And so it begins.....
I just finished reading a few posts about my last Ironman experience and realized I need to begin documenting the road to this next race. 2014 was an off year with racing for me due to our wedding in Telluride (which replaced Ironman Zurich as the greatest day of my life) and a nagging knee injury. We decided to shake things up this year and hire a new coach with a greater emphasis on the use of metrics like heart rate and power for training. This is our first week and I can already tell the training will be tougher but hopefully that pays off on race day.
Jen and made a decision to compete in another Ironman in Louisville, KY. Why Louisville? The access to all of the distilleries after the race of course. Actually it came down to three things, fall race so better temps, favorable course, and ability to drive there with our bikes and gear. Zurich was great but a lot of logistics and cost involved.
Looking forward to a great year of training, one day at a time.
Wednesday, January 13, 2016
Sunday, August 10, 2014
Vacation - Day 2 On to Provence
Time to get out of Zurich and make our way to Provence. We picked up our car at the Zurich airport, a little black VW Golf TDI with a six speed. A great little car with plenty of pep and excellent gas mileage. Jen plugged in the address of our hotel in Provence and we headed down the highway for a seven hour drive enjoying German and French club music on the radio.
While I expected a Top Gear like adventure, the trip was more like any road trip in the U.S except with more polite drivers, passing only in the left lane, proper use of indicators, and good roads. We also noticed a big difference between the quality of the rest areas in Switzerland and France.
It rained most of the trip but there was still some beautiful sight seeing along the way. Our first little challenge of the day occurred when we hit a toll booth in France. With no Euros and only our credit cards we said a little prayer to the travel gods and hoped it would work. Success and a green light and on our way. Getting closer to our destination and time to get off the major highway and onto the smaller highways but first one more toll booth. Slide in the card and nothing, try another card and nothing. Now traffic is backing up behind me and I am going nowhere. I push the button for assistance but my conversational French is rusty and I get nowhere. Finally someone comes out who speaks English and asks if we have any Euros. She writes down the details from my driver's license and takes a photo of the car tag. I am told the French toll booth authorities will be sending me a bill for the six euros I owe them. Mental note to self, get some Euros at the next ATM!!!!
The rest of the trip is uneventful and after a few wrong turns on some narrow Provence roads we find our little inn, La Madelene which is a renovated 12th century priory near Mount Ventoux. Just the perfect place to relax and unwind after the big race.
That evening we drive into the nearby village of Vaison-La-Romaine and dine at a Annexe Cafe on the main square in town. Great meal after a long day of travel accompanied by some rose wine. One thing you learn quickly dining in Provence, dinner will be an all evening affair so sit back and relax and enjoy the meal.
While I expected a Top Gear like adventure, the trip was more like any road trip in the U.S except with more polite drivers, passing only in the left lane, proper use of indicators, and good roads. We also noticed a big difference between the quality of the rest areas in Switzerland and France.
It rained most of the trip but there was still some beautiful sight seeing along the way. Our first little challenge of the day occurred when we hit a toll booth in France. With no Euros and only our credit cards we said a little prayer to the travel gods and hoped it would work. Success and a green light and on our way. Getting closer to our destination and time to get off the major highway and onto the smaller highways but first one more toll booth. Slide in the card and nothing, try another card and nothing. Now traffic is backing up behind me and I am going nowhere. I push the button for assistance but my conversational French is rusty and I get nowhere. Finally someone comes out who speaks English and asks if we have any Euros. She writes down the details from my driver's license and takes a photo of the car tag. I am told the French toll booth authorities will be sending me a bill for the six euros I owe them. Mental note to self, get some Euros at the next ATM!!!!
The rest of the trip is uneventful and after a few wrong turns on some narrow Provence roads we find our little inn, La Madelene which is a renovated 12th century priory near Mount Ventoux. Just the perfect place to relax and unwind after the big race.
That evening we drive into the nearby village of Vaison-La-Romaine and dine at a Annexe Cafe on the main square in town. Great meal after a long day of travel accompanied by some rose wine. One thing you learn quickly dining in Provence, dinner will be an all evening affair so sit back and relax and enjoy the meal.
Vacation - Day 1 Zurich
Monday morning, I am an Ironman and now time for vacation. Today we are staying in Zurich and recovering from the race. Unlike the races in the US, you do not need to be early to the Ironman store to purchase finisher gear. We grab a taxi to the race venue, purchase our finisher jackets and head back to the hotel for a date with the bed.
Dinner at the Blue Monkey for Thai food, decent food but expensive. That is pretty standard for Zurich. We also stopped by our favorite cocktail bar and had Christian make us a few drinks, time to celebrate. He remembered us and was ready to make us some gin drinks. We started with a gin fizz for me and a New Orleans gin fizz for Jen, the main difference being the egg white in hers making it a bit frothy. Good summer drink and the gin he used in mine, Ferdinands, was excellent. Unfortunately it is made in Germany and not available in the U.S. It is distilled with wine which gives it a unique flavor and very smooth.
.JPG)
For the next round, Christian made Jen the best Vesper martini I have ever tasted using Tanqueray while I enjoyed a martinez, excellent as well. Besides the race, finding this bar and spending time with Christian was one of the highlights of our time in Zurich.
After dinner, we still felt like celebrating and spotted a little pub down an alley way called the Aelpli Bar. We walked in to find the place empty except for a man playing traditional music on the accordion and a woman in her 60's dressed in traditional garb, looking like an older version of the girl on the Swiss Miss cocoa label. Jen did her best to find the perfect Pinot Noir to go with the music while I settled on the house draft beer. It was a bit surreal but all part of the adventure on vacation. Probably not the best idea to have left Jen behind at the bar in search of an ATM, (bar did not take credit cards) but she survived and thus ended our time in Zurich for now.
Dinner at the Blue Monkey for Thai food, decent food but expensive. That is pretty standard for Zurich. We also stopped by our favorite cocktail bar and had Christian make us a few drinks, time to celebrate. He remembered us and was ready to make us some gin drinks. We started with a gin fizz for me and a New Orleans gin fizz for Jen, the main difference being the egg white in hers making it a bit frothy. Good summer drink and the gin he used in mine, Ferdinands, was excellent. Unfortunately it is made in Germany and not available in the U.S. It is distilled with wine which gives it a unique flavor and very smooth.
For the next round, Christian made Jen the best Vesper martini I have ever tasted using Tanqueray while I enjoyed a martinez, excellent as well. Besides the race, finding this bar and spending time with Christian was one of the highlights of our time in Zurich.
After dinner, we still felt like celebrating and spotted a little pub down an alley way called the Aelpli Bar. We walked in to find the place empty except for a man playing traditional music on the accordion and a woman in her 60's dressed in traditional garb, looking like an older version of the girl on the Swiss Miss cocoa label. Jen did her best to find the perfect Pinot Noir to go with the music while I settled on the house draft beer. It was a bit surreal but all part of the adventure on vacation. Probably not the best idea to have left Jen behind at the bar in search of an ATM, (bar did not take credit cards) but she survived and thus ended our time in Zurich for now.
Ich Bin Ein Ironman aka the Race Report
I have put this off long enough, time to spend some time on the keyboard and hammer out my race report before I forget all of the details from the day.
As the title of the post gives away the ending, yes I did complete the race and can officially call myself an Ironman but as I discovered in completing my first marathon, it is about the journey not the destination that made the day so special and carried me to the finish line. This will seem odd but the race really was not that hard because it was such a great experience. Truly one of the best days of my life so on to the details.......
3:30 am
The worst part about endurance racing is the early start times which means you are up two hours before the butt crack of dawn just to get everything organized and to the race site on time. In some ways this may be the most challenging portion of the day. After a night of little to no sleep the iPhone alarm went off at 3:30 with the "Happy" song, enjoyed some coffee and a few slices of cold pizza as pre-race breakfast, gathered our gear, and headed down to the vans to meet the other EST folks for our shuttle to the race site. So far the only thing not going right is the lack of a proper poo, that is critical on any big training day but especially on the morning of your first Ironman. Let's hope that does not come back to haunt me later in the day.
As the van makes its way through Zurich, we can see people on their way home from the bars. It makes you wonder which group of people are more disturbed. We arrive at the race venue in plenty of time but still dark and no headlamp, rookie mistake. Something I typically bring to races in the states but it did not make the packing list. I make it to my bike, take off the plastic cover, find a pump and fill the tires with air, bottles and nutrition in place, go find Jen and assist her with her bike.
Rain the night before so the transition area will be muddy, not good for speed play cleats and pedals and you have to wear your shoes out of the transition tent if not on the bike. Will worry about that later, need to get on the wesuit and head down to the swim start for a bit of warm up.
Jen and I help each other with the wesuits, swim for a bit and say our goodbyes as she is going off in the first wave while I am in the slow group. I find some of the other guys in the EST group which helps to keep me relaxed as we make some small talk before the start. Pros go off which means start time for me is 10 minutes away, lets get this thing going!!! Jen's wave goes off but I have no idea where she is at, just say a little prayer she is off to a good start and holding her own in the "washing machine". Time for my wave to move to the beach and there is the horn, I wade into the water realizing I can't stay all the way to the rear if I want to swim my goal time of 1:30 (secretly hoping for 1:25).
Swim
The swim start was actually not that bad, a bit of stop and go and bumping around but not as worse as I had imagined. I experienced a bit of my typical panic about 200 yards into the swim thinking I could not swim the entire distance but was able to give myself a bit of a pep talk, calmed down and focused on swimming one stroke after the other, singing the Happy song in my head. Sighting was the easiest of any race I have done and the water was clear with overcast skies. First turn was jammed up but that was to be expected. Nearly halfway through and I reach the Australian exit where you run over a small island before back into the water for the rest of the race. It was a bit jumbled getting to the island but some nice volunteers were there to pull you out and up the ramp while you ran through a crowd of folks cheering you on. Checked my watch and I was at 44 minutes, darn I think to myself, slower in the water than I expected but need to stick to the strategy of keeping the swim as a warm up for the rest of the race. Back to the first buoy before nearing the last leg of the swim. After I make the turn and head towards the original second buoy I run into some significant chop as the winds had picked up. It really didn't bother me but would clearly impact my swim time. Last leg and now I am sighting to the island and swim exit, under the bridge and there it is. Check my watch and I am at 1:34, slower than my goal time but within range and nothing to panic about. (I would find out later that most folks in the EST group including Jen would experience slower than normal swim times due to the choppy water).
