calves for rent?

March 31, 2010 &bull ironman

We had a beautiful day for the California 70.3 in Oceanside!

We got to the race early to get a good spot for our bikes in our designated age group racks. I don’t get nervous before races (why should I when I am an age grouper out there to challenge myself, not there to win a medal) so I was really enjoying the morning and wishing fellow athletes that I know to have a great race.

Matt’s age group wave was at 7:03 a.m. so he got in line in the swim chute and I went to try to get through the bathroom line. Instead of the porta potty line I stood in the actual building bathroom line. While I was waiting Matt’s parents and my friends Cathy and Kathryn walked by so I got to see them before the race start and get some pictures with them. I noticed someone had an unopened Bud Light sitting on the bathroom counter and I laughed and asked who’s Bud Light it was. A girl in the bathroom said it was her pre race drink (I later saw her in the swim chute as she was in my age group drinking her Bud Light and getting weird looks and catty comments from other women but hey more power to her). Fast forward she got 11 out of 88 in our age group so her strategy must work for her!

I was able to find Matt’s parents, Cathy and Kathryn right as Matt’s wave was starting. I didn’t see him in the water but it was neat to see his group start the swim. I went to line up with my age group and enjoyed watching the pros come in from their swim and cheer them on as they ran to T1 to prepare for the bike portion.

The swim start wasn’t too bad despite getting kicked in the throat but if there wasn’t any body contact at the beginning of the in water swim start it just wouldn’t seem right:) The water didn’t feel as cold this year and I felt like I had a fluid swim. In the past since I don’t have a lot of experience in open water I pause to look around but the last two races I have improved in this area and feel I can just continuously swim and still site while swimming. I was happy with my swim this year and slight improvement of approx. 1:30. Darn Matt beat me in the swim by 8 seconds! I better stop letting him draft off me in masters swimming:)

After getting through T1 I headed out on the bike. Only a couple miles into the bike we enter Camp Pendleton. There is always a line of vehicles lined up waiting to get through the traffic control for the race. My face lite up and my heart was warmed when I saw a McLane truck waiting in the front of the line. My dad drove for McLane for 27 years so it was a sign that he was above cheering Matt and I on.

Even though the Camp Pendleton course is tough I really enjoy the scenery the second half of the ride. The first 29 miles is pretty fast and flat and we didn’t have a head wind this year which was nice. The last 27 miles is challenging with rollers and 3 steep climbs. We had a strong cross wind during this point too and the heat was on. I was on the fence wheather to ride my rode bike w/aero bars or my tri bike. I decided on trying out my tri bike for a race. The one thing I didn’t plan very well is I only have one bottle cage so I would have to keep a water bottle in my jersey pocket. I think in the long run this didn’t allow me to drink enough which I paid for later. Overall I was happy with my ride this year and approx. 10 min. improvement over last year.

I really pushed on the bike and was getting worried how my legs would hold up for the run. The run as usual is a very mental part of the race as the body is so tired that you do everything you can to keep one foot in front of the other. It was great seeing Matt’s parents, Cathy, Kathryn and our coach Susanne and her family along the run route. The right side of my right knee was burning by mile 6 and by mile 8 my lack of fluids/electrolytes from the bike caught up to me and both my calves were severely cramping. I didn’t get upset as knew what I did wrong and just made the best of it. I walk/jogged the last 5 miles and just took in the scenery and energy from the other athletes. When I was on the last 2 miles a guy asked me if I wanted Gatorade and I said no but I was wondering if he had a new pair of calves I could borrow. We both laughed. I was able to jog in the last .5 miles to cross the finish line.

I have been enjoying the beginning of this week with true recovery and soaking it up before the increased training starts next week to continue to prepare for Ironman. This is a great journey!

2010 results
Swim 36:01
T1 4:48
Bike 3:02:23
T2 3:09:58
Run 2:17:26
Total: 6:03:46

2009 results
Swim 37:34
T1 4:53
Bike 3:12:05
T2 2:43
Run only ran first 6 mi loop as had marathon foot injury
Total: DNF

–Heidi

Comments

One Response to “calves for rent?”

  1. Kirsty on March 31st, 2010 8:48 am

    Great race report and FANTASTIC attitude. You and Matt are going to have a great time in CDA!!

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