Sunday, August 06, 2006

Steelhead Redux

It's been a while, but I thought y'all deserve to know what happens when you don't train for nearly 4 months and then race in a half-Ironman. It hurts like hell, that's what happens.

My time in yesterday's Whirlpool Steelhead half-Ironman was around 6:10, nearly an hour slower than last year's 5:23, but in many ways it was a more satisfying race. Since April I'd done a grand total of 3 runs, 2 swims and, maybe, 6 medium length bike rides (40-80 miles.) There are lots of reasons, er, excuses, but none of them really matter. What matters is I showed up on race day. I focused on maintaining an easy pace, hydration, nutrition and having fun.

CoachKaryn told me not to think of it as 4 months of slacking off. Instead, consider it the world's longest taper! Right.

I spent the first half of the swim fighting the "Holy Shit! I don't belong here!" demons. Then I got tired of being swam over by all the waves behind me and settled down. The demons resurfaced in the bike's first 20 miles. I fought 'em off again. I finished the bike with enought time in the bank that a 10:00 minute per mile run pace would've produced a sub-6:00 time. I was dead on that pace until mile 10 when the heat brought it all crashing down. But I wasn't the only one walking. I saw more carnage on the course yesterday than in any other race I've ever done.

Anyway, another vertical finish. Today I hurt like hell. But maybe I got my mojo back too. We'll see.

4 comments:

trikonasbr said...

good to see you are back

Ann (bunnygirl) said...

Congrats on finishing! It speaks well of your overall conditioning that you were able to persevere in spite of being undertrained!

Comm's said...

you sonofabitch. Damn your triathlon gentics and ability to create wonderful meals. I just thought I would throw that food thing in there since as you know I can't cook.

Nancy Toby said...

Congratulations! I'm glad I wasn't the only one out there who was totally crushed by a silly 82 degrees!