IMFL 2009

What can I say? It was a good day!

First, I can't thank the T3 crew enough. Lindsey, Lindsey, Phil, Dionn, Matt, Cara, Charles, Vegas, KatyD. I love having cheerleaders on the course! Also, thanks for dinner! They cooked a very nice pasta dinner for Courtney and I 2 days prior.

Pre-race stuff:

1. I loved driving there. Well, not the driving, but loved not having to pay for ticket, tri-bike transport and just generally throwing everything in the car. AND Toby was able to come!

2. Panama City is bit of an armpit.

3. Nothing makes you feel fatter than being at an Ironman expo!

4. Did 2 practice swims - so glad I did, as it was helpful on race day.

5. Free pancake breakfast on Friday morning before. Phil and Charles probably had about 50 pancakes each.

Toby the Ironpug

SWIM

1. Of course, it was choppier than on practice days. Why does that always happen?

2. Even though I put myself in the back 1/4, I still ended up in the "washing machine." Maybe because I'm a little faster, I'm more in the middle. It was rough. I couldn't really get any clear swimming space, not even that much in the 2nd loop.

3. I realized that the swim really isn't about being able to just swim 2.4 miles. It's about NOT PANICKING. I didn't freak out at all, but thought that one easily could. I think a lot of the mess in the water was due to people freaking out and swimming all frantically.

4. Jellyfish - !. I saw one, then just closed my eyes when my face was in the water. I think I got stung on my face , but didn't realized it until the next day when I heard others talking about it. I just thought my goggles were pinching me.

5. Salt water is gross! This is where the 2 practice swims came in handy. Although nowhere was rough as on race day, I learned that I swallowed water mainly when I sighted, so adjusted this according. I only swallowed water once on race day.

6. I really hated "running" in the shallow water/sand to do a second loop.

7. Finished in 1:30. That is 7 minutes faster than Arizona, even with the rougher conditions.

8. Dionn and Lindsey are excellent wetsuit strippers. Although I think they preferred stripping the pro men.

BIKE

1. I realized that doing 1 loop is harder. It's really helpful to have crowd support. Also, you can't see other racers coming back on the loops, and since we were so spaced out, I actually didn't see too many races on the course. It felt like one long boring century training ride. Because of this, I preferred the IMAZ course.

2. I had a flat. I think I actually rode the first 6 miles on a soft back tire and slow leak. I was going 14 mph and everyone was passing me and I just thought "wow, I must be tired from the swim." Then the flat became a real flat, and I stopped to change it, but my timing was perfect because the SAG wagon was right there. I could have changed it myself, but it would have taken me 15 minutes, and he did it lickety-split in 4 minutes. After I was on my way, I was riding faster.

3. It was an interesting bike. I didn't really feel into it until mile 50, then I started feeling good. Everyone's 2nd split was faster because there was a head wind on the first part, but mine was significantly different: 15.47 mph on the first split, then 19.27 mph on the 2nd. After 80 miles, I was feeling even stronger! At that point, everyone else was kinda pooping out, so on this stretch, I actually passed a lot of men! My sister said that some guy commented "that girl passed me at mile 90!" Yes, it was really, really, really flat. and boring. 6:44 total time.

4. I realized - guys don't like being chicked! I was really annoyed by men whom I would pass, then they'd have to pass me, only to slow down and I'd have to pass them again. If you're going to pass me, go faster than me!

5. I heard there was a lot of drafting on this course (heard that there was actually a 20+ peloton and officials weren't giving out penalites). boo

6. Another pet peeve: why have an aerohelmet and disk wheels, if you're not going to be in aero position and go only 14 mph?!?

 Because the course is just one big loop, it's not so great for spectators. I think this is hilarious pic of my family. Check out everyone's faces (including Toby).

 Finishing the bike!

  RUN:

1. I always dread the run, but legs felt surprisingly fresh.

2. I never ran 26.2 in the boa - but I was about to!

3. I decided not to wear socks AT ALL. I generally don't unless I'm running more than 13. Then I realized I think my feet hurt MORE when I wear socks. I got 2 little blisters, but I still get blisters when I wear socks, and I'm glad I didn't wear them.

