It seems so surreal. I trained harder than last year and I don't know what happened.
In actuality, over the off season last year I did a lot of things right like maintaining a solid base, getting a real bike fit, swim clinic and video analyisis, and added a lot of hill training to my bike workouts.
Race morning started out OK. So I'll first mention the things that went right out there, and then wherein I think the problems were as race reports can be so tedious to read.
The Good:
Zero pre-race nerves
No panic in the mass swim start
No penalty on the bike course
Nailed the descent x 2
Grabbed water ect on the go
Without stopping-- better bike handling skills
The Bad:
Slow first swim lap, I think I tried to make up time and ended up doing more thrashing than anything
For some reason felt like my bell got rung in the swim
I will never do this again, but took a 5 HR energy shot supplement in T1 which shot my heart rate through the roof
I think the bike seat was too low, and I lost major power and time
When the winds kicked up, I could not handle it
The Ugly
So dehydrated after 12-14 bottles if water I still was producing zero urine
By the time I hit the notch in Wilmington, I was done. I wanted out, and then dropped my chain which got mangled into the crank. That was pretty much curtain call for me as time was evaporating
The Upshot
I learned so much.
I really really know my weaknesses better than before.
I did actually get the chain back on and completed the 112 miles
I can run free this fall and not worry about the extensive recovery time ironman takes.
I have a plan. One that may work with my life.
When I got home, unpacked, picked up the dogs from the kennel, ect I checked the website. I don't know how this could be possible but I picked up a spot for next year @ 4:33 pm. Just minutes later the website was stating the 2013 race had sold out.
Get ready for another trip around the oval.
