Tuesday, September 11, 2012

Ironman Wisconsin Recap

A year ago I had signed up for Ironman Wisconsin.  A few months ago I ended up racing Ironman St. George and was fortunate enough to earn a Kona slot there.  So that left a 5 week turn around between IMWI and Kona...not all that much time. I wasn't sure what I was going to do at IMWI, and said I'd just make a game time decision.  If I felt I neeed to I would pull the plug.  There were a few times where I thought I was going to during the run, but I just kept moving forward.

I'm glad I made the decision to stick it out.  I ended up taking 2nd place in the M30-34 age group and earned a Kona slot for 2013.

Swim - 1:03:34
I've been putting in the time in the water, and I'm glad to see it paying off.  I was comfortable the whole swim, I started off in the first row and really had no contact the whole time.  Kind of crazy!  My siting wasn't the best for the first 300 or so meters as I must have drifted left and ended up inside of the buoy line...so I'm guessing there was a little time lost there, but I'm happy with the swim.  It's my fastest Ironman swim by a little more than 3 minutes.  And 6 minutes faster than IMCDA last year.

T1 - 6:01
It wasn't the fact that I had to run up the infamous helix that sucked...it was carrying my wetsuit up it.  I would have rather run up the darn thing in my wetsuit than having to hold it all the way up there.  Oh well.

Bike - 5:06:29
I never felt super good on the bike.  I felt good climbing and like I was in control.  But I couldn't push power on the flats.  Not sure why.  My second loop was a little slower than my first, so I didn't ride quite right, but it ended up getting the job done.

T2 - 2:13
I was actually pretty slow here, not sure what was going on, my head wasn't where it needed to be. My fault, I need to be more prepared.

Run - 3:22:37
A year ago I would have been super pumped with this run, and it's not that I'm disappointed, but I think I can run better.  I stayed in control during the first loop and was trying to save for later.  Later came and I started to slow down (which is to be expected I suppose).  I was in 2nd place in the age group at the time and knew 3rd and 4th were closing.  I decided to let them catch me, pass me, and that then I'd keep them close hoping for an extra kick in the late miles...definitely a risk, but something I was willing to do.  It was an aid station at about mile 23 when we (3rd place and me in 4th) brought back the 2nd place guy.  They both went for water so I decided that I needed to make my move then.  I went for it, and luckily the move stuck.  I stayed on the gas until mile 25 and then just backed off a little to make sure I didn't cramp or do something stupid.

Overall - 9:40:54

This was the only time I can remember where I had the entire finishers shoot to myself. So I enjoyed it!  I high fived the crowd, saw my family and fully took in my 7th Ironman finish...and my second fastest.

I'll get a true thank you post written in the next couple of days, but I have to send a quick thanks to everyone that came to support me.  It really does mean the world to have such an incredible support team!!  I know that the day is far more difficult for you than it is for me.  My day is truly brainless, and I am in control, you all have to think about where to move, worry about whether I'm going to drown (mainly you Mom), and at the end of the day I know its much more taxing on you than it is on me.

So Brit, Mom, Katie, Aunt Nancy, Aunt Lou, Mrs. Swantek, Mr. Swantek, Joseph, Lisa, Becky THANK YOU!  I really can't express how important it is to have you out there with me.

Congrats to everyone who raced on Sunday!!

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