I have to say that Ironman 70.3 St George was a success. The finish line of this race meant a lot more to me that I realized before I crossed it. It turned a new corner for me. Knocked me out of a negative place. The last couple of months have been hard on me. Physically and emotionally. Interesting that St. George for Spring Break was the catalyst for all of this. Anyway, not to dwell on the past. I am looking forward to the future and was just looking at a blank calendar this morning. It seems like something should get put in there, a race or two in the next couple of months?
So, briefly the race. Felt pretty positive going into it. Nervous as usual, but excited to race. I felt confident with the bike course and wasn't feeling overwhelmed with the length.
The new wetsuit was pretty much awesome! I liked the open water start too. Got a chance to get my head wet and let the cold consume me before starting the swim. Lined up on the right edge, out of the way of the crowd. Swim was fine. Stayed away from the buoys and turns and watched a lot of pink caps go by (me passing them). Need to work on bilateral breathing in open water though. That did not happen. It makes me really dizzy. Felt good for the whole swim. Never fatigued.
I took off the bike computer and didn't start my watch, so the bike was all done by feel. I was really diligent to eat and drink a lot of water. I was also trying to hold back. I was afraid of blowing up and not being able to recover for the run. Passed a lot of people on the hills. Glad to have ridden the course and glad to have a good bike mechanic so that I could have a wide cassette on the rear. Felt really good for the entire ride. Was still feeling great at T2. Going into T2 I was even smiling because I was excited to go and run.
I started slow on the run. The uphill for the first few miles was pretty relentless and I didn't want to blow up. Run was hot, but I felt okay protected under my hat and sunglasses. Got sponges and ice when I could to stay cool. Picked up the pace on the way home, but I am also not very good at running fast downhill. Legs on run are not where i have felt them before. Never really felt I was having great form. I think that is expected though. Haven't done hardly any speed work this year. Felt good the whole time on the run though, other than the mental overcoming of the first 6 miles or so my mind was pretty positive. A little stomach yuck, but that always seems to happen so I wasn't alarmed. I don't eat a lot on the run. I think I barely consumed two gels?
Anyway, and to sum it up. I feel like I matured as a racer for this race, or in this race. I was looking at results from a few years ago before I had you (Elliot) as a coach. My time at St. George wasn't great and was the same as those couple of races, but how I felt physically and mentally was so different. At St. George I was in control of that race. At those other ones,. I had no idea how to gauge how I was going to feel, or if I was pushing too hard etc.
I didn't leave my guts out on the course, and maybe I would have if this race was the goal for the season. Instead, I did everything within my limits to ensure I had a solid race. Just thinking about this makes me smile. It makes me happy to race.
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