IMMT 2015 Race Report Part 4 - Course 42.2 km

Click here to read about the swim.

Click here to read about the bike.

I wandered out of the transition tent trying to adjust my plan.  Originally I was going to run from aid station to aid station and walk through each to get water and other nutrition.  While on the bike, I realized that I'd have to modify, so I figured I'd do a ten minute run/one minute walk.  After visiting the doctor and acknowledging that I might get myself into trouble, I settled into a 5-min run/1-min walk.  I also walked through the aid stations.  I was able to keep up with that for about 8 or 9 kilometers.  At each aid station, I would drink water, some Gatorade, and lots of ice!  I also was trying to take in some gels and electrolyte tablets.  I saw Randy for the first time and that helped my spirits.  

After the first turnaround, I realized that I just wasn't digesting anything.  I could feel everything sloshing around in my gut while I was running.  So, I walked a few kilometers to try to get it to settle.  It helped, but I still wasn't feeling great.  I saw Randy a few more times, as he passed by me on his second loop. He tried to cheer me up, but I wasn't really registering anything he was saying until about a minute later. 

I finished my first run loop and was feeling like crap.  My time goals were completely out the window and I was in survival mode.  It was the lowest moments I've ever had in an Ironman.  I wasn't sure I would be able to finish and I'd never felt like that before.  I wanted to stop.  I wanted to cry.  I wanted to be done.  Then, one of the spectators shouted out that no matter what happens, "you've accomplished something today."  Then I wanted to cry because it was the best thing I could've heard at that point and all those people were cheering and volunteering just so we could accomplish something.  I no longer wanted to stop.  I wanted that damn medal!

I slogged through the second lap.  It's too bad my gut had forced me to walk so much.  My legs had been willing to run, but once you walk for too long, the muscles scream if you try to run.  So, walk I did.  I picked up my ego and dragged myself around the course one more time.  I wish I could remember what I was thinking about, but it was probably about staying away from the medical tents!

At this point, I want to acknowledge the amazing volunteers and medical personnel on the course.  There were a lot of people having trouble and the race still had a 93% finishing rate.  That's a testament to their hard work and dedication.

I finally got close to the finish line.  What has amazed me at every Ironman I've done is my body's ability to feel stronger than ever while approaching the finish.  I hit the cobblestones of the pedestrian village and ran the last quarter-mile to the finish line.  The spectators were fired up and I felt like a rock star,  for the fourth time, I got to hear Mike Reilly announce my name and call me an Ironman.

At the finish, a volunteer walked with me, gathering my gigantic medal and my finisher's hat and shirt.  Randy was there to welcome me back too!

On the run course, there was a sign that read, "It's a difficult club to get into, but once you're in, you're a member for life."  It wasn't the race I was hoping for, but I like to think that I truly earned my membership in the Ironman club this time!

IMMT 2015 Race Report Part 3 - Velo 180km

Click here to read about the swim!

I liked this bike course.  I admit I was a bit nervous about it since I'd never ridden it before.  I'd ridden parts of it, but there is definitely something to be said for training on the course!  I headed out Monte Ryan at an easy pace, keeping in mind that I had a long day ahead of me.  The best part was that it was still pretty foggy and cool out.  That lasted for about 30-40 kilometers.

I should say that it's amazing how easy it was to adjust to thinking in kilometers over miles.  Maybe it's because I like numbers and doing the calculations in my head.  Or maybe it's because you feel like it's going by quicker.  I don't know, but it wasn't a problem for me.

I felt really good on the first loop.  I was drinking and eating regularly and diligently taking my electrolytes, fully aware that it was going to be hot.  The terrain on route 117 consisted of long climbs, long descents, and some decent flats.  You can really move.  On the one long hill I hit 42.5 mph, the fastest time I think I've ever clocked on the bike!  The spin through Saint Jovie was a lot of fun.  The spectators there were having a blast and it's a great pick-me-up at just the right time.  The end of the loop is by far some of the toughest hills I've climbed.  Nothing was long, but the grades were approaching 18-20%.  It was a VERY slow slog up the hills, but after the turnaround, you get to take full advantage of the downhills!

I finished the first loop in 3:10, which was GREAT for me, but I had mixed feelings.  I was either doing really well or I was going to tank.  But I know that I didn't push that loop, so I was pretty happy wth that.

Thn came the second loop.  I made my quick exchange at special needs and headed back out Monte Ryan.  I was still feeling pretty good until the wind picked up on 117.  It also didn't help that the sun was now high in the sky with very little shade.  I was slower on the second loop, but I still felt pretty good.  The real test was those damn hills at the end.  Did they get steeper?  That was the first time I've ever used my smallest gear in a race, but at least I wasn't reduced to a walk!

After making that turn back to the village, I just let it all go.  It was a lot of fun flying into transition and I even remembered to spin my legs out during the descent so as to be ready for the run.  I was hoping to be closer to 6:30, but my slow second loop clocked me at 6:42:18, still an Ironman PR for me!

After dismounting, I handed my bike to a volunteer and made my way to the transition tent.  By this time, the temperature was well into the mid- to high-80's with humidity over 90%.  I grabbed my T2 bag and found a seat in the change tent.  I was planning on taking a minute to settle, then change into my run clothes, grab some nutrition and go out for a run.  However, as I was getting my bike stuff off, one of the doctors came over to me to see if I was alright.  I thought I was, but apparently I was very pale.  Not a good sign.  The doctor had me move to where they had a giant fan set up and then took my blood pressure (100/50, normal), checked my pulse (100bpm, high but not bad) and took my temperature (36 degrees, ummm...).  I gave her a blank stare when she read my temperature.  I was okay with the kilometers, but my brain just wasn't ready to convert from Celsius to Fahrenheit!  She assured me that I didn't have a fever, but wanted me to stay for a few more minutes before going out to run.  I was also told to make sure that if I stopped at one of the medical stations on the run course, be sure to tell them that I was checked out once already.  I was a little worried that they wouldn't let me go out for the run and, to be honest, I wasn't sure I would be able to do it, but off I went!