T1
One thing we had been told by our fellow teammates and coach is that the volunteers would be a huge assist in stripping off your wetsuit, getting your gear bag and helping you through transition. I don't know what it is like at other European Ironman events but that is clearly not the case in Zurich. T1 seemed like total chaos, naked people everywhere searching for their bags on the racks and in the tent. I finally found some room on a bench and focused on getting in some nutrition, hydration, and setting myself up for a good bike ride. First I look for the note Jen left me in my transition bag which makes me happy and something to look forward to at the end of the bike. My goal was 10 minutes in T1, not to be in a rush but enough time to eat, change, and get out the door for the next portion of the race. (Funny how you still have 11 plus hours to go and that thought never crosses your mind, just get me to the bike).
Bike
As I expected the transition area is a bit muddy so I do my best to avoid the mud and protect my cleats, hoping that I can easily clip in the pedals on the bike. Out of transition, fire up the garmin, and off I go, only 112 miles to go around Lake Zurich and the beautiful Swiss countryside. The first 30 kilometers of the bike are along the lake and flat so some folks are really hammering but my strategy is to conserve energy and ride conservatively, saving the legs for the run. I also have my stops planned out on the course along with meeting Ken at Heartbreak Hill for my special needs bag. At Zurich, there are no official special needs bags on the race course, just areas where external parties can hand you gear. The route of the bike course was all new to me which I actually liked, it kept me focused on just enjoying the new sights along the way. Flat section done and now heading towards the big, long climb called the Beast. Fortunately I am a decent climber and passed several riders on the way up before hitting the long downhills where I think all of them passed me again. Kept checking out the race bibs of the riders to see their names and country of origin. Funny how it seemed every German dude was name Wolfgang or Klaus while every Italian was named Mario. Coming back into the city I feel really slow seeing all of the other riders into their second lap. I make it to Heartbreak Hill and enjoy winding through a narrow path of spectators before I hear someone yelling my name. It is Ken Glah from EST running after me with my special needs bag. Ken is an accomplished former pro triathlete who finished third at Kona one year, pretty cool. I ask him how Jen is doing and he confirms she is fine and out in front of me. Now to finish the first loop and one more loop including the climb up the Beast. I look at my first split and really want to finish the bike in 6:30 (my goal time was 6:45). I become a bit impatient and start to hammer the flat section, tossing out my strategy to stay conservative. Seeing all of the riders in front of me kind of threw me off my plan and I was hoping it would not come back to haunt me on the run. I think I enjoyed the second loop more than the first as I looked for familiar sights and spectators. The "USA" chant through a small village was pretty cool along with seeing the dairy cows grazing in the fields as they serenaded you with real cow bells, not those cheesy little bells everyone uses at a cross race ;). Climb complete and now for the big downhill, what do I see in front of me but someone in the road motioning at me to slow down and an ambulance on the side of the road. I slow down checking to make sure it is not Jen. All I see is some bike laying on the road and medics attending to someone in the back of the rig. At this point I lose a contact which always seems to happen in a big race. At first I worry this is going to impact the rest of my race. Then I tell myself I will not need 20/20 vision for the run and to suck it up. I also worry that while I have been eating and drinking all along on the bike I may not be eating enough so I used a flat section to slow down a bit and eat an entire Cliff bar. That nutrition really seemed to revive me. On to Heartbreak one last time and the start of the run, fewer spectators at this point at Heartbreak but still happy to see those who stayed out on the course to cheer us on. The worst part about the last few miles of the bike course was seeing all of the competitors already on the run course. I panic a bit thinking I may finish last if I finish at all and hoping if necessary I can walk a marathon in under 8 hours with a cutoff time of 16 hours. (Note Zurich is not the standard 17 hour cutoff time for unexplained reasons). Check my garmin and my bike time is around 6:29, that works and now I am back on track with my goal time. One thing that surprises me is that at no point during the bike am I feeling uncomfortable. I attribute that to the several sections of climbing and rolling hills that force you to move in and out of the aero bars.
T2
Roll into the bike exit and the transition area wondering just how my legs are going to feel. Just then I hear the announcement of the first finisher and I still have a marathon to run, how did he do that? After racking the bike I make my way to the rack with my run gear and I can't find it. Fortunately there are not that many left and a kind volunteer helps me find it. Some other racer must have grabbed it by accident and place it back in the wrong spot on the rack. Really happy I did not have to run in my bike shoes. Same drill as the first transition but with less nakidity, read the note from Jen, eat some food, hydrate, take some advil, and lace up the shoes. Check my watch and I am well under my goal time of 10 minutes and 8:23 for total race time. Let's see what my legs have left.
Run
This is it, 26.2 miles to go, four loops, and I am an Ironman but you really can't think about it as running a marathon. My plan is to focus on a slow, consistent pace, walk the few hills and aid stations and enjoy it. If I can get through two laps in good shape I know I can finish, even if I need to walk. I start off the run and am really surprised how good my legs feel, I may be able to complete this after all. On the run course there are several sections where you see competitors running the opposite way. About two miles into the run I see Jens' smiling face and I am instantly recharged, it is like I am Popeye and I just finished a can of spinach. She is about five minutes ahead of me and looking great. Next comes the one real hill on the race course which is short and through a park, better to walk and enjoy the shrubbery. After the hill you reach the point where they give you the first of four colored armbands to designate where you are at on the run course. Really looking forward to getting the pink armband that designates you are on the last lap.
Around the lake and I see Jen again, she is holding on to that five minute lead. Back to the start/finish area and the course takes you right by the finish line. At this point it might as well be 100 miles away. Start the second lap, telling myself to keep the pace in check and find I am still feeling really good. My first lap was approximately 1:05 which is great but hopefully not too fast. Now that I know the loop I start breaking it down into different sections of sights to give me something to look forward to along the way, the park that reminds me of Prince William forest, the Indian with the proper British accent telling me I am doing brilliantly, the stereo which only seems to play AC/DC, the building that reminds me of my favorite London neighborhood, the 80's music DJ, the brass band, and the other faces of spectators along the way. Some of the other competitors are good entertainment dressed as Spiderman or other inappropriate race day gear. Even the dude blowing chow on the side of the course provided a brief respite from thinking about how far I had left to go.
Second lap done and it takes me about 1:10 so my pace is generally consistent. Now for the third lap and my legs are starting to feel a bit tired. My hamstrings are cramping a bit so I take in some chicken broth, salt, coke, anything I think will help me get through the lap. More Advil, more fuel and water at the aid stations, just get through this lap and one more to go. Hear some little kid yell "schnell, schnell" as I run by and think of Hogan's Heros and my good friend Jim. I am getting slower, my legs hurt, more walking through the aid stations. See all of the familiar sites and near the end of the third lap. I see other racers finishing and it hits me, I am going to do this! Tears well up in my eyes as I think about the road I have traveled to get this far so no time for pain, enjoy this last bit of the race and make the most of it. I check my watch and realize breaking 13 hours is not out of the realm of possibility, do I have it in me?
With about five miles to go I catch Jen, she has slowed down and tells me her legs are really hurting. I give her some advil and she tell me to go on. I check my watch and realize I do not have enough left in the tank to finish in under 13 hours but I can finish the race with Jen. She thinks that is a bad idea and encourages me to go on. We come into the arm band section and shout for the pink ones, almost as good as getting that finisher medal. For the next two miles I would begin to pull away from her and she would catch up so we finally decide to just run together. Good thing for me because Jen is now getting stronger and with two miles to go I am struggling. Now I tell her to go on but she is having none of that so walks with me a bit while I catch a twenty second wind. Jen is doing every thing she can to encourage me and get my mind off of how bad I am feeling. About a mile and a half to go and I realize Jen does not want to finish behind one of the other women competitors on the course that passed us while I took my walk break. Time to dig a little deeper and run hard into the finish. Surprisingly I find a bit of energy and we are headed for home with spectators encouraging us along the way. We can hear the announcer at the finish line and come around the corner where we can see the crowds in the stands cheering for us like we are the first to cross the line. With about 100 yards left I attempt to jump up and ring this stupid bell and my hamstrings instantly lock up. Fortunately I do not take a tumble and recover enough as we take the turn that leads us to the finish line and bypass the turn that takes you out on the course. I am slapping hands as we run down the finishing chute and the announcer is out on the course ready to say those magic words. He announces Jen is an Ironman and I think he is going to forget to announce my name. I was ready to grab the microphone from his hand and make the announcement myself when I realize he is just having some fun with me. Then it hits me, Jen and I are going to cross the finish line together and become Ironman together. Finishing together is the perfect ending to the race, it is ironic and symbolic in many ways that are only known to me and her. Some volunteer places a medal around my neck and I give Jen a hug and kiss. Ich bin ein Ironman!!!
.JPG)
Official Times
Swim 1:34:46
T1 9:59
Bike 6:29:10
T2 7:23
Run 4:47:34
Total 13:08:52
Post Race
Wow, I did it and I actually feel great. We spot a beer stand at the end of chute, probably the cruelest joke in the race as they hand me a free non-alcoholic beer. Gong!! It was horrible. Into the finisher tent for our tshirt and some food. Gong!!! The lamest slice of pizza I have ever seen, it looked like bad frozen pizza you would only eat after a night of drinking in college or completing and Ironman. At least there was free cola which tasted delicious. We grab our post race gear and head to the changing tents for more naked people. Jen and I meet up outside of the changing tents and make our way past the line of naked men waiting to shower, this may have been the highlight of Jen's race day experience. Grab the bikes out of transition, see a few folks still out on the course, drop them off at Tri Bike Transport (they make it so easy), and grab a shuttle ride back to the hotel. We are starving so we walk down to kabob shop near our hotel and pick up some chicken and falafel kababs and two beers from the hotel bar. I actually thought I would hit the bed and crash but it was not to be, I don't think I slept a wink still high on adrenaline from the race.
