September has flown by in a blur of dark chilly mornings, beautiful crisp days, and busy weekends. I finally sat down to write my race report for the Pumpkinman Triathlon Festival a week after the race and wound up with a 3 page epic. That level of detail and history, I'll keep to myself, but I will share the "Readers Digest" version.
I have purposefully refrained from posting a lot of race reports this year, rather trying to keep the focus on other areas of wellness. I wanted to share this story, not as a pat on the back for what I did but rather as a message of what can be done.
My original "A" race for the summer was the MusselMan Triathlon on July 16. I finished the course (which was slightly modified from the first time I participated in 2006) in 7 hours 32 minutes, nearly 45 minutes faster this year. At some point during the summer I decided to add a race to my schedule: the Pumpkinman Half Ironman Triathlon. It was risky, 3 weeks before my marathon but one I was willing to take. As race day neared I poured over course maps and elevation details and I re-evaluated my goals.
Then I typed them out:
45 minutes for the swim (1.2 miles)
3:25:00 for the bike (56 miles)
2:35:00 for the run (13.1 miles)*
I allowed myself 4 minutes in each transition.
*The run was a huge stretch goal (call it my BHAG - Big Hairy Audacious Goal), considering that my PR on a half iron run was 2:41 and it was achieved in 2007 in Orlando, post marathon, after a relatively flat bike course. That race was also my half iron PR in 7:03 – narrowly missing my big 7 hour goal.
I had an absolutely fantastic day. The weather was perfect - cool and overcast on the bike then low 70s on the run. I swam comfortably, picking up speed a few times to pass, but mostly focusing on one stroke at a time and exited the water in 48 minutes flat. 3 minutes off my goal but if I could bike and run well, my 7 hour goal was still in reach. I took my time getting up the big hill from the lake and then preparing for the bike ride in transition (4:34). Out on the course, I went fast where I could on the bike, focused on climbing and pushing through each hill, figuring that my legs would burn whether I went hard or easy - then I kept repeating to myself "SEVEN HOURS, SEVEN HOURS". Though my legs were tired, I felt good and I knew that the last 10 miles were mostly downhill. I was well ahead of my goal time and within reach of my stretch goal as I approached the final climb back to the transition area. Bike time was 3:16:16. 17 MPH!!! I realized that I just had to "run" the last leg of the race and I could hit the 7 hour mark. I had 2 hours and 51 minutes to get through transition and the 13.1 miles. The second transition (T2) took me 3:22, first I had to move my neighbor's bike out of my spot on the rack, then I did take a quick stop at the port-o-potty. I now had 2 hours and 47 minutes, a 12:48 minutes per mile pace. I stuck with my plan to run 4 minutes and walk (quickly) 1 minute from the beginning. I finally thought "I can do this!". My average run pace, even with my 1 minute walk breaks, seldom dropped below a 12 minute mile. Half way through I almost cried. I wanted to grab a fellow athlete and say "I'm going to break 7 hours!". Instead I chanted it to myself. As I climbed hills I chanted my other mantra "chomp chomp, I eat these hills for breakfast". I just kept plugging along, switching to 9 minute run/1 minute walk intervals for the last few miles. Again, we climbed a hill right before the finish, then it was a nice run down a grassy hill. I saw the finish line and I knew. My run time was 2:32:26. Total time 6:44:30! Holy moly!
Once I let myself believe that I could do it, everything lined up. Of course, the weather, my nutrition, and the marathon training all contributed to my terrific day.
"The difference between the impossible and the possible lies in a man's determination."
Tommy Lasorda
When it was over, I finally allowed myself to be proud. I am older and heavier, yes it's true, but I guess it took 6 hours and 45 minutes to realize that I am wiser and stronger too.
