IRONMAN training/Race Report: Seward Optimist 10k

Top 3 finishers at the Seward Optimist 10k

What better way to start the 4th than with a race?! Philip and I have done this event the last few years as it is just so convenient...however, Philip has been struggling with an injury these last few months that hasn't allowed him to do much.  I woke up, drank some coffee and ate some toast, then headed out to the fairgrounds where the race was slated to begin and finish.  Arriving around 6 for a 7am start, I was practically the only one there.  I've started bringing my Kindle to races if I have an downtime.  This way, I can focus on my book instead of my impending event.  I got my packet and got my gear organized.  We were lucky enough to wake up to a cool and calm day, virtually unheard of in July!

I wasn't planning on racing that day.  Actually, I haven't really planned to "race" any of my summer events.  As I will most likely only do one Ironman, I have to put most of my energy and focus into that. That being said, I had planned a 100 mile bike ride for the following day.  I wanted to make sure that my legs were fresh and strong to accomplish this.

I ran sans watch and felt great during the race.  I pushed a pace that was quick, but that wouldn't destroy my quads.  I wasn't sure exactly where I was, but I was hoping to still be under 43.  As I came to the last 400 meters or so, I was able to see the time in the distance.  I would make my goal! Final time: 42:35, good for 3rd female overall.

Complete results can be found here.

So.  Ironman training.  How's that going?

The swim: I'm guessing this will take me somewhere in the neighborhood of an hour and 20 minutes to complete the 2.4 mile swim.  Unfortunately, I don't have access to a good lake to grind out my training, so I've been swimming in the pool at the Fallbrook Y. Back and forth, back and forth.  My longest swim to date has been an hour and 10 minutes, and am planning to do my longest swim this morning.  Physically, I am not worried about doing this...however, with a couple thousand people gunning into the water at about the same time, flailing, punching, kicking, it can be nerve wracking.  I'm planning on starting off to the side a bit in an attempt to avoid a little of this.  Hopefully not too many people are employing the same plan!

The bike: It is still hard to conceive biking 112 miles.  Biking is probably my least favorite of the three disciplines, which is unfortunate as I'll be on the bike for the longest part of the day.  My biking has been going okay.  I have completed long rides of 50, 80, and 100 miles.  Pretty fast increase of distance.  Going into my 100 miler last weekend, I knew that I was just going to have to grind it out and get it done.  I bike 40 miles total to and from Lincoln from my house, then biked 50 more to and from York.  Two years ago, I almost crashed my bike when a blue heeler came at me unexpectedly on this route.  I have been very nervous to traverse these roads again but finally got brave enough to try it.  When I was almost home, that same ridiculous dog came at me again!!!! I screamed and prepared for a crash, wobbling left and right.  It was around this point that I realized that I couldn't unclip my shoe from my pedal.  I ended up heading home, clocking 90 miles.  Ugh.  I went downstairs and finished up my long ride with 40 minutes on the spin bike.  I finished up with 3 miles on the treadmill.  All felt good!

The run:  After taking some time off to deal with my weird quad issues from last spring, I started a quick buildup for the half marathon in Norfolk.  After that, I bumped up to 15 miles, and completed a 19.5 miler a week and a half later.  Although I had some annoying GI issues, I finished this feeling okay.  I'm guessing that the marathon portion of the Ironman will be more about survival than fast times anyway.  We'll see.

Other preparations:  I've been studying the course, blogs that others have written, and nutrition plans.  I feel like thoughts of the Ironman are on my mind constantly throughout the day, so it will be nice to check this off the list and go back to "regular" life.

Cheers!