I haven't been sure if I had the ability or time to return to long course racing, but somewhere towards the end of the summer I just needed a different challenge. I was stagnant in my sprint racing, and while I was enjoying it, I also just didn't see myself improving if I continued to do what I was doing. I kept looking at the 70.3 race calendar, even though I was not remotely in shape to do one. I kept coming back to Florida 70.3. It would be in December, so it would be on the cooler side. 😏 (not true). I would also get a couple of months of cooler weather for training in Nola. (maybe not cool, but they were better.) I could drive there, which is a huge bonus. I thought, this is a good way to end the year. Let's give it a try.
I asked a good friend of mine, Jeff Fejfar, to help me the last 2 months get ready to just show up healthy and ready to complete the distance. It was a big ask and I didn't give him a lot of time. I also didn't have a power meter, a really great bike trainer, a bike that fit, good pool access, etc, etc. As a coach, I realize how challenging this was to ask of someone. But, he was a great listener and willing to work with me where I was. He has known me for a long time, and I think he was pretty shocked to see my starting point which was well below what he expected. I was also slow to grow, which was a little tough too. But, by the time the race came, he felt pretty confident I would have a good race, whatever that meant. He said, " You're in a better place than you think."
Dave took this picture when I wasn't paying attention. He loves it and says I looked so focus and strong. But, I clearly remember thinking at this moment that I forgot...again...to look at the number of buoys on the swim course. Ha!
Swim 39:42: My slowest swim ever- wetsuit or not. I looked at my watch, saw the time, and thought...well, oh well. I did the best I could. I was a little disappointed, but I also know swimming owes me nothing. Overall, the swim was fine. I need more practice in my wetsuit, as I did feel restricted. I am generally a pretty straight swimmer, but I think I struggled a little bit to stay on course. But, nothing big happened. Honestly, it was one of the nicest swims I have ever had as far as very little contact with others. I just have been very slow in the pool and can only go a maximum of 2 x per week due to work, and the lack of swimming showed this year.
I got out of the water, and for the first time ever Dave gives me a split! Like he was actually paying attention and caring! He tells me he thinks I am in the top 10 AG, which is exciting. I never really know where I am in a race so that was a nice little motivator. I struggle to get my wetsuit off, again.... but I feel pretty happy and ready to go ride.
Dave...actually paying attention to the race and finding me in transition. It only took 15 years!
Ride: 2:40:38. One of my slower bike splits, but I was happy. I really felt like I could not have asked for anything more. My main concern was my back. I have had intense back pain all year, which has really limited my training. I got another fit literally right before the race, and changed the saddle a week out. It was a huge risk. I could really be miserable out there since I hadn't tested the set up. But, I was so fortunate that the changes I made last minute worked in my favor. I felt good out there and had just the tiniest back discomfort, which was completely manageable. I felt strong and smooth. I didn't pay attention to pace and didn't know my overall time, but I just made sure to check from time to time that my HR was in a reasonable place. That's it! No power or pace, just RPE and HR checks.
It is a one loop course that is pretty much just easy rollers. The streets are perfect compared to where I ride, and the wind was nothing compared to what I ride in every day. So, I was really enjoying myself. I saw very little drafting. (But I later found out the race, even though sold out, had a smaller field. So, maybe that was the difference?). Actually everyone on the course was great. Guys would give me compliments when I passed them. I would cheer on other women as I came through. To be honest, I just had such a positive experience here. I have been in so many races where I have yelled at guys for drafting. That just didn't happen to me here.
I think I got my fueling right (maybe about 600 calories in fluid and 400-500 in gels and 200 in blocks. So approx 1200-1300/400 hr). No issues there. But, I did notice the heat was coming on, so I knew I needed to get off of the bike soon and start the run as soon as I could.
Run: 1:55:08. This is also my second slowest run ever, but I wasn't totally aware of that as I just didn't look at overall time. As I went out onto the run, I knew the heat would get some people. A guy that came off the bike with me just took off, and I noticed that and realized there was no way I could do that. My run has been suspect, and I can't pretend it is any better than it is. I settled into an effort that seemed to be something I could hold the whole race, which was around 8:50 to 9-ish pace. (Jeff had thought I would be faster than that- more like 8:20 pace based on training, but I just had a feeling with the years off and the heat that I would be on the slower side).
For those of you that know Florida 70.3, you know it is not flat like advertised. You almost immediately go up 2 big hills in the first 1.5 mile. Most people were walking, but I made sure to run/jog the whole way. It is really a mental thing for me, and I have a rule of no walking unless I need to in order to get nutrition.
By mile 3, I really needed to use the bathroom. I knew I had to diarrhea...something that has plagued me in long distance racing for every single ironman and maybe 50% of 70.3s I do. I am not sure if the issue comes from the drink mix, the blocks, or just general stomach upset with a big effort. I get it when I do longer runs and harder efforts in training too. This time I got to a porta potty maybe around mile 4, lost just 1 minute in there, and felt 100 x better and ready to run again.
The course is 2 loops and pretty open with very little shade. Temps were 85, which is not as hot as a summer race, but certainly isn't ideal. I did all of the ice tricks...ice in hands and ice down my top whenever I could get it. I wasn't catching any girls, and by the time I hit loop two, it was impossible to figure out who was on loop 1 and loop 2. (Something ironman could easily improve in the USA by doing arm bands like they did at IM Wales). I did pass the guy that blew past me at mile 1, and I could see many people cramping and slowing. I really think these long distances are interesting. The really, really strong runners just gobble up these courses. The people that aren't quite as strong and get their pacing wrong just explode. You really have to know who you are and your capabilities.
As I approached the 2nd lap, I was ready to see Dave and get some cheers. I really needed some. I was slow and tired. I looked for him for a mile, thinking maybe he was just waiting for me a bit further up the road. I just knew a smile and a "good job...keep going!" would make the 2nd loop great. Well, the little stinker...my only cheerleader...wasn't there. He didn't realize the course was two laps. So, I started my 2nd lap thinking..."He only had one job...."
I didn't get any faster, but I didn't slow down. I staved off cramps and made it to the finish with a pretty steady effort. The course was a tiny bit short and seemed to be about 12.9 miles when I compared everyone's Garmin data. Not that I was complaining, because I was really ready to be done.
One thought I remember having on the run course is that I only need to do one of these a year. At least in my current condition, that is all my body could probably tolerate. I also wondered how I ever did ironman, and how I ever ran ironman marathons faster than how I was running this half. How did my body do that? I told myself my ironman days may be over and a half may be all I do going forward. We will see if I stick with that.
Cheers! On to the 2022 races.
Finish time: 5:22:09. My second slowest half ironman time ever, but one that I am proud of because it was very steady. I went in with ZERO expectations. I told Dave to really cheer me on if I was at the bottom of my AG, because I felt like that was a real possibility. I knew there was very little chance I would be competitive based on my results from the prior months. To be honest, I just didn't want to embarrass myself. 
So, imagine my surprise to find out I was 3rd in my AG when I finished. You can only race the course and conditions one the day, and you can only race who shows up on the day, and somehow my effort landed me near the top of my AG. 
To top off the unexpected award, I then got a 70.3 World Championship slot to St. George as they had 3 for my AG. I guess I will now be training for another half IM next year.
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