Final Thoughts
Completing Ironman Zurich was one of the greatest days of my life. Not just the race but the entire journey. I could not have even conceived it, let alone finish it without Jen or Coach T.
Zurich is a great venue, bike check in, lack of wet suit strippers, and volunteers in transition are the few negatives to this event. The course is great, well supported with spectators, and the city and surrounding countryside is fantastic. Don't fool yourself thinking the bike course is flat, there is some serious climbing once you get away from the lake. The weather, it was perfect for me with overcast skies most of the day and temps in the 70's with reasonable dew points.
Will I do another Ironman? I really do not know but we will keep racing but with more of a focus on Xterra mountain bike tris or shorter distance road tris.. Maybe a 50 miler for my 50th birth year, we will see.
.JPG)
As the title of the post gives away the ending, yes I did complete the race and can officially call myself an Ironman but as I discovered in completing my first marathon, it is about the journey not the destination that made the day so special and carried me to the finish line. This will seem odd but the race really was not that hard because it was such a great experience. Truly one of the best days of my life so on to the details.......
3:30 am
The worst part about endurance racing is the early start times which means you are up two hours before the butt crack of dawn just to get everything organized and to the race site on time. In some ways this may be the most challenging portion of the day. After a night of little to no sleep the iPhone alarm went off at 3:30 with the "Happy" song, enjoyed some coffee and a few slices of cold pizza as pre-race breakfast, gathered our gear, and headed down to the vans to meet the other EST folks for our shuttle to the race site. So far the only thing not going right is the lack of a proper poo, that is critical on any big training day but especially on the morning of your first Ironman. Let's hope that does not come back to haunt me later in the day.
As the van makes its way through Zurich, we can see people on their way home from the bars. It makes you wonder which group of people are more disturbed. We arrive at the race venue in plenty of time but still dark and no headlamp, rookie mistake. Something I typically bring to races in the states but it did not make the packing list. I make it to my bike, take off the plastic cover, find a pump and fill the tires with air, bottles and nutrition in place, go find Jen and assist her with her bike.
Rain the night before so the transition area will be muddy, not good for speed play cleats and pedals and you have to wear your shoes out of the transition tent if not on the bike. Will worry about that later, need to get on the wesuit and head down to the swim start for a bit of warm up.
Jen and I help each other with the wesuits, swim for a bit and say our goodbyes as she is going off in the first wave while I am in the slow group. I find some of the other guys in the EST group which helps to keep me relaxed as we make some small talk before the start. Pros go off which means start time for me is 10 minutes away, lets get this thing going!!! Jen's wave goes off but I have no idea where she is at, just say a little prayer she is off to a good start and holding her own in the "washing machine". Time for my wave to move to the beach and there is the horn, I wade into the water realizing I can't stay all the way to the rear if I want to swim my goal time of 1:30 (secretly hoping for 1:25).
Swim
The swim start was actually not that bad, a bit of stop and go and bumping around but not as worse as I had imagined. I experienced a bit of my typical panic about 200 yards into the swim thinking I could not swim the entire distance but was able to give myself a bit of a pep talk, calmed down and focused on swimming one stroke after the other, singing the Happy song in my head. Sighting was the easiest of any race I have done and the water was clear with overcast skies. First turn was jammed up but that was to be expected. Nearly halfway through and I reach the Australian exit where you run over a small island before back into the water for the rest of the race. It was a bit jumbled getting to the island but some nice volunteers were there to pull you out and up the ramp while you ran through a crowd of folks cheering you on. Checked my watch and I was at 44 minutes, darn I think to myself, slower in the water than I expected but need to stick to the strategy of keeping the swim as a warm up for the rest of the race. Back to the first buoy before nearing the last leg of the swim. After I make the turn and head towards the original second buoy I run into some significant chop as the winds had picked up. It really didn't bother me but would clearly impact my swim time. Last leg and now I am sighting to the island and swim exit, under the bridge and there it is. Check my watch and I am at 1:34, slower than my goal time but within range and nothing to panic about. (I would find out later that most folks in the EST group including Jen would experience slower than normal swim times due to the choppy water).
T1
One thing we had been told by our fellow teammates and coach is that the volunteers would be a huge assist in stripping off your wetsuit, getting your gear bag and helping you through transition. I don't know what it is like at other European Ironman events but that is clearly not the case in Zurich. T1 seemed like total chaos, naked people everywhere searching for their bags on the racks and in the tent. I finally found some room on a bench and focused on getting in some nutrition, hydration, and setting myself up for a good bike ride. First I look for the note Jen left me in my transition bag which makes me happy and something to look forward to at the end of the bike. My goal was 10 minutes in T1, not to be in a rush but enough time to eat, change, and get out the door for the next portion of the race. (Funny how you still have 11 plus hours to go and that thought never crosses your mind, just get me to the bike).
Bike
As I expected the transition area is a bit muddy so I do my best to avoid the mud and protect my cleats, hoping that I can easily clip in the pedals on the bike. Out of transition, fire up the garmin, and off I go, only 112 miles to go around Lake Zurich and the beautiful Swiss countryside. The first 30 kilometers of the bike are along the lake and flat so some folks are really hammering but my strategy is to conserve energy and ride conservatively, saving the legs for the run. I also have my stops planned out on the course along with meeting Ken at Heartbreak Hill for my special needs bag. At Zurich, there are no official special needs bags on the race course, just areas where external parties can hand you gear. The route of the bike course was all new to me which I actually liked, it kept me focused on just enjoying the new sights along the way. Flat section done and now heading towards the big, long climb called the Beast. Fortunately I am a decent climber and passed several riders on the way up before hitting the long downhills where I think all of them passed me again. Kept checking out the race bibs of the riders to see their names and country of origin. Funny how it seemed every German dude was name Wolfgang or Klaus while every Italian was named Mario. Coming back into the city I feel really slow seeing all of the other riders into their second lap. I make it to Heartbreak Hill and enjoy winding through a narrow path of spectators before I hear someone yelling my name. It is Ken Glah from EST running after me with my special needs bag. Ken is an accomplished former pro triathlete who finished third at Kona one year, pretty cool. I ask him how Jen is doing and he confirms she is fine and out in front of me. Now to finish the first loop and one more loop including the climb up the Beast. I look at my first split and really want to finish the bike in 6:30 (my goal time was 6:45). I become a bit impatient and start to hammer the flat section, tossing out my strategy to stay conservative. Seeing all of the riders in front of me kind of threw me off my plan and I was hoping it would not come back to haunt me on the run. I think I enjoyed the second loop more than the first as I looked for familiar sights and spectators. The "USA" chant through a small village was pretty cool along with seeing the dairy cows grazing in the fields as they serenaded you with real cow bells, not those cheesy little bells everyone uses at a cross race ;). Climb complete and now for the big downhill, what do I see in front of me but someone in the road motioning at me to slow down and an ambulance on the side of the road. I slow down checking to make sure it is not Jen. All I see is some bike laying on the road and medics attending to someone in the back of the rig. At this point I lose a contact which always seems to happen in a big race. At first I worry this is going to impact the rest of my race. Then I tell myself I will not need 20/20 vision for the run and to suck it up. I also worry that while I have been eating and drinking all along on the bike I may not be eating enough so I used a flat section to slow down a bit and eat an entire Cliff bar. That nutrition really seemed to revive me. On to Heartbreak one last time and the start of the run, fewer spectators at this point at Heartbreak but still happy to see those who stayed out on the course to cheer us on. The worst part about the last few miles of the bike course was seeing all of the competitors already on the run course. I panic a bit thinking I may finish last if I finish at all and hoping if necessary I can walk a marathon in under 8 hours with a cutoff time of 16 hours. (Note Zurich is not the standard 17 hour cutoff time for unexplained reasons). Check my garmin and my bike time is around 6:29, that works and now I am back on track with my goal time. One thing that surprises me is that at no point during the bike am I feeling uncomfortable. I attribute that to the several sections of climbing and rolling hills that force you to move in and out of the aero bars.
T2
Roll into the bike exit and the transition area wondering just how my legs are going to feel. Just then I hear the announcement of the first finisher and I still have a marathon to run, how did he do that? After racking the bike I make my way to the rack with my run gear and I can't find it. Fortunately there are not that many left and a kind volunteer helps me find it. Some other racer must have grabbed it by accident and place it back in the wrong spot on the rack. Really happy I did not have to run in my bike shoes. Same drill as the first transition but with less nakidity, read the note from Jen, eat some food, hydrate, take some advil, and lace up the shoes. Check my watch and I am well under my goal time of 10 minutes and 8:23 for total race time. Let's see what my legs have left.
Run
This is it, 26.2 miles to go, four loops, and I am an Ironman but you really can't think about it as running a marathon. My plan is to focus on a slow, consistent pace, walk the few hills and aid stations and enjoy it. If I can get through two laps in good shape I know I can finish, even if I need to walk. I start off the run and am really surprised how good my legs feel, I may be able to complete this after all. On the run course there are several sections where you see competitors running the opposite way. About two miles into the run I see Jens' smiling face and I am instantly recharged, it is like I am Popeye and I just finished a can of spinach. She is about five minutes ahead of me and looking great. Next comes the one real hill on the race course which is short and through a park, better to walk and enjoy the shrubbery. After the hill you reach the point where they give you the first of four colored armbands to designate where you are at on the run course. Really looking forward to getting the pink armband that designates you are on the last lap.
