Seattle Triathlon
posted by
Jenny
09/30/2012
IRONMAN Canada - Race Report
Seattle Triathlon
Team
What an experience!!! Looking back at the entire journey of training and racing Ironman Canada I feel so fortunate that I was able to complete this adventure. Below is my race day experience. It is a long one so grab a drink and snack and enjoy!
Leading up to the race I had so many great training days, and so many great friends and family that supported me. My biggest supporter was my husband, but a close second were all my training partners that continually swam, biked, ran or did yoga with me. Training wasn’t always pretty and I don’t mind admitting that I had some brutal workouts that tested me mentally and three that brought me to tears. Each time I was able to bounce back from a tough workout I felt so proud of myself and stronger then I had realized. Big shout out to all my training partners – THANK YOU!
Pre-race: We arrived in Penticton on Wednesday evening. Did our packet pick up Thursday and walked the village. The rest of the week we just hung out with friends and did a couple mellow workouts. The lake was crystal clear. The sun was shinning. I felt ready for the big day.
Sunday morning at 4am the alarm went off. Breakfast was a struggle – no one every gets used to eating that early. I had a protein shake, banana, some dark chocolate and cereal. My stomach was starting to get butterflies and at that point I realized what a huge day I had ahead of me.
Transition was crazy and my husband and I were barely able to find each other before the swim start, which added to my nerves. We made our way down to the water together, got warmed up and kissed before the gun went off. We positioned ourselves about 3 people from the front right on the buoy line. I had this fairytale idea that my husband and I would be able to stay together for the swim like we did in our half ironman. That didn’t happen. The swim start was absolutely crazy. I got kicked in the right goggle within a minute, then the right cheekbone and left chin. People were mean! I finally moved myself to the inside of the buoy line and things settled down. I got to see the scuba divers at the turn buoy and got kicked in the nose. The way back to the beach was smooth, I kept the tall hotels in sight and I swam inside the buoy line again. When I got to the beach I felt amazing. I looked up at the clock and it said 1.03 and felt like jumping up and down. Then as icing to the cake my super fans Shannon and Ethan were right in front of me as volunteer wet suit strippers. They helped me with my wetsuit, gave me huge hugs and a good luck. I felt like I was on cloud nine.
In transition one I had the support of the great volunteers. I was handed my bag and directed to the change tent. Once I got into the change tent I was given a volunteer (Lauren) who helped me with my bag. Lauren was amazing, dumped all my stuff out and handed me things as I needed them. When Lauren asked me if I needed my tampon I got to laugh… thankfully no. Then she held up the chamious butter and asked “what’s this? Do you need it?” I was able to smile more and laugh and say “Yes, that’s for my vagina.” This made us both laugh! I also got to use my Ironman towel my mom made - it was like she was right there hugging me! Thanks mom!
The bike ride was amazing! Riding out of transition and down main street was unbelievable and I felt like I had a perma smile. Now I know why Chrissie Wellington always has such a big smile on her face while biking – what a high! The first 40 miles were pretty flat and I concentrated on fueling and hydrating. Richter Pass came up fast but it was lined with people and I felt supported. I met a nice guy (Ari) and we chit chatted for a bit. Steven and Sarah both caught me before the out and back portion and they looked so strong! I felt a little off on the out and back and was dealing with some cramping and stomach issues. I got my special needs bag and another wonderful volunteer helped me. The peanut M&M’s were amazing and after some water I started to feel better. Yellow lake was the last major climb and it was brutal. My legs were on fire, I was physically and mentally worn out by this point. The volunteers and fans were lined up the pass and cheering for each rider. This made the climb more bearable, and I got my second wind. I got a personal cheer “GO GIRL” from Shannon and Ethan (my super fans) just before I headed back into town. Heading down main street was crazy and I couldn’t believe how quickly 6hrs and 32 minutes had flown by.
Transition 2 was awesome. I got to hand my bike off to a cheerful guy (Mike), and then I got another wonderful volunteer (Donna) in the change tent. All the volunteers were smiling, and they made me feel incredibly supported.
