Accenture IM California 70.3

This past weekend my company, Accenture, served as the title sponsor of the half Ironman (70.3) in Oceanside, CA.  It was an incredible experience in many ways.  In addition to having 19 employees and clients racing under our "colors" the Challenged Athletes Foundation was the official charity of the race.

While the days were long (I have always maintained supporting a race is longer than doing it), I  also had the cool experience of holding the finish line tape for the men's winner (Andy Potts edging out Jesse Thomas by ~ 10 seconds to claim his 5th win).

The weekend was full of meeting new people, having a great time spectating and cheering on racers, but also supporting many of my CAF friends.  It was a crossroads of work, friends and my triathlon passion.

Check out Facebook for photos from the race.

Puerto Rico, you lovely Island, full of tropical breezes and HILLS! Report from Puerto Rico 70.3 – My IM CDA warm up

Since embarking on my IM journey in October, my focus has been trying to improve on my weakness – biking – while not neglecting both my swimming (one of my stronger legs) and running (something I actually enjoy).   Over the past six months, training has not been that bad yet, but if you ask Coach Earl Walton, the “fun” has only begun.  Yea…right.

When reviewing my race calendar, Earl and I were looking for a half-iron distance race during the late base stage of my training.  Having done some early season races in the past (Nola, South Beach), I was game for something new and different. Looking at IM and Rev3 races, there was only one that actually fit into my work and training schedules – Puerto Rico 70.3.  But March 17^th?  Wow that is an early season race.   While I don’t really mind racing alone, traveling alone is another story – who will cheer for me at the finish line (and have a post-race drink with me)?  Thankfully my friend (and now best race Sherpa) Randi Gordon stepped up to the plate (she rationalized the trip as a weekend away from the NYC cold – and indeed it was). 

Side bar…Back to training for a sec….

While I have had some rough run workouts (especially in the cold, dark days of winter), I keep telling myself, I am not just doing an IM for me, I am doing it to honor my father and raise funds for Challenged Athletes everywhere.   The training is tough (just like the race itself) , but I have put in the work thus far and now it was time to see how it is starting to pay off.  

Back to the race…

I heard a lot about the PR 70.3 race – mostly how nice the swim was (cool), how well supported the ride was (even better), but how tough the run was (how bad could it really be?  O h bad!).   For those who know my spreadsheet-loving, crazy advance-planning pre-race regiment, you might be surprised that going into PR 70.3, I was completely calm; calm to the point that Randi joked she had no idea who I was when I told her the only reservation I made was for the post-race dinner. 

I was also using the race to test my new race nutrition plan thanks to QT2 Systems and Jaime Windrow.  The plan is pretty intensive, exact, but heard it works.  Hey, if it’ll get me through 140.6 miles, I am game – including giving u my beloved morning coffee (yes I have been coffee and mostly caffeine free since January)!

For those w/ A.D.D and like the bottom line…I was pleased with the race…the swim and ride were great, but the run was “what the f*ck was that!”  

And for those with an attention-span…

Randi and I flew to PR on Friday to take advantage of being away as much as possible.  Landing, we got to the hotel, registered for the race, ran into friend Dave Ragsdale (who was announcing), put my bike together, Randi went for a run and I tried to ride the run course.   I got a little misdirected in Old San Juan and wound up riding part of the course which I didn’t think was that bad (oh I was wrong).  Friday night we had a relaxing dinner at a local restaurant – this was big “carbo load” dinner.

The day before the race (Sat) was all about following the QT2 plan, doing last min race prep.  We woke up, did a quick run (where I proceeded to not see a curb cut and fell on my knee – not a huge scrape, but ouch), and head to breakfast. 

It’s all about the food…

Now I like breakfast.  It’s an important meal.  But I typically never have eggs, potatoes, toast, and pancakes in one sitting.  But that is what the plan said so I ate it.  After some digestion, we made our way to the swim start for a practice swim (just to the first turnaround) before heading back to the hotel to yes, eat again (this time a chix wrap – plain with a little mustard and my second of three bags of pretzels).  My former colleague and friend Tillie Castellano, who retired in PR a few years ago, came by to visit us at the hotel and laughed at how much I had to eat and drink (there goes another bag of pretzels). 