Around the lake and I see Jen again, she is holding on to that five minute lead. Back to the start/finish area and the course takes you right by the finish line. At this point it might as well be 100 miles away. Start the second lap, telling myself to keep the pace in check and find I am still feeling really good. My first lap was approximately 1:05 which is great but hopefully not too fast. Now that I know the loop I start breaking it down into different sections of sights to give me something to look forward to along the way, the park that reminds me of Prince William forest, the Indian with the proper British accent telling me I am doing brilliantly, the stereo which only seems to play AC/DC, the building that reminds me of my favorite London neighborhood, the 80's music DJ, the brass band, and the other faces of spectators along the way. Some of the other competitors are good entertainment dressed as Spiderman or other inappropriate race day gear. Even the dude blowing chow on the side of the course provided a brief respite from thinking about how far I had left to go.
Second lap done and it takes me about 1:10 so my pace is generally consistent. Now for the third lap and my legs are starting to feel a bit tired. My hamstrings are cramping a bit so I take in some chicken broth, salt, coke, anything I think will help me get through the lap. More Advil, more fuel and water at the aid stations, just get through this lap and one more to go. Hear some little kid yell "schnell, schnell" as I run by and think of Hogan's Heros and my good friend Jim. I am getting slower, my legs hurt, more walking through the aid stations. See all of the familiar sites and near the end of the third lap. I see other racers finishing and it hits me, I am going to do this! Tears well up in my eyes as I think about the road I have traveled to get this far so no time for pain, enjoy this last bit of the race and make the most of it. I check my watch and realize breaking 13 hours is not out of the realm of possibility, do I have it in me?
With about five miles to go I catch Jen, she has slowed down and tells me her legs are really hurting. I give her some advil and she tell me to go on. I check my watch and realize I do not have enough left in the tank to finish in under 13 hours but I can finish the race with Jen. She thinks that is a bad idea and encourages me to go on. We come into the arm band section and shout for the pink ones, almost as good as getting that finisher medal. For the next two miles I would begin to pull away from her and she would catch up so we finally decide to just run together. Good thing for me because Jen is now getting stronger and with two miles to go I am struggling. Now I tell her to go on but she is having none of that so walks with me a bit while I catch a twenty second wind. Jen is doing every thing she can to encourage me and get my mind off of how bad I am feeling. About a mile and a half to go and I realize Jen does not want to finish behind one of the other women competitors on the course that passed us while I took my walk break. Time to dig a little deeper and run hard into the finish. Surprisingly I find a bit of energy and we are headed for home with spectators encouraging us along the way. We can hear the announcer at the finish line and come around the corner where we can see the crowds in the stands cheering for us like we are the first to cross the line. With about 100 yards left I attempt to jump up and ring this stupid bell and my hamstrings instantly lock up. Fortunately I do not take a tumble and recover enough as we take the turn that leads us to the finish line and bypass the turn that takes you out on the course. I am slapping hands as we run down the finishing chute and the announcer is out on the course ready to say those magic words. He announces Jen is an Ironman and I think he is going to forget to announce my name. I was ready to grab the microphone from his hand and make the announcement myself when I realize he is just having some fun with me. Then it hits me, Jen and I are going to cross the finish line together and become Ironman together. Finishing together is the perfect ending to the race, it is ironic and symbolic in many ways that are only known to me and her. Some volunteer places a medal around my neck and I give Jen a hug and kiss. Ich bin ein Ironman!!!
Official Times
Swim 1:34:46
T1 9:59
Bike 6:29:10
T2 7:23
Run 4:47:34
Total 13:08:52
Post Race
Wow, I did it and I actually feel great. We spot a beer stand at the end of chute, probably the cruelest joke in the race as they hand me a free non-alcoholic beer. Gong!! It was horrible. Into the finisher tent for our tshirt and some food. Gong!!! The lamest slice of pizza I have ever seen, it looked like bad frozen pizza you would only eat after a night of drinking in college or completing and Ironman. At least there was free cola which tasted delicious. We grab our post race gear and head to the changing tents for more naked people. Jen and I meet up outside of the changing tents and make our way past the line of naked men waiting to shower, this may have been the highlight of Jen's race day experience. Grab the bikes out of transition, see a few folks still out on the course, drop them off at Tri Bike Transport (they make it so easy), and grab a shuttle ride back to the hotel. We are starving so we walk down to kabob shop near our hotel and pick up some chicken and falafel kababs and two beers from the hotel bar. I actually thought I would hit the bed and crash but it was not to be, I don't think I slept a wink still high on adrenaline from the race.
Final Thoughts
Completing Ironman Zurich was one of the greatest days of my life. Not just the race but the entire journey. I could not have even conceived it, let alone finish it without Jen or Coach T.
Zurich is a great venue, bike check in, lack of wet suit strippers, and volunteers in transition are the few negatives to this event. The course is great, well supported with spectators, and the city and surrounding countryside is fantastic. Don't fool yourself thinking the bike course is flat, there is some serious climbing once you get away from the lake. The weather, it was perfect for me with overcast skies most of the day and temps in the 70's with reasonable dew points.
Will I do another Ironman? I really do not know but we will keep racing but with more of a focus on Xterra mountain bike tris or shorter distance road tris.. Maybe a 50 miler for my 50th birth year, we will see.
Getting to the Starting Line
Well the race is done, goal achieved and I am an Ironman. Just writing that leaves a bit of lump in my throat, just thinking of what it took to get me from the starting line to the finish. But there remains a bit more work to accomplish so like any good writer I have decided to put the trip into a trilogy starting with the trip to Zurich, the race report, and our vacation in France. So let's get started back before I was an Ironman and the days leading up to the big event.
For two weeks leading up to the race there was some piece of planning, packing, or logistics to complete. It really hit home for me when I dropped off our bikes at Bonzai sports for Tri Bike Transport to ship to Zurich, this is it, we are really going to do this race. Our expert mechanic Jay had the bikes in proper working order but I was worried about how the bikes would survive the trip. Turns out I had nothing to fear, besides removing the pedals the folks from TBT do nothing to the bike but make sure it is delivered to the proper race destination.
Travel Day
Our flight to Zurich was on Wednesday late afternoon, which gave us some time in the morning to complete our packing, review the check lists a dozen more times, and begin worrying about all of the little things that could go wrong when traveling to a foreign country along with the potential for DC traffic in simply getting to the airport. The hardest part of the day was dropping off our pups, Islay. We booked Islay a visit to "summer camp" at a neighbor's house who does pet sitting through an online service called Doggy Vacay. It was difficult saying goodbye to our happy girl but we knew she would be in good hands and those happy thoughts of her would play a mental role in our minds at some point on race day.
Bags ready to go, cab on time, off to the airport and light traffic. Even the long line for check in at the United counter moved along and left us plenty of time for a glass of wine before boarding our flight. Brief glimmer of hope we would be upgraded to business class with our names on the board but it was not to be, back with the rest of stowage and no free cookies!
Easy flight but not much sleep with an ontime arrival in Zurich, now to pick up our bags and find the rep from Endurance Sports Travel to take us to our hotel. For this international tri, we used EST and they definitely made our lives easier in the days leading up to the race. A bit of traffic on the way to our hotel but it was the am rush hour in Zurich and I enjoy checking out the new sites and trying to familiarize myself with the new city. No luck with early check-in, I expected as much but with little sleep on the flight and the race just three days away all I wanted was to crawl into bed and sleep. We killed some time walking around the hood looking for coffee but settled on a a grocery store and picked up some little ham sandwiches for our breakfast. Hotel found a room for us which was great until we realized it was the size and style of a college dorm room but a bed is a bed so we crashed for a few hours knowing that sleep would be in limited quantities with the nerves leading up to the race.
Waking up in the tiny room, finding out the TV had only one channel that worked (German soap operas) and weak wi-fi I knew this was not how we needed to spend the days before the race. Fortunately the hotel upgraded our room with a queen size bed and a working TV (BBC and CNN International are awesome when that is all you have).
Night Out
Being our first night in Zurich and Jen's birthday we decided to take a train into the city for some exploring, cocktails, and dinner wherever we could find it. Zurich has an efficient and functional mass transit system using light rail, best to buy the 24 hour pass if you go.
Jen already had a destination in mind, a bar and restaurant called the Kronenhalle. If you go to Zurich and appreciate a fine cocktail you must go to this bar. Not only is it stunning inside with dark paneling on the walls and ceilings but you will find some of the best cocktails and service of any bar in the world. We were fortunate enough to have Christian Heiss as our mixologist. He crafted Jen a manhattan while I enjoyed an old fashioned made with Willet rye. Christian was not satisfied in just making us drinks, he made sure we sampled several types of vermouth to experience the wide variety in flavors and explaining what pairs best with specific liquors. The paprika flavored chips were good too.
.jpeg)
.jpeg)
For dinner we went looking for a Thai restaurant called the Blue Monkey Jen had found in a guide book. It was a beautiful evening in Zurich and when we found the place with no one sitting outside or in we opted for the more lively patio across the cobblestone street at a place called Tank. I am pretty sure this is a local Swiss chain and there is nothing fancy about this place but it was great to sit outside and enjoy a local beer.
For Jen's birthday dinner we went all out and ordered burgers and fries. While expensive (this is Zurich after all), the burgers were actually quite delicious and just what we needed. After a romantic walk along the river we found a train station and headed back to our hotel for some rest.
Hurry Up and Wait
Friday morning, lots of little things to do in prep for the race but I just want it to start. While I was a bit nervous it was more about just wanting to start and see if I could really complete the distance. Friday morning we went on an hour ride led by Ken Glah from EST and the rest of the folks in the group. It was good to get out on the bike and ride up Heartbreak Hill (not so bad) even in the busy and narrow streets. I still don't think it was a good idea to skip the bike path and take the auto only tunnel into downtown and neither did the truck drive who rode his horn while I pedaled toward the light.
Down to registration and check out the swim and transition areas in the afternoon. Pizza near our hotel for dinner with plans for getting the last good nights sleep we would see in a couple of days. We met up with several other folks along with EST and enjoyed lively conversation about power meters and race struggles. Clearly Jen and I were not taking the hydration part of the pre-race plan seriously enough. No way was I drinking a Nuun flavored water with pizza on a Friday night. Of course this made me worry that I was doing something wrong but it really is a good lesson in stick to your own race plan. If you have been drinking a beer or two during your training your body is not going to revolt. Besides I am doing all of this training so I can enjoy beer and ice cream.