When I hit the run course I got to see Marne and Kirk (super fans) along the lake. They shouted that I looked good, which made me feel keep running … I really wanted to walk. I ran the first 2 miles, then had to take a walk break. I walked for an entire mile… then pulled myself together and ran again till 10 miles (although I walked all the aid stations). Here’s a little TMI – At mile 4 I accidently peed myself and from there it all went downhill and I didn’t have much control over my bladder. But the positive side of peeing myself throughout the race was that I knew I was well hydrated. At mile 10 the large hills hit me, and I slowed to a walk. I got to the turn around and didn’t want anything in my special needs. I barely made it out of the turn around and I threw up (13.58 miles). I felt better after throwing up, but I continued to walk but I picked up my pace. Ethan found me on his scooter and looped around numerous times to support me. My favorite moment was when he yelled “Jenny Klovdahl will be an ironman today!” I felt so loved, and I tried to speed up my walking pace. When I hit main street I was still walking but grinning ear to ear. All I could think about was that I was so close to accomplishing my goal. I started to run at 1.5miles to go and I felt strong. The volunteers were cheering and I started to tear up. I was going to be an ironman… I had made it… I was going to finish the journey with a smile on my face.
As I came down lakeside (last .5 miles) I was feeling great and I was on a huge high. I could see the large spotlights at the finish line and hear the crowd. I wiped away my tears and put my hands in the air as I entered the finish line shoot. The crowd was screaming, the announcer was calling names and I was steps away from the finish line. I had my hands above my head and the largest smile across my face as I crossed the finish line in 13 hours, 36 minutes and 40 seconds. I WAS AN IRONMAN!! AN IRONMAN! I had done it! Marne and Kirk caught me, and my husband was there waiting with a big bug. I ran into all of their arms and was greeted with so much love!
It has now been a month since the race and everyday I think about the race and the fantastic journey. I am so thankful that I was able to accomplish my goal and also enjoy the experience of becoming an ironman. Coming off the high of ironman has been hard, especially since I wanted to have a stronger run during the race. The itch of not having a perfect race has gnawed at me …. Maybe if the itch gets too annoying I will sign up for another ironman race… maybe 2014?!?!
Pictures:
Ironman Pictures
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Quick Tip
Join a group, stay motivated.
We’re all in this fitness thing together. One surefire way to stay motivated is to work out with a friend or join a group, like a local team LUNA Chix, that meets to run, cycle, swim, whatever. Not only is more fun to exercise with some pals, it also gives you a sense of obligation to get your butt out the door on even the nastiest days.
Drinking while cycling.
When you’re on the bike, 12 ounces of water every half hour is a good rule of thumb, so make sure your bike has room for a couple of bottles. For longer rides where you’re not planning to stop (woo hoo!) you’ll want to kick your gear investment up a notch with a large hydration pack.
For long races, change is not good.
For an endurance race like a triathlon, fueling well is essential, but DON’T eat or drink anything during the race that you haven’t already practiced with during your training. Think of long training sessions as “race simulations” for your fuel plan on the big day. This will help you avoid indigestion and “potty issues”.
Triathlon fashion tips.
While having a lot of clothing options is great for a weekend in Vegas, in a triathlon you really want to shoot for something you can wear throughout the race to make transitions as easy as possible. Tops and shorts specifically designed for triathlons are a great choice—they’re made to go into the water, on the bike, etc.
To clip, or not to clip…
Clip in pedals are a better choice for power efficiency, but they can be a bit intimidating for newbies. Go with flat if you are really uncomfortable, you can always switch to a clip in pedal later. If you do get clips, it should only take a few rides to master how to quickly twist your foot out.
Turbo charge your run.
If you always practice at the same pace, you’ll always run at the same pace. You need to do intervals if you want to get faster. Start with 30 seconds hard every five minutes and work your way up to five minutes hard and five minutes easy. Play AC/DC, Jack Johnson, AC/DC, Jack Johnson…
Running requires patience.
If you are really new and running doesn’t come naturally to you (and really, it doesn’t come naturally for most of us!) start with a combination of running and walking. Run for four minutes, walk for one. Keep repeating this until you get to 30 minutes and then add in longer phases of running the next time you work out.
Building endurance for a triathlon.
If you are ready to try a tri, each week of training you’ll want to do one longer workout in each sport, to build up your endurance.
Be kind to your knees.
Running on dirt trails provides the best cushion. Concrete is the worst because there’s no shock absorption. Asphalt is somewhere in the middle. Choose wisely if you have problems with your knees.
Running cadence.
85-90 leg strikes per minute (count on one leg) is what you want to aim for to work on improving your running speed and time.
Be a stronger swimmer.
To improve your swim performance, practice rotating from the hips, and dragging your fingertips on the recovery. Use a kickboard to focus on strengthening your leg. A pull buoy and paddles can help you work on your arms.
Land with your foot flat.
If you land on your heel when you run, you’ll put a lot of strain on your knees. Landing on your toes strains your calves. Land with your foot flat, and more importantly, land it under your body for good momentum and shock absorption.
Let’s get this (cycling) party started!
