My internet access has been limited so I’m a bit late to the show, but I thought I’d share some of my race report thoughts. I always enjoy searching and reading race reports once I sign up for a race, so maybe something here will be of use for a future St George participant. Feel free to message or post if you are interested in anything else.
At least I finished this time! After a disappointing DNF at Ironman Wisconsin in September (due to a tibia stress fracture), I was eager to get some sort of redemption. My run training never really progressed into anything substantial as I was always trying to be smarter and err on the side of being undertrained. I only built up to a 35 mile week and took the last two weeks completely off from running in order to silence a few nagging sore spots.
We arrived in St. George on Tuesday and the heat was immediate. Coming from Michigan, this was my first exposure to heat of the year. It might not have helped my time during the race, but the heat sure felt good all the other time.
SWIM: 1:02:something. I had a new wetsuit and forgot to bodyglide my neck. Needless to say, my worst post race injury was a severe neck-burn along the back and sides of my neck. I don’t think anyone into erotic asphyxiation would even take it this far. I liked the one loop format of the swim (fewer congested turns). I started in the middle a few rows back and tried to hang onto some feet while using the mass of people as my directional guide. I chipped another few minutes off my best swim. I’m getting closer to that hour mark.
BIKE: 5:08:something. I tried to be decently quick in the transition but I did stop for some suntan lotion. However no one got my lower back (which was obvioiusly covered by my shirt at the time). When I was in my aero position, a nice large section of my lower back was exposed to the sun. My second-worst post race injury is what feels like a severe burn and looks like the world’s largest and most hideous tramp stamp. The hills weren’t very brutal. Only a few miles from the transition I was climbing a hill and passing some people when a woman yelled over to some spectators “look at the hero” (not said in a positive manner). I used that as some nice mental fuel. I didn’t ride the course beforehand so I only had a mental image of the course profile in my head. I was expecting more debilitating hills, and was pleasantly surprised when they never materialized. I don’t own a power meter or hrm, so I’ve become accustomed to gauging my perceived effort. I dialed into the upper end of my comfortable limit and just focused on getting the fluids in. The roads were a bit harsh on my underside (rocking an old disc wheel on my aluminum bike was not the best shock absorber) but it wasn’t unbearable. I was drinking consistently but knew the heat was getting the best of me as I still hadn’t peed by the end of the bike.
RUN:3:40:something. A few more mistakes: looking at my socks in my transition bag and then not wanting to spend the two seconds to put them on. Then not pulling my laces tight on my shoes. I obviously wasn’t thinking the best. I started the run and didn’t get any relief. I finished the first loop just under 1:40. I headed back out for the second loop but was mentally and physically broken. As I slowly trudged back up and out of town I saw my family. I stopped running and walked over to them. I then spent some time explaining to them that I was completely toasted and this race was done. I was disappointed I wasn’t going to finish the race how I wanted, but more bummed that I was going to be out on that course for so long. I told them to be prepared to not see me again for a few hours as I was going to have to walk a lot. I then walked off into the distance. I walked for about 10 more minutes and then hit another nice incline. As I was walking, I passed a guy who was slowly jogging. That slightly inspired me and I resolved myself to walk fastly for the inclines and then attempt to jog the downhills. My stomach was just sloshing liquids. I saw a dude retching in the middle of the road and I had to look to the side before I followed suit. I tried to drink a bunch at every aid station but I just couldn’t consume enough liquids. I stopped sweating during the return back into town. I was knowledgable enough to know I was either developing some heat stroke or some severe dehydration signs, so I was glad to know it was almost over. By walking fast and doing a decent job of running the downhills, I managed to finish the second loop in 2 hours and break the 10 hr mark for the course, finishing in 9:58:something. My eyes had enormous dark circles around them and my face was ghostly pale. It took 5 bottles of water before my color returned and my body returned to normal….
Other than massive foot blisters, a sun burned tramp stamp, and severe neck burns, my body was great. Luckily the heat exhaustion didn’t allow me to abuse my legs during the run, so I was able to hike around Zion the next day and then the Grand Canyon. All in all, it was a good trip out west.
I didn’t take my Kona slot as I want some time to focus on my run again. Hopefully that made someone happy in the 25-29 age group who will get a chance to appreciate Hawaii. Until then, I’ll save up my money and become a runner again before toeing the line at another Ironman and hopefully get a chance to “race” Kona.