While the TV in our hotel was limited, I opted to pay for the high speed wi-fi so we could stream episodes of Entourage in our room. I really having to thank the cast and crew of this show in helping get my mind off the race and relax in the days and hours leading up to race day.
Saturday, last few hours to make sure we understand all of the race rules, logistics, and packing our transition bags. It was a long day of doing lots of little things including bike drop off at 5 pm. The only positive out of the long line was a chance to talk to one of the EST athletes who had competed in several Ironmans including qualifying for Kona. He really helped to put my mind at ease over the race including the swim, everyone feels a bit of panic during the start. Plus he told me had four beers the night before with Ken, that is my kind of training.
Pasta dinner and extra pizza for the pre-race breakfast and now to spend the next 10 hour laying in bed thinking about the race while the minutes ticked away. What would happen on race day, what would go wrong and how would I handle adversity, are my legs ready for five hours of running after 112 miles on the bike? There is the alarm, blaring the "Happy" song in my ear, something I would be singing in my head during each portion of the race.
Time to go earn that medal......
For two weeks leading up to the race there was some piece of planning, packing, or logistics to complete. It really hit home for me when I dropped off our bikes at Bonzai sports for Tri Bike Transport to ship to Zurich, this is it, we are really going to do this race. Our expert mechanic Jay had the bikes in proper working order but I was worried about how the bikes would survive the trip. Turns out I had nothing to fear, besides removing the pedals the folks from TBT do nothing to the bike but make sure it is delivered to the proper race destination.
Travel Day
Our flight to Zurich was on Wednesday late afternoon, which gave us some time in the morning to complete our packing, review the check lists a dozen more times, and begin worrying about all of the little things that could go wrong when traveling to a foreign country along with the potential for DC traffic in simply getting to the airport. The hardest part of the day was dropping off our pups, Islay. We booked Islay a visit to "summer camp" at a neighbor's house who does pet sitting through an online service called Doggy Vacay. It was difficult saying goodbye to our happy girl but we knew she would be in good hands and those happy thoughts of her would play a mental role in our minds at some point on race day.
Bags ready to go, cab on time, off to the airport and light traffic. Even the long line for check in at the United counter moved along and left us plenty of time for a glass of wine before boarding our flight. Brief glimmer of hope we would be upgraded to business class with our names on the board but it was not to be, back with the rest of stowage and no free cookies!
Easy flight but not much sleep with an ontime arrival in Zurich, now to pick up our bags and find the rep from Endurance Sports Travel to take us to our hotel. For this international tri, we used EST and they definitely made our lives easier in the days leading up to the race. A bit of traffic on the way to our hotel but it was the am rush hour in Zurich and I enjoy checking out the new sites and trying to familiarize myself with the new city. No luck with early check-in, I expected as much but with little sleep on the flight and the race just three days away all I wanted was to crawl into bed and sleep. We killed some time walking around the hood looking for coffee but settled on a a grocery store and picked up some little ham sandwiches for our breakfast. Hotel found a room for us which was great until we realized it was the size and style of a college dorm room but a bed is a bed so we crashed for a few hours knowing that sleep would be in limited quantities with the nerves leading up to the race.
Waking up in the tiny room, finding out the TV had only one channel that worked (German soap operas) and weak wi-fi I knew this was not how we needed to spend the days before the race. Fortunately the hotel upgraded our room with a queen size bed and a working TV (BBC and CNN International are awesome when that is all you have).
Night Out
Being our first night in Zurich and Jen's birthday we decided to take a train into the city for some exploring, cocktails, and dinner wherever we could find it. Zurich has an efficient and functional mass transit system using light rail, best to buy the 24 hour pass if you go.
.jpeg) |
| On our way to dinner at Lake Zurich, we would get to know this route very well. |
Jen already had a destination in mind, a bar and restaurant called the Kronenhalle. If you go to Zurich and appreciate a fine cocktail you must go to this bar. Not only is it stunning inside with dark paneling on the walls and ceilings but you will find some of the best cocktails and service of any bar in the world. We were fortunate enough to have Christian Heiss as our mixologist. He crafted Jen a manhattan while I enjoyed an old fashioned made with Willet rye. Christian was not satisfied in just making us drinks, he made sure we sampled several types of vermouth to experience the wide variety in flavors and explaining what pairs best with specific liquors. The paprika flavored chips were good too.
For dinner we went looking for a Thai restaurant called the Blue Monkey Jen had found in a guide book. It was a beautiful evening in Zurich and when we found the place with no one sitting outside or in we opted for the more lively patio across the cobblestone street at a place called Tank. I am pretty sure this is a local Swiss chain and there is nothing fancy about this place but it was great to sit outside and enjoy a local beer.
.jpeg) |
| Local beer that pairs well with a burger and fries. |
For Jen's birthday dinner we went all out and ordered burgers and fries. While expensive (this is Zurich after all), the burgers were actually quite delicious and just what we needed. After a romantic walk along the river we found a train station and headed back to our hotel for some rest.
.jpeg) |
| Waiting for our train back to the hotel |
Hurry Up and Wait
Friday morning, lots of little things to do in prep for the race but I just want it to start. While I was a bit nervous it was more about just wanting to start and see if I could really complete the distance. Friday morning we went on an hour ride led by Ken Glah from EST and the rest of the folks in the group. It was good to get out on the bike and ride up Heartbreak Hill (not so bad) even in the busy and narrow streets. I still don't think it was a good idea to skip the bike path and take the auto only tunnel into downtown and neither did the truck drive who rode his horn while I pedaled toward the light.
Down to registration and check out the swim and transition areas in the afternoon. Pizza near our hotel for dinner with plans for getting the last good nights sleep we would see in a couple of days. We met up with several other folks along with EST and enjoyed lively conversation about power meters and race struggles. Clearly Jen and I were not taking the hydration part of the pre-race plan seriously enough. No way was I drinking a Nuun flavored water with pizza on a Friday night. Of course this made me worry that I was doing something wrong but it really is a good lesson in stick to your own race plan. If you have been drinking a beer or two during your training your body is not going to revolt. Besides I am doing all of this training so I can enjoy beer and ice cream.
 |
| Waiting for the bikes to arrive |
.JPG) |
| Swim exit, I will be happy to see this on race day. |
 |
| Anything is possible, right? |
While the TV in our hotel was limited, I opted to pay for the high speed wi-fi so we could stream episodes of Entourage in our room. I really having to thank the cast and crew of this show in helping get my mind off the race and relax in the days and hours leading up to race day.
Saturday, last few hours to make sure we understand all of the race rules, logistics, and packing our transition bags. It was a long day of doing lots of little things including bike drop off at 5 pm. The only positive out of the long line was a chance to talk to one of the EST athletes who had competed in several Ironmans including qualifying for Kona. He really helped to put my mind at ease over the race including the swim, everyone feels a bit of panic during the start. Plus he told me had four beers the night before with Ken, that is my kind of training.
Pasta dinner and extra pizza for the pre-race breakfast and now to spend the next 10 hour laying in bed thinking about the race while the minutes ticked away. What would happen on race day, what would go wrong and how would I handle adversity, are my legs ready for five hours of running after 112 miles on the bike? There is the alarm, blaring the "Happy" song in my ear, something I would be singing in my head during each portion of the race.
Time to go earn that medal......
Friday, August 8, 2014
Ironman Switzerland - A Race Report
It is officially the end of the road. All the hours, all the sweat, all the miles, the soreness, the fun, the pain and the work has come to fruition. Greg and I are Ironmen! Ironman Switzerland will live in my memory as one of the best experiences of my life. I'm so glad we took on the challenge.
And now, the race report.
Greg and I arrived in Zurich on Thursday morning, July 24th. The idea was to have a few days to get oriented and get over the jet lag but not burn up too many precious vacation days. This plan was just about perfect.
Endurance Sports Travel (EST), our hosts, picked us and some other guests up at the airport and took us back to our hotel, the Crowne Plaza. If you are traveling to an unfamiliar city for an Ironman, EST is a no-brainer. They work out all race logistics for you, namely getting to-and-from the race site, which you must do repeatedly with your bike, gear, etc. Having to do this on your own would be a major P.I.T.A. EST's communication and scheduling could have been a little more professional, but they were all great people and ultimately got the job done. The hotel was extremely average and the location was poor. I would never recommend this hotel to a vacationer in Zurich, but for race purposes it was adequate. We were getting rides everywhere and our room was such a mess with all of our gear that luxury would have been silly. Zurich is an extraordinarily expensive city, so for a 5 night stay centered around the race, this hotel was the right call. We took a little nap and then made our way to the race site to register.
Registration was fairly predictable. We got nice new Ironman backpacks full of all our necessary gear and some goodies. We sat in some shade and pulled out our race numbers. It was all becoming real, and the butterflies in my stomach were starting to take flight.
Thursday afternoon EST got our bikes from TriBike Transport, the company we entrusted to bring our bikes to Zurich. This company is another home run. You drop your bike off at a local shop the week before the race. They don't even disassemble it...they wrap it up and the next thing you know, your bike is before you at your destination. The cost, compared with shipping companies and airline fees, considering the convenience, is WELL worth it. Their coordination with EST made things particularly easy. EST's mechanic confirmed that our bikes were in great shape. One less thing to be concerned about!
Friday morning EST led a little group ride which was a perfect opportunity to shake the legs out and test out our bikes before race day. The ride was a little sketchy as we had to get through quite a bit of traffic to get to the race site, but we survived. We did one loop around one of the steepest climbs in the race, Heartbreak Hill, and back to the hotel. A little over an hour. Bikes were fine, we were feeling good. Time to rest until Sunday morning.