Click here to read about the run.

IMMT 2015 Race Report Part 2 - Nage 3.8 km

Read about my pre-race adventures here.

I didn't get much sleep the night before the race.  It was warm and we didn't have a fan.  Around 2:30, a group of drunken partiers made their way loudly up the mountain.  Around 3:30, the activity in the transition area started picking up, so I just got out of bed and ate breakfast, a peanut butter and banana sandwich.  After getting everything together, Randy and I headed down the path to transition.

Pre-race activity was calm, which always seems odd to me.  There's tension, but no panic.  In fact, it's all pretty anticlimactic.  Pump the tires, put nutrition on the bike, check the gearing, drop nutrition into the transition bags, and head to the beach.  The lake is about a half-mile away from the transition.  We got there by 6:00.  We stretched, watched people, cracked jokes, and finally put ouyr wetsuits on.   Randy's wave started at 6:48 and mine was at 7.  The pros started first with fireworks and cannon blasts.  Giving Randy a good luck kiss (awwww), I found the other 40+ women in our whoopie-cushion colored swim caps and looked for the only two people I knew there.  Happily, I heard Allison call my name and was able to give a quick hello/good luck hug before we started.  Our friend Ray was volunteering at the swim and I got to see him one last time as he ushered us under the arch and into the water.

Since we were the last group of athletes to start, we got to have fireworks and a cannon blast too!  The swim was one loop in Lac Tremblant.  Thirteen yellow buoys out and thirteen orange buoys back.  The fog was so thick, I could only count out six of them before the start.  Like any triathlon swim, there was a lot of jostling and jockeying for position for about the first 300 yards.  At that point, the 40+ women were settling into their rhythm.  Unfortunately, that's also when we started catching people in the waves before us.  I had to swim around a lot more swimmers than I was used to, basically the whole way.  On the way back, I kept getting pushed to the right and was constantly having to adjust my course.  There was no cable to follow like at Lake Placid!

I should also mention that I was completely creeped out by Lac Tremblant.  Not because of the fish (which I never saw) or the water quality (which was great), but because of the depth!  You would be swimming along and the water is pretty shallow, maybe 6-20 feet deep and you can see the bottom.  Then, all of a sudden the bottom of the lake disappears and you're swimming in a depth of 200 feet.  At one point, I swimming right on the edge.  To my left I could see the bottom and to my right nothing!  I admit, I moved over to the left!

Anyway, I felt pretty good during the swim.  I didn't know if I'd like the one-loop course.  It's a lot of swimming with no breaks, but I didn't mind it at all.  Unfortunately, I think due to always having to swim around slower swimmers, my time wasn't what I was hoping for.  I wanted 1:10 or under and ended up with1:14:41.  Not great, but not bad either!

After getting out of the water, I got my wetsuit peeled off (best volunteers ever!) and had to run the half-mile back to transition.

Click here to read abou the bike.

IMMT 2015 Race Report Part 1 - d'avant-course

We arrived in Mont Tremblant, Quebec on Wednesday.  The GPS says it's supposed to be a four-hour drive, but Montreal makes it about six.  The traffic there is absurd!

The plan was to do a short swim, but when we got to the beach, the wind was whipping, the lake was super choppy, and it was only about 60 degrees out (plus wind chill).  We decided to go for a walk instead.

On Thursday, we got in the water.  They have a practice swim course laid out, and in tribute to Kona, they have a pontoon boat out there where you can grab an espresso during your swim.  I don't drink coffee, but I had to take a tiny sip of Randy's just so I can say I partook in the festivities!

We also picked up our race gear and checked out the expo.  At one point, I turned and came face to face with Mike Reilly, known as "the voice of Ironman!"  Mike Reilly is the official race announcer and calls your name as you cross the Ironman finish line with his signature phrase "You are an Ironman!"  He stopped and chatted with us for a few minutes and even posed for a picture with me.  He admits that, after Kona, his favorite Ironman is Lake Placid (well...and New Zealand).  Can't say I blame him.  Mont Tremblant is beautiful but Lake Placid has a special place in my heart.  

We finished wandering around the expo, the headed back to our condo, which is a four-minute walk up the mountain.  It's sooooo nice to be so close!

On Friday, we woke up to rain.  The day was pretty relaxing.  Got in another swim and basically laid around until the opening banquet.  The banquet was pretty good, although everything that was said had to be said twice - once in English, once in French.  The food was good though, as was the entertainment.  Back at the condo we could hear the band playing as we watched a beautiful sunset, then enjoyed the fireworks.

Saturday....  The day of putting everything in its place.  Loaded up the gear bags, cleaned and checked the bikes, and prepped the nutrition.  After a quick ride/run, we brought our bikes and gear bags to the transition area.  Randy surprised me with a way-cool placard for my race number and as I did in IMLP 2013, I will ride with the bracelet that reminds me that even though Ironman is tough, it's nothing compared to some of the problems other people have. 

The rest of the day was spent relaxing and enjoying spaghetti and meatballs, our traditional pre-Ironman dinner.  Then off to bed!