4. I had a great run - 5:23 which is fastest marathon time I've ever had (including stand alone marathons). Yes, I'm a slow runner, but averaged about 12 minute miles. Such an improvement since I did IMAZ run in 7 hours.

5. I did like 2 loops of 13.1  Course was very flat, but parts in the park were too dark. I don't remember them telling us to bring blinky things. They should have lit the course better.

6. I realized the limiting factor is not cardiovascular - my heart rate was actually quite low - but PAIN. When I stopped to walk it was because things were hurting, not because I could no longer run.

7. Luckily the weather was perfect, otherwise it might have been too hot for the boa, and no, it didn't bug me at all. It made the race more fun!

8. Vegas and Katy joined me for the last mile. Shhh, they gave me a sip was what was in their water bottle (hint: it wasn't water or gatorade).

 
FINISH

1. I have to be most animated, excited finishers out there! The boa helps. Although Mike Reilly wasn't announcing. It was his "assistant" - boo.

2. 13:55 total time! That is 2 hours and 17 minutes faster than Arizona.

3. I felt really good after the race. Didn't hurt too much at all.

4. The medal is kinda ugly.

5. Cool to watch Courtney, my Iron-sistah finish too!

6. Hi Houston folks! Kathleen finished in 12:47! She is taking an hour off her time everytime she does a race! Oh, and hi Cassie! She said hi to me on the bike and says she read my blog. cool.

I can't turn this around. But if you look closely, Vegas is drinking...something.

ADDENDUM

1. I think having one under my belt really helped. It does help relieve race anxiety. I had no moments of freak out at all and was never worried about cutoff times. At mile 13 of the run, was thinking "why the hell did I sign up for this" but that passed.

2. Oh yeah. I weigh 35 lbs less than at IMAZ. I'm sure that helped with my race!

3. I thinking doing a lot more core and getting massages really helped this season too.

4. The race was kinda disorganized and not as nice as IMAZ. I heard that another company managed this and not WTC, so hopefully, they will get their shit together for next year.

5. I will post more photos as I get them.

6. I finished 67 out of 127 in my age group. Last year, I was 95 out of 105.

7. Am I going to do another one? Hell yeah! I love doing this distance race. There is a craziness, obsessiveness about it that I love. Most likely full Vineman in August 2010, but I would like to do Louisville,  Cozumel? Austria? I have a friend living in New Zealand, but that one is early in March. hmmm...

My siblings were all there. That was the best part of the day.

POST-RACE PARTY: what happens in Panama City Beach, stays in Panama City Beach, right ;)

Comments

[erin]

Jane - you are an inspiration! I think this is deserving of a robot ;) But seriously, way to go....

[Elizabeth]

Jane - you are awesome! I loved tracking you from back here in Texas and I let out a little whoop of joy when you finished...complete with a HUGE smile. Can't wait to share a smile with you in person. Bask in the satisfaction of a wonderful accomplishment. So proud of you and happy for you!

[paulette]

WOW!! you rock woman!! loved the race report. woo hooooo!!! Are you moving back to Houston????????

[The Dread Pirate Rackham]

Wow. It's like we had the same race. Except mine was in north Carolina. Good job, other Jane!

[jesskolko]

Way to PR Jane!!! Great report on a great race...proud of you for all your accomplishments this year!!

[Shawnda]

I'm so proud of you! You are truely an inspiration to everyone. Your hard work paid off. Now it's time to get to that list of yours!

[Amy]

An incredible race for you, I couldn't be happier for you. Enjoy the off season.

[nancy]

we're hot (kangs i mean)

[Gordon]

great race, Jane

[greyhound]

What adjustment to your sighting did you make? This can be a problem for me as well.

[Cassie]

You finished about 2 minutes in front of me. Apparently, we were pretty close to each other all day long. Oh, and thanks for the mention in the blog!

[trailturtle]

Wonderful job! and you blew away your old PR...amazing how far you have come.

[ShirleyPerly]

Congrats on the huge PR!! I agree that the second one is easier because the will-I-finish anxiety is gone. Might see you at Vineman.