At this point Tillie and Randi (who ran most of the run course the day before) explained what I had in store for me on the run.  Tillie calls it the “hell hill” that leads to her son, Marc’s, house at the top of it (Tillie said she would be waiting outside Marc’s house waiting for me on the run).  Randi just laughed….After more water, PowerBar Perform drinks and a PowerBar, I had to lie down for a bit….before dinner (thankfully Randi took matters into her own hands and made a dinner reso for yes, 6:15pm – just following the plan).  While Randi had an amazing looking meal, I had, you guessed it, 4 oz of grilled chicken and 1 cup of pasta (basically the most basic thing on the menu and I could only eat ½ of it).   Off to bed at 8:15pm…

Race day

3:15am alarm buzzes.  Why 3:15am when the race doesn’t start until 7:00 (and my wave doesn’t go off until 7:28)?  Well because I had to eat 2 ½ cups of apple sauce, whey protein, a sports drink, and a banana in enough time to digest.  Now most of us eat, maybe ½ cup of apple sauce at one time.  Trying to get down that much made me, well, spit up just like a baby does (but I had no one to burp me).  But at least I watch to sun rise while getting my pre-race meal down.

Restless (there is just so much social media you can do before 6:00am); I went to transition to set up my area before heading to the swim start.   I looked for AGTC teammate Sonia Cordero, but could not find her in transition.   So I just made my way to the swim start and waited…and waited. 

My wave – men’s 40-44 #2 (wave #10) started to line up.  I ate my late Perform Gel and visualized the race.  Earl and I spoke the day before and decided I would just go and test things out.  No goal…just go.  So when it was my time to start, I did just that…I went.

The race was an in-water start.  Waiting on the edge where I could stand until 30-seconds before our horn went off, I was totally calm.  At 30-seconds, I swam my way to the front and we’re off.  Aggressive at the start, I was a little off my sighting, but after some corrections, I kept swimming.  Past a few people in the waves ahead of my (not getting passed that much), the water was clear and I felt good.  Buoy to buoy I went until the turn around.  The course was like a long “U” but on its side – most of it in a protected bay off the ocean.  I was going strong until about ¾ through when we hit the waves from the open sea started to rear its ugly head.  I was tossed a bit, and got off course with the current, but straightened myself out and headed to shore.   Getting helped up the ramp out of the water, I quickly glanced at my time – 36 mins and some sec…not bad for a 1.2 mile ocean swim without a wetsuit.  The run to T1 (transition 1) was about ¼ mile on asphalt.  I started to jog, saw Randi (who was about to go out for another run), got into transition, got Malibu (my bike) and myself ready for our ride and went out. 

Time to get onto my bike

The ride was really pleasant.  Again Earl and I decided to focus the ride on maintaining a decent power (I plopped down a pretty penny and bought myself a PowerMeter – a cool new toy for those who don’t know what it is, it basically measures how much power I am putting out through my pedal strokes.  I have certain watts I know I can maintain for a long period of time and still have “legs” for the run).  The course was specular.  Right along the ocean, I was cruising, keeping to my numbers.  Yes I was passed – often – but I still passed a large number of people (I always said good morning to every pretty girl I passed – most smiled and said thanks). 

This being my first outside ride since October 2012 (during CAF’s SDTC Race Weekend), I wasn’t sure what to expect on the 56-mile route.  Especially troubling was that the race was sponsored by Gatorade and not PowerBar (which I have been training with) so while I had two bottles of the formula I knew, Jaime and I discussed using Gatorade and seeing what happened (flash forward, yea that wasn’t planned).   During the ride I am sticking to my nutrition plan – making sure to drink when I can, eating PowerBars and PowerBar gels on schedule and taking in salt.  I made the first turn-around (the ride was basically two loops) and checked in on my power and HR (all good) and looked up a saw a large rain cloud and thought I wonder when it’s going to rain.  NOW was the answer.  The sudden the sky opened up and buckets (literally) came down on us.  Immediately, I became a tad more conservative (no repeats of old bike spills), watching out for white lines to avoid a crash/fall.  Yet, as quickly as the rain started, it was gone.  Sunny sky, but yet wet pavement means riding conservatively and not crashing.  At the second (of three) turn around, I started to pass more people, keeping in areo position and staying in the moment.  Then the finally turn around and I am heading home. 

