Photos of the End of an Era

IMTex Recap

Ironman Texas was the first time I competed in an inugrual Ironman race and there was a special excitement that came with that. The crowds were amazing and the course was outstanding. I did something I've never done in an Ironman or ever in a race before - crashed my bike. It was minor by crash standards, but certainly sounds tough. The knees got the worst of it. It happened at mile 50, luckily I only had 60 more miles to bike and a full marathon to run! Obviously, I am thrilled I just finished.

The swim was point to point, so no loops, which was really nice. The water was 79 degrees and was the first Ironman swim I did without a wetsuit. (Wetsuits aren't Ironman legal at that temperature.) The course was a bit oddly shaped and swimmers kind of piled up on each other, it was hard to get away from flying arms and legs. The last mile was through a canal, which was cool, great for spectators, but way to narrow for swimmers competing. There was just no where from anyone to go, so it made it tough to blaze a path ahead or avoid someone trying to blaze past you.

The bike course was a single loop which never really had any boring stretches. It was mostly rolling hills and really pretty with tons of trees. Trouble came at mile 50 at an aid station. I was slowing down, maybe 10 mph, and reaching back to place a new water bottle in one of my bike cages and with only one hand on the front brakes I saw the guy in front of me brake really hard. I wasn't paying close attention ahead, panicked, and slammed hard on my front brake sending me over my bike's handle bars and sliding forward over on top of my bike. Thankfully, nobody crashed on top of me and the volunteers were really helpful. My bike had dings but amazingly nothing was broken and the parts still worked. The rest of the bike I kept replaying it in my head and could not believe how lucky I was. God must have been a spectator watching the race as well.

The weather had been ideal up until the run. It was overcast with some winds, but as I started out on loop 1 of 3 on the run the sun came out. The first loop I tried to gauge running in the heat and pushed a bit harder than I should have. I nearly walked the entire 2nd loop just to avoid overheating, knowing the sun would set with time and actually give me a shot at running a bit toward the end. The 3rd loop was cooler and I actually got running and finished with a crazy fast last 2 miles. The finish line was the coolest set up of any of the other races I've done and felt just as monumental as ever.

To have been signed up for so many races over the past couple years, to have had a goal in sight and kind of always top of mind and to cross a line that meant I had finished them all felt more relieving than anything. I don't think I'm done with triathlons, I still love race days, but a decade off might be nice.

FINISHED!

The Secret Weapon - Bike Biscuit Basket

Air 1 Verse of the Day

It's perfect for today's Ironman - 1 Thessalonians 5:16-17. 

"Always be joyful. Never stop praying."

Nothing Left

I'm checked in, bike and bags set, and feeling as good as you can pre
race. The weather looks really windy, overcast and of course Houston
hot. You never know what the day will bring.

Almost First

Executing the Plan

Going Down

Tools of the Trade

Familiar Place

Tonight was the Ironman dinner. This was my third time eating amongst other ironman tri nuts and watching crazy inspiring videos. It is impossible to leave without an extra boost. My blood pumps and my body is ready for round 3. I'm running on experience rather than training and I have 5 years of it building up in me. Being my last run for some time, I'm more excited than ever to hear the gun go off.

You never forget how to ride a bike. Or swim. Or run. And more than anything my just excited to get on a new course and do all 3.

Dead Man Walking

Bike's Car Ride

Going Out Fast

The same thing that made Prefontaine famous has been the way I've set personal bests in the Ironman and marathons, going out way too fast. It is strongly discouraged by most, because you are said to lose much more than the time you gain in the first half of the race. I am not well trained for this race this weekend, which is usually the case before my races. However, this one is the least physically trained I have ever been. Though I would argue experience will make up for most of what I am lacking.

Yesterday I logged the longest ride of my training - 46 miles. Though I did average 17 mph. The week before I ran the most I have leading up to the race, 3 miles. The next day I ran 3 miles as well, I was really sore. Though both times I did maintain the pace I previously set as my best, 8 minute miles. A month ago, the last time I did any kind of swimming, I swam for 45 minutes. The next day was when I realized something was wrong inside my rib cage. But now, the week of the race, I feel as good as I can all things considered. I still notice the bruised rib slightly when I am fully extended, but that only happens in the swim. While swimming I am just going to take it slow, get out of the water, and then do what I have done with reckless abandon in these races before - go out way too fast.

Healthy or Trained

I am slowly recovering, slowly. My chest still feels sore on big breaths, but my lack of activity is helping to heal it. The injury has me thinking a lot more than I normally would with actual training. I would rather be healthy and compete in anything rather than trained without my health on the starting line. We will see if I say the same thing 10+ hours into the race.