
did a quick spin of the run course which was NOT flat – legit for sure, a team
D3 lunch, registration, bike check in and well that somehow nearly took all
day.
We settled in early and cooked at home and off to bed. Up
and out by 5:15, we ubered to the race due to logistics and our driver
entertained us with stories that included his pistol, his dog killing a deer
and the SWAT Team. We are very far from
Encinitas! Onto the race venue for the
announcement the water temp was 76.7 so it was wetsuit legal. I am very sure they put an ice cube in the
water with the thermometer, once again dumbing down races to make sure they are
not “too hard” The water was HOT.
I was wave 13, so I have 1 hour 34 min to wait which was
fine as there were plenty of people to hang out with, warm up, nearly watch the
1st wave finish the whole race and for the wind and chop to pick
up. The calm lake at 7am was chopping
and wavy by 8:44. Water start, and we got out fast! I was on the feet of another competitor and
we were swimming flat out and it was choppy as can be. Silly me thinking like an ocean that once we
got past the “break” it would flatten out, but the wind was picking up and it
was one of the tougher swims I have done with wind and chop the entire way. Course was long 1700M vs 1500 and times were
slow. 25:55 and a longish transition but
I was quick and on the bike.
40K is all out and I was getting after it. First U turn the volunteer was blocking the
signa and waved me right, Fuck I am on the run course and everyone is Uturning
and I am riding down a hill, turned around, rode back through the runners and
was back on the course, extra .3 miles, which in a short race can make a
difference. I was hammering to repass
the competitor I had already passed early on.
The first 6 miles the road was shitty and the scenery similar and then
it was smooth roads and quite nice, just after
the turn I passed her and was doing all I could to hold onto the lead,
knowing how fast the runners were behind me.
T2 in and out and onto the run and well just did not have my
run legs. It was a struggle, so I
turned my watch around and dug deep and did my best. Around mile 2 the eventual winner flew by me
and just after mile 4, 2nd place came by and I was hurting. I could see 3rd gaining on me and
I just did not have it. she passed me just after mile 5 and that was the
steepest hill, I did not have the mojo or legs to power up the hill and stay
with her. Looking back I am wondering if
I gave up but well my HR was 181 so no I
did not but I was definitely dehydrated and had nothing in my legs, so then it
was my goal to NOT get passed again.
Quick finish and a short run course- THANK YOU USAT! But well it was not a stellar finish and everything
went very fuzzy and spotty at the finish line.
I had them take my temperature and it was 101- I was way
OVERHEATED!!! My error, I only had 22 oz
on the bike and needed another 22 oz and the run course was so crowded I missed
most aid stations. Dehydrated for sure.
I was honored to stand on the podium in 4th – Way
out of my comfort zone an happy place of long distance racing and I did not
take my slot to Worlds in Switzerland- as lovely as that sounds, I have other
goals for 2019.
We found and AMAZING place for dinner and really wanted to
drink it up but Mike and I had the sprint the next day so we ate up instead and
consoled ourselves with chocolate and Ben and Jerry’s.
Groundhog day on Sunday and in the car 5:15. Arrived hoping
for NON Wetsuit but instead we hear NO swim! What? Ripcurrent? In a lake? Are you kidding
me? I guess it can happen and with the
tragic passing of a competitor the day before, nothing to do with currents or
water temp but a heart attack, I am sure they were playing it
conservative. Ok so the race was now 2.5
Krun/12 mile bike/2.5 -seriously this is
what I dread the most in this sport. So,
2 choices, don’t race or change the mindset and roll with it. I went for #2. And I had 2 hours- yes 2 hours to think on that. Wave 14 today so I got to watch 1000’s, not
kidding, start and finish the race. Finally,
our turn! TT start on the run, 4 at a
time. Off we went and holy f they took
off running, I got after it and ran 7:04 for the first 2.5K and that put me in
4th! Lol so onto the bike, already in 4th, I went to work
with what I had and that was not much, tired, tired legs and watts were about
the same as Saturday. So, lets just say
I was no reeling in people, managed to pass one. Onto run 2 and I was cooked, up that dang
hill again and there were a LOT of F-bombs, how can 2.5k hurt so much! I did the best I could and ended up 7th. The difference between3-7th was
all in minute, but with the TT start we were not racing head to head, no
excuses, it was just how it was.
All in all- the weekend was a blast! Really happy I did it, over 5000 athletes
over the 2 days. We ate our way through
Sunday. Amazing breakfast spot near the race Toast OMG it was like being in
Encinitas. Fried eggs, spinach, sweet potatoes
over thick buttery sourdough toast! Nap,
chocolate and a decadent Italian dinner with wine, homemade pasta with
scallops, spinach, garlic and a lot of butter and cheese! You gotta let go sometimes and it was just
plain good! I was out of my comfort zone again,
trying new races as planned and had so much fun with Coach, Cindy and the other
D3 + San Diego friends in town, It’s why we race!
Race nutrition for an Oly
4:30 wake up
24 oz fluid + Right Stuff
Coffee + coconut milk
Breakfast= 2 cups of rice + EVO + salt which I started eating at 6:30 since my wave did not go off until 8:45
1 Gatorade Endurance Energy Gel pre swim
1x 24 oz bottle with 160 calories Gatorade Endurance Cherry
Run 1x GE Gel
All was good but needed more fluids on the bike - another 12-20 oz with Nuun would have been ideal ! I was finished with my bottle at mile 12. Ooof- bad move on my part.