Friday afternoon was the race brief back at the race site. The race brief was a one-hour comedic version of the athlete guide in a tent so hot I almost passed out. I did learn two pieces of information for which I was unprepared. (1) No special needs. Ummm... what the wha? Our coach and our teammates had been telling us all about special needs bags you can drop on the bike and the run -- bags of extra supplies you might need mid-race. These bags are provided by Ironman in US races. We had packed and planned accordingly. Now what? (2) In T1, I could not carry my bike shoes to the mount line. I either had to put them on in the tent or put them on my pedals. This was a problem. It was supposed to rain both the night before the race and race day, and there would be a looong walk out to the start of the bike course on muddy grass. My Speedplay pedals are NOT, to say the least, mud friendly. Mud in my cleats would render my bike unrideable and ruin my day. However, I had never practiced putting my feet in my shoes while riding. Nothing new on race day?!?! More on these topics later.
Friday evening we joined some of our fellow EST customers for pizza near the hotel. The waiter went around the table taking everyone's mineral water order. Greg and I were last and did not hesitate ordering beers. I think everyone else at the table thought we were nuts and I was beginning to feel like I needed to attend an AA meeting. We spent most of dinner listening to the tales of these experienced Ironmen...their training regimens, power meter commentaries, and race tips. One comment that stood out in my mind was from a 17-Ironman finisher and Kona qualifier who said that the competition in European Ironmans is a whole other level from the US. He said that in the US he is typically top 10 in his AG coming off the bike and this has never been the case in Europe. Noted. Anyway, I sat there wide eyed, simply day dreaming of the finish line. But there would be no dreaming in bed Friday night - my first sleepless night of the trip. My mind was racing...running through race logistics, plans, execution, performance. I had the jitters bad.
Saturday morning we packed our transition bags, marking them carefully with duct tape so as to be able to readily identify them on the racks -- a tip we stole from a previous race report. EST offered to have special needs bags for us at the mid-point of the bike. Yay, EST! So we packed that too. Checked and re-checked our items. We also wrote notes to each other to put in our transition bags...little surprise messages we could look forward to as we ticked off the miles.
We went down to the garage of our hotel to prep our bikes with our stickers. I also decided to try putting my already-clipped-in shoes on while riding around the parking lot. I simply could not risk muddy cleats. Fortunately one of our Friday dinner companions, the 17-time Ironman, was also in the garage to give me some tips on how its done. Those tips were enough to get me comfortable in the parking lot. Even if it took me a couple extra minutes on race day, it was better than the alternative. I decided to go for it and attach my shoes to my bike.
Saturday evening was bike/transition bag check-in. They organized check-in by bib number and told everyone they MUST go at their assigned time. Of course, Greg and I were separated by several hours, so we split up. I was in the 4-5pm group. EST got us there about 4:15. I walked over to the line which seemed a legitimate mile long. There were hundreds of athletes standing in line in the rain waiting to check in. Ugh. As I head towards the back of the line I see most of the athletes are supposed to be in later check-in times. GRRRR. Clearly, they were not enforcing their policy. It was a free-for-all. I am told that this race's check in is much later and much slower than US races. Anywho, I finally got to the front of the line and got my photo taken with my bike for security. I went to rack it, cover it with a big bag for the rain, hang my transition bags on the racks, pick up my timing chip, and head back to the hotel. I got back just as Greg was leaving for his check-in. Had a nice big pasta dinner and settled in for another sleepless night.
Ironman Switzerland had finally arrived. The alarm wasn't even close to necessary. Greg set his phone to play the "Happy" song as our alarm. This song reminds us of our pup Islay, the happiest dog on earth. As jittery as I felt, however, I was more anxious than nervous. I just wanted to get the show on the road! We quickly dressed, grabbed our wetsuits and post-race gear bag, ate some breakfast, and jumped in the van for our big day. We got to the race site in the dark. Oh yeah, forgot a headlamp! I stumbled around my transition area. Took off the rain cover, found a pump and put air in my tires, put my shoes on my pedals. Greg and I reunited, put on our wet suits, and headed for the beach to do a little warm up swim. The water was very comfortable and the buoys looked reasonably straight forward. We got out, kissed goodbye, and went to our respective start pens. Of course now that I have my wetsuit on and it is 10 minutes until race start, like a 5 year old in my snow suit, I realize that I now have to go to the bathroom. I sprint to a nearby restroom and use 9 of my 10 minutes getting out and back into my wetsuit. Sprint back to the start and there is the whistle. 140.6 miles to go.
Like other Ironman races recently, Ironman Switzerland did a wave start for the first time. They had 2 waves of amateurs after the pros. They told you if you expect to swim a 1:10 or faster, go in wave 1. Slower, wave 2. My time trial 2.4 mile open water swim a few weeks prior was a 1:12. Hmmm. What to do? When I thought the swim would be a mass start, I just planned to sit at the back and wait for things to clear out. I simply couldn't bear getting beat up by bodies and exerting too much stress and energy that early on. But with the wave start, this gets tricky. I decided to swim in the back of Wave 1. I knew that faster swimmers that go out hard in Wave 2 would catch me, but that was a chance I was willing to take to avoid being stuck with the true slowpokes in the back of Wave 2.
2 lap swim. I let all the Wave 1 swimmers go, then slowly inched my way into the water. For the first few hundred yards I was practically dog paddling. The traffic was heavy. For self proclaimed "strong swimmers" there were a lot of bad swimmers out there. I may not be fast, but folks around me were zig zagging all over the place. The traffic remained bad until the first turn buoy, where I got completely beat up. People on my feet were grabbing at my legs so much I thought they'd rip my timing chip off. I just kicked like crazy. Oops! My bad! The next couple of legs were fine until the funnel to the Australian exit, a little island that you run over to begin the next lap. When you hit the funnel the traffic got very bad again and I got beat up again. Limbs and bodies hitting hard. I was very happy to get out of the water and create a little distance on the second lap.
I look at my watch. :37 minutes. I'm behind because the first lap is shorter than the second. Who cares. Back in the water I go. The second lap was definitely easier in terms of traffic but the chop had picked up. Net/net about the same. I climb out of the water and look at my watch again. 1:20+. Yikes! Much slower than anticipated. Oh well, I'm done and feeling good.
SWIM: 1:21:05, 19/45 starters in AG
The great thing about triathlon is that you are so exhausted by each leg that you are actually excited for the next leg to start! I get my wetsuit half off and run to get my transition bag. The bags were in perfect order so the duct tape wasn't really necessary. I grabbed my bag and run into the ladies changing tent. I see why they are coed...naked women everywhere. I laugh since I am wearing the same outfit the whole race. Why are they changing? So in addition to no special needs, Ironman Switzerland doesn't have wetsuit strippers!!! Our Ironman friends in the States had told us about the incredible volunteer service in these races...the wetsuit strippers, the volunteers in transition that help you with sunscreen, getting your transition bag, your bike, etc. None of that. We picked the low budget race, apparently. No time to worry about that. I sit down, read my note from Greg which puts a smile on my face. I eat 2 fig newtons, apply a handful of chamois cream (yes, after I eat!), drink some water, put on my socks, helmet, sunglasses. I drop off my bag and run off to find my bike. I get to my bike and am so happy I'm not wearing my shoes. The ground is a MESS. I then have to run with my bike several hundred yards to get to the bike mount line. I hop on, and as instructed the day before, pedal for a bit with my feet on top of my shoes. Carefully, with some momentum, I reach down and strap one foot in at a time. Easy! I'm off.
The first 30K (yep, learned how to calculate k's to miles in my head with all of my "free" bike time) were basically pancake flat around the lake. I am tempted to fly but Coach T was sitting on my shoulder the whole time, in her red visor, yelling at me to slow down! People were passing me left and right. I HATE that. I kept telling myself, patience, patience. At 30k came the first climb. Average length, average steep. I'm in my easy gear, just spinning it up. At 45K came my first planned stop. I hopped off my saddle, stretched quickly, and refilled my aero bottle between my handlebars with one of my spares. Back on the bike. The next 10K were some easy rollers. At about 55K comes "The Beast," the hardest climb of the race. It is very steep, winding, and long. I am passing a bunch of Clydesdale racers, but that's about it. Passing on this grade takes a lot of effort. The drafting rules on these climbs go completely out the window...people are in packs. I am spinning easy, sitting up nice and straight to stretch my lower back, desperately trying not to work my quads too hard. I get to the top and breathe a sigh of relief. Little did I know I was only half way done. After a brief and gradual downhill, we're climbing again. Another long climb, this one not as steep but it seems to go on forever. Finally at the top, about 63K into the first lap, there is an aid station with an announcer who butchers my name. Nice try though. This time there is a steep descent back to the lake. The roads are still quite wet from the previous night's rain and I get visions of crashing. This always happens to me on steep downhills. I have to work so hard to stay focused and calm. I make it down to the flat section and make my way back around the lake towards Heartbreak Hill, the steepest climb of the race that we had done in Friday's warm up. This was a hard but exciting section. The street is lined with spectators on both sides, creating a singletrack of riders. They are all screaming and cheering and ringing their cowbells. "Hopp, hopp hopp!" "Allez! Allez!" It is fun and makes you feel like you are a Tour rider.
Just before the tip of the climb I feel a tap on my back and it is Ken Glah, the owner of Endurance Sports Tavel and 30-time Kona qualifier, with my special needs bag. All I can think of is how absurd I must seem to this incredible professional triathlete, as he is handing me Fig Newtons and Combos at about the same time he would have been starting his run. But he couldn't have been nicer or more supportive. I lollygagged a bit at this pit stop. It took me a while to find a clearing, then I grabbed my spare Accelerade powder and refilled my empty bottle. I get back on the bike and stuff my two fig newtons in my mouth. Dumb! The descent starts immediately and I find myself unable to chew so down I go looking like a big chipmunk. I think I finally swallowed them about five minutes later. The course loops back to the start and this is right about the time I see Greg. He is headed for Heartbreak Hill. I yell out to him but he doesn't hear me. He was looking strong, which makes me happy. Off for my second lap.
