from ironmaiden to ironman
here's the lowdown my first iron distance race a few weeks ago in roth. first of all, I'd recommend this race to anyone from iron vet to newby, as the whole expereience was top-notch from race organization to fan support. so if you're looking for something besides a kona slot, look no further. this is it.combining a race with some family time and some sightseeing gives you a dual pupose too. so if everything doesn't go as planned with your race, it's not like a failed mission. there is life beyond ironman.
i was fortunate enough to have shred this experience with my ever supportive wife yolanda, my sister pam and her boyfriend daniel (who both raced their first too), and my sister-in-law beatriz. what a better way to celebrate a great race than to be surrounded by family in a beautiful place you've never been before.
race morning, july 2, 2006 Roth, Germany
hold back, hold back, hold back...
these were the only words ringing thru my head and the only thing that i needed to remember all day. as a virgin at this distance, i'd have to live by these words for the following 10 hours that would follow, not knowing how the body would react and trusting that things will get tough at mile 20 of the marathon no matter how easy you went all day.
so that's what it really came down to for me, geting to the final six miles of the run as fresh as possible by holding back all day. this strategy would (almost) guarantee me a finish. my only true goal as a first timer at the distance.
i approached the 3800m swim as a warm up for what was to come, just focusing on each stroke at a time, slow steady strokes and just staying relaxed. 1:13 later i was ready to saddle up.
once in the saddle, i knew my geatest limiter would be to hold back on the bike for the marathon, never having raced beyond th half marathon distance ever.
holding back again here was the name of the game. on training rides this spring i'd regularly do the 112 mile bike leg in the low 4:50's. today however, the motion of each pedal stroke would serve a greater, less immediate purpose. increased energy for the run, not a faster bike spit.
so as most sprinted up rollers, hammered hills and raced each other, i just swallowed my pride and just held back in zone 1 for most of the day, all in anticipation for the last six miles of the run. i just tried to stay focused on my nutrition and even enjoyed some of the sights. it was actually pretty comfortable, feeling the best after mile 100.
5:18 or :19 later it was time to run (can't remember).
i tried not to think about running a full marathon, instead focusing on each step as it presented itself. hold back, hold back.. sure enough mile 20 of the run came around, this is when i started gritting my teeth till the end.
overall i guess it was like a really, really long warm up to a slow and painful 10k run.
I was happy to finish in 10:40 or so but next time i'd like to actually race the distance a bit more and see what happens.
til next time
jrod
posted by supersonique @ 1:58 PM
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