I'll do my best to keep this quick (unlike my race).
IM week in Kona, is not your typical IM week, this is the real deal and people mean business. I did everything I could to get my workouts over early in the AM and then spend the rest of the day sitting inside, doing nothing. I am always amazed how much time people spend on their feet 5-6 days out from an IM not to mention it was 90 degrees everyday!!
Race morning came pretty quick, I was up at 3:20 and ready for my tried and true pre-race breakfast, once that was done I sat on our porch for about 45 mins looking at the ocean, trying to get my head wrapped around the day and breaking down each sport into more manageable pieces.
The swim was absolutely NUTS!!!! I started about 5 rows back and slightly off the buoy line, I got to the first buoy about 50 yards into the swim, everyone stops and then we all swam on top of each other, I am trying to stay above water, and make forward progress but that’s hard to do when for about 2 mins the only thing I could pull was someone else’s body part. Once we got sorted out it was a fight for the rest of the way. I hit the first turn in 31:00 and made it back to the pier at 1:01, right were I figured I could be. Next year sub 60.
The bike, oh man was it hot out there! I went through at least 15 bottles of Gatorade and well over 30 bottles of water went over my head or on my body. I knew it was hot out when my watch started to burn my wrist. I had a nutrition and pacing plan and stuck to it like glue, I had to, it was my only chance of survival. I was on target to ride 5:23-5:28 until I made the turn back to Kailua (HY 19-Queen K) Once I made that turn there it was, the headwind, I was now doing 7-9 mph at 210 watts, this went on for 15 or so minutes then all of a sudden I could be going 22 then right back to 10 mph, AT THE SAME WATTAGE. It was crazy and something I have never experienced before. Off the bike in 5:43 slower then I had hoped, but nothing I can do about that.
The famous IM Hawaii Marathon awaited me. This is something I have dreamed about since my first race, a marathon I had thought about for 4 years. Now it was my turn to run this damn thing. Little did I know, it should have been in my nightmares. My stomach was wrecked starting the run, but I went out at my intended pace for the first 3 miles, it wasn’t getting any better so I backed it down to a pace we had planned on just in case I was in a little trouble. Running down and back Ali'i drive is crazy. So many people are screaming and yelling it really is a memorable 10 miles, but that’s where the crowds end. Once up and out on the Queen-K, (mile 11) its you and your thoughts and a little bit of heat. I just kept running as hard as I could go, I totally gave up on my Garmin, it didn’t matter anymore, I was suffering. Once I made the turn back home I was doing mile repeats in between aid station, I would run as hard as I could go, get to the start of the aid stations and quickly walk through, taking everything they were passing out, then right back to running. Once I had finally made it to the end, I was pretty happy for the race to be over ,I crossed the line and to my surprise Hughes was there to take good care of me. Thanks, buddy! Ill be back to the Big Island to go faster……But not before 14 days of getting fat…
A big Mahalo to Jesse Kropelnicki from Qt2 systems for getting me to the start line in top form with an unmatched nutrition plan.
Another Mahalo to everyone who followed me online or sent messeges throughout the week.
Last two things :
Although the IM was a very important part of the week, I couldn’t stop thinking about my friend who had just lost his son and how I needed to suffer a little bit more for him.
Another note, Courtney and I got married Monday afternoon, on the beach in Kona. It was awesome and low-key. I always knew she is my better half and the only thing I really need, besides our two dogs. Big thanks to Dede and Hughes for being our official, unofficial photographer and cameraman. 9 days down, a life time to go…..More wedding stuff can be found over @ thatrunnerchick.blogspot.com