While I didn’t have a time goal, I thought it would be great if I could break the three-hour mark (a PR for me).  Then the winds started to pick up even more and at times I was getting blown all around the road.  While not as bad as they were in Nola, they were bad.  But I was more prepared this time around and kept my focus….approaching the last 10 miles, I look up and see NYC on someone’s ass…that must be Sonia.  Hey Sonia I yell as I pass her.   Making my way on the last stretch of highway, I suddenly become concerned as I see no other bikers around me.  Did I miss a turn?  Nope all good. There are some police men I am heading into T2. 

Jumping off the bike, I trot into transition, check my time 3:03 (cool all things, rain, etc.) considered and prepare for my run.  Not having a second pair of socks in transition, I need to run on semi wet socks (from the rain).  I ask a pro who just finished how bad it is and he comments, just drink a lot…and often.  It then dawned on me that I didn’t pee once on the bike…didn’t even feel as if I needed to.  Despite drinking over four bottles, I was still dehydrated.  Oh boy, I am f*cked.  Ok, let me try and see what happens. 

The hot and hilly run…

Before heading to the run, I got into the banana boat tent and ask the girls spraying lotion to down me in whatever they had.  Face, head, arms, back, legs…all good.  I am off. 

Immediately I see Randi who walks/runs me over the first bridge/hill.  As I head out on the run, I see professional women Rinny Carfrae finishing (she looks like she had a hard day out there) and hope the wheels do not come off too quicky.  I have my plan (eat a Block every 2 miles, drink at every aid station and keep going. 

Not knowing the full course, I opted to use the first loop (there are two) to see how bad this run course really is.  One hill, well that sucked…ok some flats….a little downhill, good.  Usually when I start to run, my HR jumps up for a bit and then settles in.  For some reason this isn't happening today. Only time wll tell what this means for my race.

  

As I turn a corner I see it…the “hell hill” both Tillie and Randi described.  Yes indeed it’s hell.  Straight up.  No way can anyone human actually run this…so I do a fast walk.  Finally cresting, I start to run again until I see one more hill.  Looking to my left I look for Tillie and her son Marc.  I go over to say hi (a nice high five and a hug) and get a nice dose of water sprayed on me by Marc’s son (this would be one of my un-doings).  Despite the hills, this is one beautiful run course. 

Past the old fort, we run on historic cobblestone streets down to the edge of the fort (what goes down will need to come back up).  At the first turn-around (prob mile 3), I am feeling the heat and some burning on my feet (never had that before), but I go on.  Tracing my way back to the start, I pass Tillie again, get another dose of water on me and head down the hell hill (going down isn’t much easier).  The miles keep clicking away and despite the soreness, the heat and the need to run/walk, I never get into the dark place where I want to quit. 

At the turnaround I see Randi again who tells me how good I look (looks can be deceiving) and how proud everyone at Tailwind Endurance (Earl’s studio) is of me (that gives me more energy to go).  Only 6.5 miles to go.  I am running more now…running up hills, trying to stay focused.  Once again, I walk up hell hill and think, only 4.5 miles to go.  I see Marc again, who took my picture running up the hill (below).  Passing the old fort again, the pain in my feet is intense.  I know the blisters under my feet must be roaring in full force (I cannot...will not let that get me down).  Onto the edge of the fort to the turn around, I am on my way home.  Passing Tillie and family again, I tell them I cannot stop…need to get this done.  

Down the big hill again.2 miles to go. 
Then wow…the heat, blisters, dehydration all come on at once.  I start to walk.  I keep telling myself to run walk the last two miles…it’s only two miles….I walk in the shade to get away from the heat…I run in the street and get inspired by a 60-year old man (his age was on his calf) who is running and not giving up either.   One mile…half a mile.  Ok last aid station…last bridge up…I crest the top, and head home.  I see Randi near the finish line chute and she runs me home.   Dave announces my name (I still get a kick out of that) and I am done.  Time for a beer and burger and some celebrating with Randi and Sonia.

So the good:  no demons…no dark zones.  Positive thoughts.  Great swim, Pr on the bike.  An early season race…lots to improve, but all around a stellar early season race.

The bad:  a slow half-marathon.  Dehydration.  Not having an extra pair of socks in Transition.  All things to improve.

Thanks for reading this.  As mentioned at the onset, I am raising money for CAF.  If you want to support my efforts,  please click here to make a donation.