When I did my 1st ever try 15+ years ago in Chattanooga at the pre-race spaghetti dinner they showed a video of an Ironman and in a nutshell how hard they are and pretty miserable. It surely wasn’t a marketing ploy to get you to sign up. It was terrifying watching people collapse and hardly able to walk themselves to the finish line. As you can imagine I thought, “I’m going to do that one day”
The image of this one man stumbling and looking like he had no control over his legs still sticks in my mind. I decided this year I would complete an 1/2 Ironman and lucky for me there was one in my backyard.
I started training in March, getting back in the (pool) water and lots of running. I had several races before Ironman so those were the focuses plus I know how to bike right????🙄
I was starting to feel good about my training and slightly ramping up them 💥 sprained my ankle (more about that in ***** insert)
Running was pretty obsolete for a couple months. I read some articles and blogs and realized just knowing how to ride a bike wasn’t going to do me much good. I needed to practice to get better. So I rode,
Inside:
Outside:
Most biking was on the trainer because of the amount of time I needed and still had the kiddos to keep track of. And yes, I was lifeguarding and biking in this pic!!!
The closer the race got the more anxious I was getting. I was the most focused on making cutoff times, no time goals just no DNF. I felt ok about the swim, I’m a strong swimmer and I don’t overly enjoy open water swims which makes me want to get out of the water so I swim faster.
The bike I was nervous about, (I have yet to have a season I don’t fall off my bike-this summer was no exception) and was doing a lot of short distance rides.
The run I was pretty much avoiding. The ankle was still tender, I now had a huge cut on my heel that in hindsight probably needed stitches and hadn’t been able to wear shoes with backs for WEEKS-so to say my right foot was a mess was an understatement.
A few weeks before the race I was feeling a lot more comfortable with my clip in bike pedals and was getting faster, thanks to my amazing MRTT biker gang.
Anyway, I was riding in the neighborhood park and decided, ” I’m experienced enough not to have to slow WAY down to make this corner” WRONG choice. I slid on some gravel and 💥 down I went. Of course their were some spectators walking by that just stared at me, just stared, didn’t ask if I was ok, could they help get my bike off me-nope just stared-thanks! I was scuffed up but that’s it. Shook it off and rode home to clean up my wounds. And of course, it was my right knee to match my heel and ankle.
Fast forward to the day before the big race and I’m excited and very nervous. I signed the kids up for the Ironkids race and they were excited.
They started off strong and Peyton was in the lead but lost steam the last portion of the lap and ended in 2/3rd. Jake came in 6th but they both were so excited to get a medal and be a part of the day😍
We found my name on the shirt which was a super cool part for me, I didn’t know they did this so of course I had to get the shirt!
This expo wasn’t huge but the energy was so great and might have been one of my favorites because it was new, fun and the volunteers were so friendly. There were some vendors and the Ironman tent had TONS of items!!!We stayed for the athlete meeting, racked my bike and headed home.
There are 2 transition areas which maybe different than other races. The first is at the beach when you get out of the lake for your bike. I only left my bike, shoes, helmet so I didn’t have to worry about going back to pick anything up after the race. The second transition area is on Ohio Wesleyan University Shelby stadium so no open nutrition. And side note it’s turf so it has the black pebbles that get in your shoes!!
When I got home I was welcomed with an awesome surprise!! As usual, the MRTT girls surprised me with the prettiest and sweetest note-just can’t say enough how wonderful of a support they are!
I took it easy the rest of the day, got my usual pre-race dinner of a chipotle bowl and settled in at 8:00 for the night.
I got up at 4:30, was so worried I wouldn’t hear my alarm but I got ready and headed out the door. I went down to the Ironman Village to look for a parking spot. I found one pretty close to the finish so I was happy about that!
Quick pic before I found the shuttle stop and waited with the rest of the athletes. We got on the bus and off we headed to the beach (to be clear a lake beach not a pretty ocean view beach!) but our driver must have not been local because we got lost and I was feeling a little nauseous and just wanted out of the bus before I got sick. All was well and we got to the body marking area and got lined up.
The start was a bit unusual IMO you started where you thought your finish time would be. I didn’t want to be trampled so I started further back than I should have. Knowing what I know now I won’t make that mistake again! When it was our turn I got the usual pit in my stomach and the fear that I don’t want to do this. But they sounded the bell and off we went. I got started in the water and I got that feeling (again, this is always what happens in races for me) that I didn’t want to race, didn’t want to be in the water and I wanted out. I did a couple breaststroke’s and pulled myself together and thought “the only way to get out is to hurry up and swim to the finish” so that’s what I did. I passed people and it was a bit more energy to go around people, stop and look up because people were treading water and it was just a lot. So I made it out and was happy to be on to the next leg!
I took my time in transition and tried to dry off a bit, make sure I had everything I needed for the bike and off I went. I can’t say a whole lot about the bike-it was long but the weather was good, not too hot and I didn’t fall! The first aid station I saw one of my MRTT mamas (AND China race friend!!! Insert) Kristian, we couldn’t get a pic because she wasn’t ready and I wasn’t stopping!!!! I was able to eat and deal with my water while riding which is a new thing for me!
So I finished in a little under 3 hours and 45 mins (I wanted in under 4 to keep above DNF times) and got to see the kiddos on the road 2 times which was a big pump for me!
I again took my time in transition, made the mistake of sitting down to deal with my shoes and put on my ankle brace and had a heck of a time getting back up! But I did and off for my 1/2 marathon.
I’m not going to lie, I was tired. Like really tired.
I walked WAY more than I had planned but my body just didn’t want to run but I pushed myself to interval. I always struggle when I’m tired at a race to just walk and be comfortable or just push it to be done. Well my body won as I mostly walked. I wanted to finish this portion around 2:30/2:45 hours and I was closer to 3 hours. I again got to see the kiddos 2 times on the course, another MRTT sister and the kids were in the stadium. I got to run through and say I’m an Ironman!!!
I was so relieved when I was finished, didn’t care about my time or that they ran out of hats 1 person ahead of me, or that there was hardly any food and NO coke by the time I got to the tent but I was done and finished and didn’t DNR. Yea!! Celebration time!!
I found the fam and got my gear since there was zero food left in the tent but some nasty looking burgers, I was by far last so it was disappointing to come and see there wasn’t enough for everyone that raced.
My legs were already crazy sore and getting in the car was pure agony!!!! Headed home to relax, shower and start analyzing what I should have done, could have done better. Even though I said I didn’t know if I would ever do one again!!!
Overall I was happy with the race-I learned a lot, had fun, and became an Ironman!!!!
Check out the official site of Ohio Ironman 70.3
The Later Tater Momma 