- 1.5mi swim
- 70mi bike
- 16mi run
I did the swim at Waterworks Aquatics Center, where my awesome husband set up a mock "transition" area and got my bike ready for me. From there, I did an out & back course twice, to simulate Ironman conditions. I ended the ride at home, so I could do my usual long run course. It has lots of drinking fountains, simulating aid stations.
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| 7:30am: Here we go! |
The swim went well. I was able to manage a steady pace (5:25-5:30 per 250yd) and felt good. It was a little awkward swimming in my tri suit and everything, but oh well. No way I was wearing a wetsuit in 80 degree water!
The ride started off a little chilly, because I was wet and it was a little overcast, but I like cool weather and I never felt cold.
Greg rode the first half with me so I had some company. :)
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| A new (more aero) wheel for me to try |
My legs felt fine the whole time, but I kept saying to Greg that something felt a little "off" about that new back wheel. Is something loose? I feel rattling... He checked it out and it seemed fine. On the second out and back, going up Lake Forest, I started to feel a regular "bump" on the back wheel. Usually that means a flat. Looked behind me, no flat. Hmm. Stopped at a light, looked at it from a better angle - oh wow, the tire is popping off the rim!
Yeah that's not good. I was able to quickly let out a little air, get it back on, and pump it back up with CO2, never having to take of the wheel. The rest of the ride was uneventful, and I felt strong to the end!
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| 2 days later: all fixed, clean, and a front aero wheel too! |
The run went better than expected. I was supposed to run easy, about 9:15-9:30 pace. Well I was a bit short on time, and I bolted out from the house at about an 8:15 pace. I didn't plan on running that fast, so I tried to slow it down. Managed an 8:26 first mile. Marathon race pace is probably a bit too fast for an Ironman! Tried to slow it down more. An 8:52 pace moved to an 8:50 pace. Darn it, I really am trying!! Eventually I slowed to 9min+ but it took a while... I felt pretty good the whole time, only I was still a little hungry from earlier. Should've eaten more for breakfast, or had a gel on the bike once I started feeling hungry: lesson learned. I finally took a gel at mile 11, which kicked in a few minutes later. Much better! Greg also brought me some coke to drink at mile 13, so I could test out what that might do to my stomach if I were to drink it on race day.
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| After drinking the coke. Wooo, caffeine! |
It was fine, and gave me some energy! I pushed the pace back up to a sub 9:00 mile and finished strong.
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| Why do I look so tired?? |
I figured out about halfway into my run that this was the longest workout I've ever done. Maybe it's a good thing I didn't realize that sooner - I may have been a little nervous! The whole thing took me 7hr40min, and even my longest/slowest Half Ironman was 7hr19min (yeah that was good old Wildflower Long Course this year).
So when I got home, I pretty much jumped in the shower, got dressed, and headed to the Up & Running Again banquet. We found out there were about 102 people running the Long Beach Half Marathon the next day - some for the first time, and some for the 7th time!
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| The kid on the left in the green shirt is running his 3rd... |
It was a great night, and it really got me back into why I'm doing this race. I was given a few minutes to speak, so I gave a personal testimony about my experience with the group, my Ironman training, addictions, and inspiration that I've gained since knowing about Up & Running Again. I haven't been able to volunteer with the runners this season, but I want to do that for the next season, after Ironman. I want to be there during the next race... Here are some pictures from Long Beach:
With 5 weeks to go before Ironman, I'm pretty much there - and looking forward to the race and what's to come after! I'm so proud of these runners, and excited for them! At the banquet, I asked if anyone would ever consider an Ironman. A few raised their hands...
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