Ironman Texas

May 21, 2011; The Woodlands, TX, Ironman Texas – my Ironman ‘debut’ as a Professional Triathlete

While planning my race season this winter, I saw the Memorial Hermann Ironman as a great way to start the season.  I know what you’re thinking, why would a northerner like me schedule a race of this distance so early in the season?  My logic, it would give me great focus through the long winter and get me into great racing shape early in the season.  Many of my training runs early on took place in the dark after work, usually on the roads because the sidewalks were covered with snow and ice.  Training on the bike was often on the trainer, but as soon as the roads were clear, I layered up and went outside.  The one factor of Texas I could not reproduce in training was the heat and humidity that is typical of southern Texas in late May.

 Experienced ironman racers have often said that during an Ironman, anything can happen, at any time, which can completely change the race for the good or the bad.  For me, the day started good, took a turn for the bad, before finally stabilizing.  I didn’t have one of my best race days, but it wasn’t totally terrible either and I learned a few things that will only make me a better racer. 

Race morning:  It was nice to have had a home stay so close to the race site which meant getting to “sleep-in” until 4am. (Thank you hosts Kristin and Michael.)  Before heading over to the race, I had my normal pre-race breakfast with the hopes that it would keep me filled for several hours.  When I arrived, the transition area was already teaming with athletes making last minute preparations to their bikes before
heading to the swim start.   

As a Pro, it meant a 10-minute earlier start on the swim.  6:40… into the water we went to line-up between buoys and kayakers marking the start of the 2.4 mile swim. “Brrrr!”  The other women and I started to question where they measured the water temp to determine that the race should not be wetsuit legal.  After treading water for approximately 10 minutes, we heard a faint “bang” and a kayaker said “go-go-go” and suddenly the race began.  “Are you kidding me?!?!” Right at the start of the swim my goggles were leaking; I took a few seconds to adjust them but as a result fell off a pack I’d started with.  I was soon able to find my own rhythm, sighting went well, and I eventually started to catch a few of the pro swimmers who earlier gained a lead while I cleared my goggles.  The course was roughly split into thirds:  2/3 was an up and back in the wide section of the lake and then a right turn to finish the final 1/3 down a canal.  “How cool!” I thought when hearing the cheers of spectators lining either side of the canal during the final stretch to exit the swim. 

After a 1:06:21 swim, I ran through the changing tent filled with awesome volunteers before heading out onto the bike. Having pre-driven the bike course, my mind was at ease knowing generally what to expect out there.  Early on I thought, “It’s not too hot yet,” with overcast skies, but the air was thick with humidity.  It didn’t take long before I set my sights on another pro female to reel in and pass on the bike.  I found myself being the hunter and the hunted many times during the first third of the 112 mile bike. The course started fast and flat with rolling hills starting somewhere around mile 40.  No hill was particularly difficult but the cumulative effect along with some head/cross winds in the second half were enough to make the legs feel some fatigue.

Nutrition was going well on the bike, including the PB&J and Clif Bars that I became accustomed to while training.  Until, late on the bike, something didn’t sit right… “I shouldn’t have drank that!” is what I found myself thinking after one of the aid stations where I picked up a super sweet red Ironman Perform drink.  I think the combination of nerves, heat & humidity, and the drink was causing a war in my stomach.  I probably needed to have consumed a few more calories and fluids while I rode but my stomach wasn’t willing to allow anything more.  With many more miles to ride and a full marathon to still run, it wasn’t great news for my body.  The clouds, at this point, had disappeared, and the sun was blazing.  The last 10 miles of the bike…so close and excited to be nearly finished with the bike… just seemed to stretch on and on.  I always have a small amount of anxiety on the bike because of uncontrollable mechanical issues, but I made it through without a problem.  It was totally awesome to see Christian, Noah & Helene Krug, my parents, cousins, and a few friends out on the course many, many times.  A personal, roving cheering squad!  Bike Time:  5:13:51, average speed: 21.4mph.

Into the cheering crowd at the bike dismount… “Ouch, ouch, ouch” over the bricks and pavement in transition, don my shoes, and then out to run a marathon.   I trained to run a 3:20 marathon coming off the bike, but that was with a heat index below 100 and without a belly ache!  All I could do was try my hardest and see how my body would adapt.  I started at a good pace but felt I was working harder than I thought I should have been so early in the run.  Somewhere around mile 3 my stomach issues resurfaced and for several miles, under the hot sun, I was reduced to an alternating run/walk.  There was a serious “control” battle going on between my legs, stomach, and brain!  My lowest point was probably around mile 5 when I thought that I was going to have to walk another 21 miles.  Those bad thoughts coupled with a pit stop must have been enough to flip a switch, because sometime between miles 5 and 6 I was able to mentally and physically regroup and resume full-time running.  I know I was fortunate to get going again but definitely disappointed to have abandoned my plan so early on.  The 3-loop run course was great for me in that I could break each loop into many small sections to help stay focused and running rather than concentrating on each mile marker.  It also meant the opportunity to see family and friends many times.  Even when I couldn’t muster a smile for them, I was very happy to see them!  I also felt better about my performance when I passed other female pros who were also struggling.  Looking back, I feel bad that seeing others suffering was a consolation to me but in the moment I felt better knowing I wasn’t alone.  Crossing the Finish Line was a bit of a blur but I remember feeling a wave of excitement as I rounded a corner and could take the “finish line chute” instead of the path that led runners back out to the course for laps 2 and 3!  Marathon time:  3:43:46, pace: 8:32/mile

The race itself was very good.  The volunteers, aid stations, staff, and communities were incredible.  The individual segment courses were very nice with the run being my favorite.  You notice strange things while participating in an Ironman:  Texas has a lot of animal carnage!  My count on the bike course: one cow, 2 unidentifiable (but the turkey volunteers sure seemed to be enjoying one of them), 2 snakes (and one was big!), a squirrel, and a bird.  “Cycle” of life, I guess.

In summary, it was a long, tough day of racing with highs and lows, but I finished with a smile on my face and can say, “I’ll be back for more Ironman racing!”