Last Saturday was it! I did the Gulf Coast Triathlon Half Ironman! Unfortunately, the swim was cancelled because of the water conditions, but I still got in the rest of it…69.1 miles.
I got to Panama City Beach the day prior to the HIM. My plan was to find where I was staying, get my packet, set up my bike, and then relax. What ACTUALLY happened was that I got there at 1000 and couldn't check-in until 1200, nor could I go to packet pick-up, because that didn't start until 1200 either. So, I wound up wandering around the area, looking at the water (which had a red flag and was very rough) until about 1130. Then I got in line, checked in, and got my parking pass. I got all of my stuff into my room and went down to the pick-up. It was a VERY small expo; about seven vendors. One was my favorite local tri shop--Dragon Sports--so I was pretty happy to see them and their bike mechanics. I picked up a couple of odds and ends and then grabbed my packet. I was number 4--I don't know if I registered that early or if it was because of my last name (Adams) that got me there, but I like being a single digit.
I went back up to my room and then wandered around some more. I ran into one of the local ladies--G--and we started looking around for a couple of other women--L, L's sister, and A. We decided to drive the bike route for a bit…had to stop for gas first and wound up at a ghetto gas station, where two men were screaming at each other. That pretty much turned into getting out of the car, hearing them, and getting back in the car and driving off…PCB is not exactly a high end area in most areas, unfortunately. Anyway, we got gas at another location and headed up Hwy 79…it's not a bad ride, with the exception of the giant bridge about 15 miles from the start. After we looked, we went back to the hotel, got our bikes set up in the transition area and went to the "carb load dinner." The person in charge of the Tri was very uncertain about the water conditions, even then, so that was worth noting.
Nothing to be done about it right then--the surf could calm down overnight--so it was time to go to bed. I got up at 0400 (after waking up around 0030 to some dude yelling about how he had "gone to jail once and wasn't afraid to go back!" while he was arguing with his female companion...again…PCB…kinda not the nicest place ever). I got everything ready (except I forgot my hat for the run, I discovered much later!) and went downstairs. I brought everything else that I needed to the transition area and wandered around for a bit. I had my wetsuit half on, but decided I was too hot and took it off…in the process I lost my timing chip. For marathons, the timing chip is attached to the bib, but for triathlons, the chip is in a neoprene band that is worn around the ankle. I didn't realize it for quite some time and then realized…I panicked for a sec, but went back over to my bike and found it a couple of feet from my bike (whew!!).
Around that time, the transition area was closed and we had to go to the swim area. My group--women aged 34-39--was to be the first group out for the swim, so we lined up by 0615, ready to go for the 0620 start. It got to be about 0630 and the officials announced the cancellation of the swim. The reason was the kayakers and paddle boarders were unable to stay where they needed for life guarding purposes. Good idea to cancel it--someone really could have drowned in that mess. This was the first time in 32 years that the swim for this tri was cancelled, so it was not done lightly.
I was honestly of two minds about it. I have been training for MONTHS to be able to do the HIM and wanted to do the *whole* thing, so I was a bit disappointed. On the flip side, I HATE open water swimming, so I was not overly upset, lol.
We started with a short run through the sand instead. We ran across and up the boardwalk to the transition area (where we would have wound up after the swim anyway) so we could start the bike. I was so jazzed up and nervous from waiting to swim, that I went out way too hard on the bike. I was averaging about 18-20 mph, which is way above my normal 15-16 mph. The wind was at my back the whole way and it was sooooo much fun! And then we turned around. Burph--my legs were fried and I was headed into the wind. But I managed the ride in right around 3:40 and got back for the half marathon. I thought I would be okay for the run--I've run full marathons and I assumed (big mistake) that I would be able to do my normal run for the half.
I was wrong. My feet were killing me (going from the bike shoes to my run shoes did a number on my sandy feet) and I wound up spending the 13.1 doing 1 minute increments of walk/run. I finished the half in 3:30 (my slowest time EVER), but I finished.
I finished a 69.1 mile even in just over seven hours. OMG!!!!! I FINISHED. I may not be the fastest, or the lightest, or the most athletic, but I still FINISHED a 69.1 mile event!! Nice!!! And I got third in my division (Athena--the "big girl"division, for women over 160 lbs).
This past week has been a recovery week. I got in a swim and that was pretty much it. I am about to lose my mind, at this point!! My body needed the rest, but it's so hard to go from working out six times a week, generally twice a day, to doing nothing. I rode my niece's bike from the store to my mom's house, which was fabulous! She has a beach cruiser and it's such an easy ride, to just get on and comfortably peddle around, upright, without worrying about speed or crunched over aerobars. But I'm looking forward to getting back on the active train tomorrow…!
So, that was my first HIM. I don't feel like a did a *real* HIM, but the swim was too dangerous to attempt…but I am wondering if I have time to get another one in before the full IM in November…?
Sunday, May 18, 2014
Saturday, May 3, 2014
Saturday's Cycling (3 May 2014)
Today's bike ride was amazing. The weather was perfect, I had some good company for the first hour of my ride…it was one of those days that makes me happy to be outside an moving! It was mid to upper 70s, sunny, not humid, and the whole ride just felt like I was flying. Today was one of those happy days where it makes me want to get up and do it all over again tomorrow. :)
Here are the details from today:
Here are the details from today:
Summary
| Distance: | 43.63 mi |
| Time: | 2:50:30 |
| Avg Speed: | 15.4 mph |
| Calories: | 2,154 C |
Details
Timing
| Time: | 2:50:30 |
| Moving Time: | 2:50:14 |
| Elapsed Time: | 3:08:51 |
| Avg Speed: | 15.4 mph |
| Avg Moving Speed: | 15.4 mph |
| Max Speed: | 27.2 mph |
Speed
Pace
Elevation
Subscribe to:
Comments (Atom)