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IMAZ 09 RR...a new PR
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Well here is my piece of the pie...

Pre race week was the typical, nothing out of the ordinary race week. Drove up to Tempe from Tucson on Thursday afternoon. Took care of registration and then ventured over to a friends place where I would set up race HQ...i.e. my place to eat and sleep. Being only 15 minutes from the venue is nice.
Friday I partook in the Athlete dinner...another typical night...if you've been to one you've been to them all. Of note was that chef Rocco whipped up the usual fare while filming it for his show (to air in Jan. or Feb.). And since PNF was talking a bit of smack about his athletic ability he threw down the gauntlet...he said he would do an Ironman next year if Paula came out of retirement to race it with him! So look out for Paula on an IM course next year!
Saturday I got all my gaer together and transported it all to the transition area to drop it off...again nothing out of the ordinary. Then it was back to my homestay to put the feet up and watch the UofA/Oregon game. Unfortunately it was on a little to late and I didn't get to see the double OT finish...unfortunately the wrong team won : (
Race Day!
The alarm went off at 0400 after a good night of sleep. 2 bagels and two banana's along with a bottle of gatorade to wash it down to top off the tanks. Then it was off to the venue. I like to get there early in case of any unforscene problems and to be able to take my time preparing and stay relaxed. So I arrived at 0500 and everything went smooth. Got to the porta potties before the lines, checked the tires, and put my bottles on the bike. Then I found a good spot to sit and relax. A lttle after 6 I started to put my wetsuit on...it was nice and warm on a cool morning (by desert dwellers standards). Afterwards I dropped off my dry clothes bag and then they started hearding everyone towards the swim start area. They got all the pros in the water and once they were up at the start line they started geting us all in the water. I was in the water early so I could warm up a bit. Advertised water temp was 65...felt a bit colder. I lined up near the inside start buey. Here is everyone being hearded into the water...


Just before the cannon fired it started getting crowded at the front. The start was pretty chaotic. I was stuck in the "mess" all the way to the turn buey. At the turn I decided I was tired of being beat on and swung out wide for a bit of clean water for the return trip. The beating on the way out took its toll on my swim time...my goal was a 1:00-1:03...ended up with a 1:07:07 (433rd overall/35th 45-49er). I ran into the change tent to find that it was completely packed...standing room only. I took my stuff to the exit, put on the bike shoes, handed a kind volunteer my wetsuit/goggles and ran of to grab the bike while putting on the helmet. 4:01 later and I was heading out the narrow shoot that led to the bike course...



The first loop of the bike was perfect. Very little wind, fresh blacktop on the roads and I was feeling good. Second loop the wind was kicking up to well over 20mph in our face on the climb up the Beeline. I was still feeling good and motoring along. Got passed by two packs of 10-15 people being escorted by draft marshalls on the climb (unfortunatley only saw 5-6 people in the penalty tent...was hoping for more). The one pack was crazy scary... triathletes in there aerobars in a pack all weaving in and out of each other. About a mile from the end of the climb I got a severe pain on the right side of my abdomen that went all the way through to my back forcing me to sit up for the rest of the climb. Apparently if you have to pee really, really, REALLY bad its not a good thing! I stopped at the turn around aid station and made use of the porta potty...pain gone! Back on the bike and flying down hill. I was expecting the worst for the 3rd lap...generally in Az the wind gets worse as the day progresses. As I headed back out I was calculating my plan for the climb. To my surprise as I turned onto the Beeline for the last time the wind had shifted to a side/tail wind. The climb went effertlessly and the descent was just as fast. I spent the last mile or so on Rio Salado spinning the legs a bit and stretching in prep for the final stage. Off the bike in 5:03:23, my fastest Ironman bike split and I moved up to 133rd overall/7th 45-49er.
Flew through the second transition in 1:41 and then the fun began. Was feeling good for the start of the run clipping off 7:55's. Unfortunately the legs tightened up bad late in the first loop. The second loop was a bit more painfull and my pace dropped the 8:30 zone and then to the 10:15 zone. Nutrition wise everything was good...the legs were just screaming "no more". I trdged on though hoping I would pull it back together. With 10k to go I was able to pick the pace up a bit. With 5k to go I told myself all or nothing thinking of a sign I saw on the course...PR or ER! As I ran through the Pirates of TriSports.com aid station with about 3 miles to go, Seton (owner of TriSports) began to yell and scream, cheering me on and giving me a huge motivation lift. In the last couple of miles I passed and held off 6-8 people who had passed me a few miles prior! I was feeling good again. The final 5k was back down to 8:30 pace again! As I came through the final miles the crowd was going crazy and motivated me that much more. I forgot about the pain in my legs and was flying. Next thing I knew I was running down the finish shoot! My goal was a 9:50. I knew that had come and gone. When I looked up at the clock it read 10:14:21...a new PR by 30 minutes and the first time I broke 4 hours in the run. I clocked a 3:58:09! Overall finish was 199th and 14th in my agegroup.

Run, Run, Run!



Ah, an ice cold sponge...



And there it is...the finish line!



At the finish the first thing my coach (Desert Dude) said to me was "dude, what were you thinking with that bike split?". I just smiled and said "I was feeling good". : )

Mon. morning...oh shit am I sore!

-

B.Oliver -My Blog...triguywithavx.wordpress.com
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Re: IMAZ 09 RR...a new PR [115InTheShade] [ In reply to ]
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Fantastic work. Congrats.

-Jot
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Re: IMAZ 09 RR...a new PR [115InTheShade] [ In reply to ]
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dd and I were texting back and forth all day. I was sending him your splits. I had a great time keeping up with you. He was flipping out on your bike and first leg of the run.

Really great work out there. A PR that big is amazing.

----------------------------------------------------------------------
Jen

"In order to keep a true perspective on one's importance, everyone should have a dog that worships him and a cat that will ignore him." - Dereke Bruce
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Re: IMAZ 09 RR...a new PR [JenHS] [ In reply to ]
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Yep, you guys knew how I placed before I did...he texted me and told me how I did before I had a chance to look it up! : )

-

B.Oliver -My Blog...triguywithavx.wordpress.com
Powered by:
-accelerate3.com coaching-
-**TriSports.com Save 20% Message me for one time use code {restrictions apply...see site)
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Re: IMAZ 09 RR...a new PR [115InTheShade] [ In reply to ]
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Awesome job! I can never really comprehend how people get through that marathon mentally, so congrats for having way more mental toughness than I will ever have. Granted, I get distracted by shiny objects.

------
David Roche
"The Happy Runner" book: https://www.amazon.com/...Longer/dp/1492567647
Coaching: https://swaprunning.com/
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Re: IMAZ 09 RR...a new PR [115InTheShade] [ In reply to ]
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Nice job!! Congrats on the PR. The only bummer about the weekend is that I didn't get to meet you. Though I may have seen you heading to the finish since I was standing there with DD and MarkyV.

clm

clm
Nashville, TN
https://twitter.com/ironclm | http://ironclm.typepad.com
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Re: IMAZ 09 RR...a new PR [trackie clm] [ In reply to ]
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Grats on the pr, too bad your legs went out but hopefully it gives you more fuel for next time.

Oh and the right team won this weekend. The only game that mattered was Cal / Stanford.

Roll on you Bears!
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