Mentally I was doing well. I wasn't tired or bored and felt ready for the second lap. I finished the first lap in about 3:15, including stops, and this scared me a bit. Coach T was back on my shoulder. SLOW DOWN! 6:30 would have been ahead of my "A" goal split in order to preserve my run. I'm back on the flat section and am keeping my pace in check. There are a bazillion riders in front of me but I stay patient. I get to the 135K mark and hit my 3rd and final stop. This time, I need a rest room, stat. I run in, drop my suit, and forget that my bib is still attached. I think I peed all over it. To boot, I zip my suit back up but my bib is all tangled up. I run back out and the volunteers try to help me but the situation is hopeless. I must go back in, undress again, and get my bib straightened out. GRR...#wasteoftime! I fill my aero bottle one more time and off I go to get this thing done. The climbs the second time around are of course tougher, but there is only so slow you can go - any slower and I would have tipped over! I'm spinning, spinning, spinning, and scared that I am burning my legs up, so I'm even more conservative on the flats.
(Note: For those of you considering this race...don't be fooled by the seemingly low elevation gain. The total elevation gain is less than some other Ironmans, but the unique challenge of this race is that all of the gain comes in 3-4 very steep, energy-depleting climbs. No rollers here.)
The second time I hit that steep downhill, I see an ambulance at the bottom. Yikes. This will not be good. Sure enough there is a guy in a stretcher at the bottom covered in blood. Greg is still behind me so I can breath a sigh of relief that it isn't him, but I get chills as I ride past this man. I know that when Greg sees this he'll think it is me. I am pretty accident prone. I'm back on the flats around the lake and I notice there are no bikes. I'm alone. It is weird. The second time up Heartbreak hill isn't as fun. The crowd has thinned a bit and my quads are starting to burn. Someone starts yelling "hopp hopp hopp!" and I want to punch him. "I'm hopping!!!!" The last few kilometers seem endless but I finally arrive. I didn't see Greg this time so he must already be up Heartbreak and has gained on me. There are runners EVERYWHERE. Most of them multiple laps in. Gosh, am I that slow???? Apparently so. That dude wasn't kidding about the European competition. I rack my bike and it seems I'm the last bike to arrive, but I'm feeling good. Many Ironmen have told me they never want to see their bike again after that ride, but I didn't experience this. I suppose I didn't work hard enough.
BIKE: 6:49:40, 28/45 AG
Another volunteer-free transition. What does my $800 go to, again? More naked ladies in transition. Still confused by this. I read my final note, strap on my shoes and my fuel belt that, sans special needs, contains everything I could ever use. I'm off, expecting to be sluggish....but, what's this?? I'm feeling great. For two laps and over 13 miles, I'm practically whistling zippity do-da. I'm soaking in the sights, enjoying the fellow competitors, the spectators, and the aid stations. I walk the aid stations, but don't feel desperate to do so. Even passed two of our Friday night dinner companions that didn't drink beer...suckers! Was it worth it?!?!
The run is a four-lap course. Greg poo-poo'd this format at first, but I maintained that this is a good thing. It breaks the run down in to manageable chunks (huge, mentally) and with all the little out-and-backs of the loop, we'd get to see each other a bunch...which we did! It was great. Always put a spring in my step. A couple of miles into each lap you get a colored arm band. Once you collect all four you are home free. The hardest part of the laps was that you have to run past the finish line each time. After the second and third lap I started tearing up as I heard them announcing finishers...I knew my time was coming soon. After I got my 3rd arm band, a couple of miles into the 3rd lap, the miles started to catch up with me. My legs started to feel pain. I found myself walking more and hobbling a bit. At the start of the 4th lap, I'm hurting. Bad. My legs aren't working. This is right when Greg catches up to me. He starts walking with me, and I am urging him to keep going. I'm thinking he can break 13 hours and he needs to hustle and not wait for me. But he insists that he is running out of gas too and wants to share the last lap together. Greg gives me a 400mg Ibuprofen tablet. Ahhhh. We walk a lot the first half of the lap, but are happy and chatty. My energy level is high, I am breathing easy, I just have no legs. The second half of the lap I get my legs back. Must have been the Ibuprofen. Or all the broth I drank on the 3rd lap. All of a sudden I'm feeling great again. We pick the pace back up. Then Greg starts fading. It's my turn to coax. Before too long, we can hear the finish line. We run into the chute we'd run through three times before but this time we've got all our arm bands. The spectators can see this and are cheering us on, giving us high fives. FINALLY, we make that left turn to the finish. We have the runway to ourselves.
It is the high everyone says it is. Bright lights, red carpet, cheerleaders, the announcer shouting our names.."Jennifer, YOU are an Ironman!!" "Greg, YOU are an Ironman!!!" It was glorious. We celebrated and danced across the finish line, got our medals, and gave each other a big congratulatory hug. Even the non-alcoholic beer stand and most horrible post-race food I've ever seen couldn't bring me down.
RUN: 4:51:23, 27/45 AG
TOTAL: 13:14:50, 27/45 AG Starters and 38 AG Finishers
When I look back to my goals, it is hard to be disappointed in the results. I met my base goal by 110%. I finished strong and loved every minute of the experience. That is enough. I absolutely met my "B" goal which was breaking 14 hours. I remember running the numbers in figuring out my goals and I just couldn't see taking more than 14 hours, but I didn't really know what to expect. I didn't quite hit my "A" goal of breaking 13 hours, but c'est la vie. I walked away from the race thinking that it wasn't that hard, so I know I have a faster time in me.
In response to what I've learned is the age old question,"are you going to do another one?" I can honestly say, I don't know. I have to admit, it is tempting. Yes, I did this for the experience of it and got exactly what I wanted, but let's face it, I wouldn't even attempt such a feat if I wasn't competitive. Looking back on my performance, I see TONS of room for improvement and I must admit I would love to get that time down. However, training for an Ironman requires putting most everything else in your life on a shelf, and I'm not sure I'm willing to do that in the foreseeable future. 2015 will likely have other excitement in store.
I have no regrets about doing Ironman Switzerland. It was an incredible experience, we had a ball, and got a great vacation out of it. BUT, if you are considering your first Ironman, I'd encourage Americans to stick to the home front for the first one. I know if I attempt another one, it will be in the US. Time will tell.
And now, the race report.
The Prelude
Endurance Sports Travel (EST), our hosts, picked us and some other guests up at the airport and took us back to our hotel, the Crowne Plaza. If you are traveling to an unfamiliar city for an Ironman, EST is a no-brainer. They work out all race logistics for you, namely getting to-and-from the race site, which you must do repeatedly with your bike, gear, etc. Having to do this on your own would be a major P.I.T.A. EST's communication and scheduling could have been a little more professional, but they were all great people and ultimately got the job done. The hotel was extremely average and the location was poor. I would never recommend this hotel to a vacationer in Zurich, but for race purposes it was adequate. We were getting rides everywhere and our room was such a mess with all of our gear that luxury would have been silly. Zurich is an extraordinarily expensive city, so for a 5 night stay centered around the race, this hotel was the right call. We took a little nap and then made our way to the race site to register.
Registration was fairly predictable. We got nice new Ironman backpacks full of all our necessary gear and some goodies. We sat in some shade and pulled out our race numbers. It was all becoming real, and the butterflies in my stomach were starting to take flight.
Thursday afternoon EST got our bikes from TriBike Transport, the company we entrusted to bring our bikes to Zurich. This company is another home run. You drop your bike off at a local shop the week before the race. They don't even disassemble it...they wrap it up and the next thing you know, your bike is before you at your destination. The cost, compared with shipping companies and airline fees, considering the convenience, is WELL worth it. Their coordination with EST made things particularly easy. EST's mechanic confirmed that our bikes were in great shape. One less thing to be concerned about!
Friday morning EST led a little group ride which was a perfect opportunity to shake the legs out and test out our bikes before race day. The ride was a little sketchy as we had to get through quite a bit of traffic to get to the race site, but we survived. We did one loop around one of the steepest climbs in the race, Heartbreak Hill, and back to the hotel. A little over an hour. Bikes were fine, we were feeling good. Time to rest until Sunday morning.
Friday afternoon was the race brief back at the race site. The race brief was a one-hour comedic version of the athlete guide in a tent so hot I almost passed out. I did learn two pieces of information for which I was unprepared. (1) No special needs. Ummm... what the wha? Our coach and our teammates had been telling us all about special needs bags you can drop on the bike and the run -- bags of extra supplies you might need mid-race. These bags are provided by Ironman in US races. We had packed and planned accordingly. Now what? (2) In T1, I could not carry my bike shoes to the mount line. I either had to put them on in the tent or put them on my pedals. This was a problem. It was supposed to rain both the night before the race and race day, and there would be a looong walk out to the start of the bike course on muddy grass. My Speedplay pedals are NOT, to say the least, mud friendly. Mud in my cleats would render my bike unrideable and ruin my day. However, I had never practiced putting my feet in my shoes while riding. Nothing new on race day?!?! More on these topics later.
Friday evening we joined some of our fellow EST customers for pizza near the hotel. The waiter went around the table taking everyone's mineral water order. Greg and I were last and did not hesitate ordering beers. I think everyone else at the table thought we were nuts and I was beginning to feel like I needed to attend an AA meeting. We spent most of dinner listening to the tales of these experienced Ironmen...their training regimens, power meter commentaries, and race tips. One comment that stood out in my mind was from a 17-Ironman finisher and Kona qualifier who said that the competition in European Ironmans is a whole other level from the US. He said that in the US he is typically top 10 in his AG coming off the bike and this has never been the case in Europe. Noted. Anyway, I sat there wide eyed, simply day dreaming of the finish line. But there would be no dreaming in bed Friday night - my first sleepless night of the trip. My mind was racing...running through race logistics, plans, execution, performance. I had the jitters bad.
Saturday morning we packed our transition bags, marking them carefully with duct tape so as to be able to readily identify them on the racks -- a tip we stole from a previous race report. EST offered to have special needs bags for us at the mid-point of the bike. Yay, EST! So we packed that too. Checked and re-checked our items. We also wrote notes to each other to put in our transition bags...little surprise messages we could look forward to as we ticked off the miles.
