So I just got back from IM CDA and am pretty disappointed.
What I really trained for was the bike to run, i.e. did some looong runs on very tired legs and felt ready to tackle it.
My swim time was very, very slow - which is standard for me - but I exited the swim with virtually no fatigue, which was my goal.
The bike course was a little tougher than I expected (I trained for the hills, but didn't have a lot of heat to train in, and I think I noticed that on Sunday...although it was nothing like last year's temps, it was pretty warm out there). Oddly though, I felt worse at the end of the first bike loop than the second, so that was great...came in to T2 feeling ready to run.
But I had stomach problems - usually I can alleviate that in a few minutes with some tums - but in this case, they lasted the rest of the day. Couldn't eat anything except a couple of pretzels on the run. The only thing that started to sound remotely good was broth, and they ran out.
Stop reading here if you don't want too much information, but by the half-marathon, I was stopping to pee frequently and it burned badly...I didn't realize it in the portapotty world, but when I got home, found out I was peeing blood. Nice.
So...I felt really prepped for this one mentally and physically, and due to walking pretty much the entire "run" I was about an hour and a half behind where I had planned to be.
So I'm struggling with the amount of time I put into the prep and the huge disappointment of not meeting my goals. I think I'm going to take a breather from triathlon for a while and focus on other aspects of my life I've been missing lately...and try not to think about it for a while. I'm sure some have had similar experiences...what helps you recover from a big disappointment in a race of that magnitude? Argh.
That said - it was a great event overall. As crabby as I am with the fees and miscellaneous "stuff Ironman" going on (jacked up hotel rates, asking us to pay for neoprene chip anklets - what the hell is up with that?)....the event was very well run, the volunteers were GREAT and the town was hugely supportive of the event.
I didn't think the hills were bad on the bike, but what I didn't like were the parking lot amblings...I wish they would have added more to the out and back on Centennial instead of making us slow for all the corners in empty parking lots. That - and the running out of broth for those of us who were sloooow and hurting - were my only complaints. The course is extremely spectator friendly and the crowed was great. Running and biking by the lake gave beautiful views...there were lots of great things about the course and I would definitely recommend it.
Sorry to be whiny about my particular day, but it's still stinging a bit...I'm so glad to hear a lot of other people had GREAT days out there!
~geek
What I really trained for was the bike to run, i.e. did some looong runs on very tired legs and felt ready to tackle it.
My swim time was very, very slow - which is standard for me - but I exited the swim with virtually no fatigue, which was my goal.
The bike course was a little tougher than I expected (I trained for the hills, but didn't have a lot of heat to train in, and I think I noticed that on Sunday...although it was nothing like last year's temps, it was pretty warm out there). Oddly though, I felt worse at the end of the first bike loop than the second, so that was great...came in to T2 feeling ready to run.
But I had stomach problems - usually I can alleviate that in a few minutes with some tums - but in this case, they lasted the rest of the day. Couldn't eat anything except a couple of pretzels on the run. The only thing that started to sound remotely good was broth, and they ran out.
Stop reading here if you don't want too much information, but by the half-marathon, I was stopping to pee frequently and it burned badly...I didn't realize it in the portapotty world, but when I got home, found out I was peeing blood. Nice.
So...I felt really prepped for this one mentally and physically, and due to walking pretty much the entire "run" I was about an hour and a half behind where I had planned to be.
So I'm struggling with the amount of time I put into the prep and the huge disappointment of not meeting my goals. I think I'm going to take a breather from triathlon for a while and focus on other aspects of my life I've been missing lately...and try not to think about it for a while. I'm sure some have had similar experiences...what helps you recover from a big disappointment in a race of that magnitude? Argh.
That said - it was a great event overall. As crabby as I am with the fees and miscellaneous "stuff Ironman" going on (jacked up hotel rates, asking us to pay for neoprene chip anklets - what the hell is up with that?)....the event was very well run, the volunteers were GREAT and the town was hugely supportive of the event.
I didn't think the hills were bad on the bike, but what I didn't like were the parking lot amblings...I wish they would have added more to the out and back on Centennial instead of making us slow for all the corners in empty parking lots. That - and the running out of broth for those of us who were sloooow and hurting - were my only complaints. The course is extremely spectator friendly and the crowed was great. Running and biking by the lake gave beautiful views...there were lots of great things about the course and I would definitely recommend it.
Sorry to be whiny about my particular day, but it's still stinging a bit...I'm so glad to hear a lot of other people had GREAT days out there!
~geek