Personally, I had a great race. I weighed in at exactly the same weight as last year for this race morning, and am in the same place with my ironman training (read wicked tired!). So those variables are controlled, but I am one year older...
My mental focus is much better now I think, I often feel like I don't match up to the faster looking runners. But I realized, for all I have been through, looks aside I know how to suffer. More. More than many others. So on this confident note, I arrived before 7 am, checked in and ran the course. Compared to my ironman training routes, the "hills" on this course seemed inclines. I tried to relax with heart rate monitor biofeedback before the race, it worked - I almost fell asleep under a tree.
When the start time came, I lined up in the front-page not saying I am fast mind you, but I know how to suffer and gut out a 5k. Unfortunately, I went out with the lead pack and stayed with them through mile 2ish. This wound up being 6:36 pace, at least for mile one. I know that I am not trained to hold that kind of pace right now, ironman is at the complete opposite end of the spectrum. But I decided to hang on and work the hills the bast I could. Finished in 22:01, 22 seconds faster than last year, kicking it home for the old folks and vegetarians out there! Yes, it can be done.
So now I have to dial it in a bit, I still have a 4200 yard (2.4 mile swim), then a bike ride/ run combo workout (aka brick) today, and then a long bike ride tomorrow.
Hey, I thought this was supposed to be a taper...this does not sound very restful to me! Oh well, I guess they don't call it ironman for nothing!