We went down to the garage of our hotel to prep our bikes with our stickers. I also decided to try putting my already-clipped-in shoes on while riding around the parking lot. I simply could not risk muddy cleats. Fortunately one of our Friday dinner companions, the 17-time Ironman, was also in the garage to give me some tips on how its done. Those tips were enough to get me comfortable in the parking lot. Even if it took me a couple extra minutes on race day, it was better than the alternative. I decided to go for it and attach my shoes to my bike.
Saturday evening was bike/transition bag check-in. They organized check-in by bib number and told everyone they MUST go at their assigned time. Of course, Greg and I were separated by several hours, so we split up. I was in the 4-5pm group. EST got us there about 4:15. I walked over to the line which seemed a legitimate mile long. There were hundreds of athletes standing in line in the rain waiting to check in. Ugh. As I head towards the back of the line I see most of the athletes are supposed to be in later check-in times. GRRRR. Clearly, they were not enforcing their policy. It was a free-for-all. I am told that this race's check in is much later and much slower than US races. Anywho, I finally got to the front of the line and got my photo taken with my bike for security. I went to rack it, cover it with a big bag for the rain, hang my transition bags on the racks, pick up my timing chip, and head back to the hotel. I got back just as Greg was leaving for his check-in. Had a nice big pasta dinner and settled in for another sleepless night.
Race Day
The Swim
2 lap swim. I let all the Wave 1 swimmers go, then slowly inched my way into the water. For the first few hundred yards I was practically dog paddling. The traffic was heavy. For self proclaimed "strong swimmers" there were a lot of bad swimmers out there. I may not be fast, but folks around me were zig zagging all over the place. The traffic remained bad until the first turn buoy, where I got completely beat up. People on my feet were grabbing at my legs so much I thought they'd rip my timing chip off. I just kicked like crazy. Oops! My bad! The next couple of legs were fine until the funnel to the Australian exit, a little island that you run over to begin the next lap. When you hit the funnel the traffic got very bad again and I got beat up again. Limbs and bodies hitting hard. I was very happy to get out of the water and create a little distance on the second lap.
 |
| I'm the one in the green cap. And the sleeveless wetsuit. :) |
I look at my watch. :37 minutes. I'm behind because the first lap is shorter than the second. Who cares. Back in the water I go. The second lap was definitely easier in terms of traffic but the chop had picked up. Net/net about the same. I climb out of the water and look at my watch again. 1:20+. Yikes! Much slower than anticipated. Oh well, I'm done and feeling good.
SWIM: 1:21:05, 19/45 starters in AG
The Bike
 |
| Strapping in. |
 |
| Whew! Made it to the top. |
 |
| Back out for lap #2 |
(Note: For those of you considering this race...don't be fooled by the seemingly low elevation gain. The total elevation gain is less than some other Ironmans, but the unique challenge of this race is that all of the gain comes in 3-4 very steep, energy-depleting climbs. No rollers here.)
The second time I hit that steep downhill, I see an ambulance at the bottom. Yikes. This will not be good. Sure enough there is a guy in a stretcher at the bottom covered in blood. Greg is still behind me so I can breath a sigh of relief that it isn't him, but I get chills as I ride past this man. I know that when Greg sees this he'll think it is me. I am pretty accident prone. I'm back on the flats around the lake and I notice there are no bikes. I'm alone. It is weird. The second time up Heartbreak hill isn't as fun. The crowd has thinned a bit and my quads are starting to burn. Someone starts yelling "hopp hopp hopp!" and I want to punch him. "I'm hopping!!!!" The last few kilometers seem endless but I finally arrive. I didn't see Greg this time so he must already be up Heartbreak and has gained on me. There are runners EVERYWHERE. Most of them multiple laps in. Gosh, am I that slow???? Apparently so. That dude wasn't kidding about the European competition. I rack my bike and it seems I'm the last bike to arrive, but I'm feeling good. Many Ironmen have told me they never want to see their bike again after that ride, but I didn't experience this. I suppose I didn't work hard enough.
BIKE: 6:49:40, 28/45 AG
The Run
 |
| Two laps in. This is easy! |
 |
| So happy! Pain? What pain? |
 |
| Yahoo!!!!! |
RUN: 4:51:23, 27/45 AG
TOTAL: 13:14:50, 27/45 AG Starters and 38 AG Finishers
In Closing
In response to what I've learned is the age old question,"are you going to do another one?" I can honestly say, I don't know. I have to admit, it is tempting. Yes, I did this for the experience of it and got exactly what I wanted, but let's face it, I wouldn't even attempt such a feat if I wasn't competitive. Looking back on my performance, I see TONS of room for improvement and I must admit I would love to get that time down. However, training for an Ironman requires putting most everything else in your life on a shelf, and I'm not sure I'm willing to do that in the foreseeable future. 2015 will likely have other excitement in store.
I have no regrets about doing Ironman Switzerland. It was an incredible experience, we had a ball, and got a great vacation out of it. BUT, if you are considering your first Ironman, I'd encourage Americans to stick to the home front for the first one. I know if I attempt another one, it will be in the US. Time will tell.
Wednesday, July 16, 2014
The Road to Provence
Our coach always says to have a reward in mind when you race - the proverbial "carrot" that is hanging just past the finish line you are so desperately trying to cross. For nearly a year now, our focus has been on our training and preparation; our focus has been the road to Zurich. With just 11 days left, the road to Zurich is coming to an end. Our focus is now on the reward for all the miles, the grueling hours, the chaffing, the soreness -- the experience of an international triathlon, the glory of crossing that finish line, hearing those four precious words "you are an Ironman," and all the wine and cheese we can consume in the lavender-filled fields of Provence.
These 11 days, I can already tell, will be tortuous. Anxiety is setting in. I find myself unable to sleep well and unable to concentrate. I find myself pouring over Youtube videos and IM Zurich blogs, reading and rereading the Ironman Zurich Athlete Guide, thinking about every detail of the day, my race plan, and how to execute it. I am working to convince myself that the training is done and that I can do this, but I can't deny the lingering doubt. The threat of failure may not be large but it weighs heavy. Success is not simply crossing the finish line in under 16 hours (the race cutoff) but enjoying the experience. I just hope that, while the race will certainly hurt, I am well enough prepared to avoid hitting the wall. I want to finish strong. I want to earn and enjoy our reward.
When you race a distance for the first time, the only goal is to finish. OK, that takes some pressure off. Trying to be more specific about my goals is next to impossible. I have never biked 112 miles at once, never mind after swimming 2.4 miles and following it up with a marathon...so how could I possibly know how I will respond? Well, I'll take a crack anyway.
Swim: 1:20. I've been swimming well, and am pretty sure I can cover the distance in less time, but I don't want to be a hero on the swim. It's the warm up. Plus the madness of the start will cost me time. I plan to wait at least 1-2 minutes before I start swimming.
T1: 10 minutes. Don't really know what to expect here in terms of logistics. This is unlike any tri I've done. I need to rely on volunteers to pump me through the transition as opposed to going to my little station. I figure this is conservative.
Bike: 6:45. Like the swim, I imagine that I can do this faster, even with breaks. But since I still have to run a marathon, I will try to take it easy. Where is the balance? Will taking 30 minutes longer on the bike save me 30 minutes or more on the run? Who knows. My plan is to go by feel and not watch the clock for any reason other than timing my hydration and nutrition intake. Never push, avoid burning up the legs.
T2: 10 minutes. Like T1, this is a guess. Hopefully a conservative one.
Run: This is the biggest question mark. NO CLUE. 5 hours would be awesome. This might be way too aggressive if I'm mostly walking at the end, but let's dare to dream and leave it at that.
Total: 13:25 Hmm. That seems fast. Anything under 14:00 I'll be ecstatic. Time will tell. Tick tock.
These 11 days, I can already tell, will be tortuous. Anxiety is setting in. I find myself unable to sleep well and unable to concentrate. I find myself pouring over Youtube videos and IM Zurich blogs, reading and rereading the Ironman Zurich Athlete Guide, thinking about every detail of the day, my race plan, and how to execute it. I am working to convince myself that the training is done and that I can do this, but I can't deny the lingering doubt. The threat of failure may not be large but it weighs heavy. Success is not simply crossing the finish line in under 16 hours (the race cutoff) but enjoying the experience. I just hope that, while the race will certainly hurt, I am well enough prepared to avoid hitting the wall. I want to finish strong. I want to earn and enjoy our reward.
When you race a distance for the first time, the only goal is to finish. OK, that takes some pressure off. Trying to be more specific about my goals is next to impossible. I have never biked 112 miles at once, never mind after swimming 2.4 miles and following it up with a marathon...so how could I possibly know how I will respond? Well, I'll take a crack anyway.
Swim: 1:20. I've been swimming well, and am pretty sure I can cover the distance in less time, but I don't want to be a hero on the swim. It's the warm up. Plus the madness of the start will cost me time. I plan to wait at least 1-2 minutes before I start swimming.
T1: 10 minutes. Don't really know what to expect here in terms of logistics. This is unlike any tri I've done. I need to rely on volunteers to pump me through the transition as opposed to going to my little station. I figure this is conservative.
Bike: 6:45. Like the swim, I imagine that I can do this faster, even with breaks. But since I still have to run a marathon, I will try to take it easy. Where is the balance? Will taking 30 minutes longer on the bike save me 30 minutes or more on the run? Who knows. My plan is to go by feel and not watch the clock for any reason other than timing my hydration and nutrition intake. Never push, avoid burning up the legs.
T2: 10 minutes. Like T1, this is a guess. Hopefully a conservative one.
Run: This is the biggest question mark. NO CLUE. 5 hours would be awesome. This might be way too aggressive if I'm mostly walking at the end, but let's dare to dream and leave it at that.
Total: 13:25 Hmm. That seems fast. Anything under 14:00 I'll be ecstatic. Time will tell. Tick tock.
 |
| 140.6 to go. Our seats are saved. |
Subscribe to:
Posts (Atom)