IMAZ Race Recap

First, a huge congrats to race winner Jordan Rapp, whom I saw flash by on the bike twice and once on the run. Course record (4:22 bike, 2:55 run after a 50 minute swim), decimated the field in 8:13 - wow!

On to my story...I got here on Thursday feeling like a fat slug. 2 weeks of taper SUCK. I was so anxious to do SOMETHING, but other than loosening up in each discipline and testing the chilly waters of Tempe Town Lake, I relaxed until Sunday.

Sunday, 4:45 am: off to the start. I bring all the crap I hadn't already checked in. 5:45, I'm unpacking my wetsuit, cap and goggles and...there's no cap or goggles!! Mr. Idiot left them in another bag. Fortunately, they opened the IM store and let me leave my credit card in exchange for a pair of TYRs. Whew! Lesson learned - ALWAYS check everything twice.

At 6:55am, we got in the water. The only other mass water start I've done is at the Westport sprint, and this is just a bit different. This was 2500 morons freezing in the lake totally hyped up. The gun went off and the beatings began. I was kicked and/or punched in the face maybe 3-4 times and pulled under twice, but it wasn't too awful. Unfortunately, my watch must have gotten clubbed because when I looked down after a while, it said "2:45.". Crud. I swam fairly easy, was relaxed, didn't get cold until about 50 minutes in. Got out, barely, was stripped and was frozen solid. I thought I'd swum 1:15 or slower due to announcements when I got out. Actual swim: 1:09.

I got on the bike after a long (8:30) T1 trying to put socks on. First two miles, I was shaking and frozen. But it was good to be on the bike. It's a 3-lap course and I'd been warned about the wind and "hill"...had head wind - strong, and stronger the 2nd lap - from 30 min til turnaround at 1 hour. Max speed was 18 in the wind, 16-17 on the (gradual) hill with the wind.

Turnaround...and 28-30mph the first lap, up to 32mph the 2nd. The 3rd lap, the wind died down and I actually turned my fastest lap. I was going faster than planned in part due to thinking my swim time was slow. Started feeling my legs at about 99 miles. Bike time: 5:16.

Off the bike, a brisk 3:30 in transition including the longest pee of my career (oh, forgot - took a bio break at about 40 minutes on the bike as well, prob cost me 5). Started running and felt GREAT. Too great. Despite consciously telling myself to slow down, first mile - 6:18. Crap. But it felt SLOW. I slowed down. 3 miles - 19:30. It was 11 in 77:11 before I backed it off more. Through the half in 1:34, I knew I was going to suffer - started to feel it - but figured I could easily do the 2nd half in 1:46. Uh, no. Thighs cramped and 15-21 SUCKED. Started drinking coke in addition to other stuff (nutrition plan worked very well, btw, though maybe more salt?). By 18, I knew I'd finish standing up. 25M was like Holy Ground. Sprinted the last 1/4 mile. Run time: 3:30:20.

10:09 total, faster than the planned 10:15, but lost sub-10 around mile 17 of the run. 176th of 2500, 11th in the 45-49 AG.

Quite an experience that I'm not anxious to repeat any time soon.

Thanks to everyone from TT for the support throughout the season and all the kind words post race as well! PS - not that I REALLY wanted to go, but the 6 spots in my AG for Kona were taken immediately.