Looking for a group to ride with? If there’s local LUNA Chix team in your area, you’ve already found a great way to connect with other women who ride. You can also find out about groups at your local bike shop, in cycling magazines, or just ask other cyclists—they usually know.
Glide out of your wet suit.
Wet suits can leave nasty hickey burns on your neck, and really, who wants to explain that? Before a long swim, lather your neck and ankles with Body Glide and you’ll be much more comfortable while swimming and get your suit off with ease. Plus, you won’t have to show up at work the next day looking like you’ve been mauled by a vampire.
Sign up.
Another great way to stay motivated? Enter an event. Whether it’s a charity ride for a cause you really care about or a competitive race, having a goal to work towards can really give you that extra push to pull on your workout gear and go.
Riding with turtles and hares.
Whether fast or slow, ride with people you know! It’s more fun that way. Fast friends will push you a bit more, which is great if you’re prepping for a race, and you can draft off them on big climbs. If you’re the quick one, get out in front and give your less experienced friends a break!
Wait!
Have you checked your tire pressure and brakes? Did you give your bike the once over to make sure nothing’s cracked or otherwise out of whack? OK, now you can go.
Chasing those elusive zzzz’s.
Hard-core trainers will tell you that 8-10 hours of sleep a night, plus a daily nap, is optimal while training for a big race. Back in the real world, those of us with busy jobs or little kids can only dream about this much. Shoot for as many hours as you can and stick with a consistent schedule—quality rest will help your muscles repair and protect your immune system.
If your knees are sore after a ride…
It could be that your saddle is too low. Try putting your saddle at a height where your knee is soft, but not locked at 6 o’clock.
Cycling time, optimized.
If you have an hour or less and want a good cycling workout, crank it, sister! You can go high intensity by hitting steep hills hard or by going out with a riding group that challenges you speed-wise and hanging on as long as you can. If you’re feeling really feisty, get out in front and “take pulls” every chance you get. Just don’t forget to warm up for 15 minutes first.
Keep those hands where they belong.
On your bike’s handlebars. Road cyclists don’t use hand signals much, aside from pointing out hazards like potholes or rocks. It’s also polite to indicate a turnoff. Otherwise, give a yell if a car is coming or if there’s a need for a quick stop.
Let your bike do the work.
When riding off road, your bike should be moving more than your body. And unlike road cycling, you’ll need to use your upper body as much as your legs to absorb those bumps. And don’t forget to look ahead… that way your body will have a chance to anticipate changes in the terrain, like that tree.
Recovery rocks!
Tired muscles need a little TLC. Massage is great as a recovery aid, and working out extra hard is the perfect excuse to indulge. Yoga is also wonderful for increasing flexibility and focus. Distance runners can benefit from 8-10 minutes in an ice bath. If you are brave enough to take the plunge, have a tall Starbucks on hand.
Say no to saddle sores.
Think only cowboys get saddle sores? Nope, they’re also a problem for cyclists. Finding the right bike saddle can help, but if you ride long enough, you’re occasionally going to end up with a sore butt. A good chamois cream can help soothe those sores, but many bikers swear by a cow utter cream called Bag Balm. Who cares as long as it works!
Getting drafty.
Cyclists are drafting when they line up behind one another to conserve energy. The rider in front breaks the headwind, those behind get a break. Mastering this move can be tricky: the closer you ride to the person in front, the better the draft, but you also risk a pile-up! While learning, stay at least three feet away from the tire ahead.
Building tri strength with “bricks”.
A “brick” is a workout where one activity is directly followed by another (a bike ride + run, for example.) Training this way 1-2 times a week is a great way to gear up for a triathlon.
New to the dirt?
Go out on easy unpaved roads or wide fire trails with a more experienced friend who can show you the ropes. Relax your arms and legs, and let the bike do the rest. And remember, there’s no shame in getting off and walking for a stretch if the terrain gets hairy.
Dust off that road bike.
Been a few years since you’ve cycled on the road? Before snapping on your helmet, take your bike to a local shop for a safety tune up. At minimum, have them check tire pressure, brakes, the chainring and gear shifts to make sure everything works and that all connections are snug. Now you can feel the wind on your face without worrying about your brakes giving out!
Shape up for cycling.
A hour long ride once or twice a week is just about right for a beginner looking to get her legs (and butt!) in cycling shape. And if you want to enjoy that post-ride high all day, set your alarm and head on out there when the sun is coming up.
Climbing with conviction.
Positioning yourself for a big climb can be tricky. Common mistakes are leaning too far forward, putting too much weight in the hands, and straining your quads. Lean back a bit so you’re centered over the saddle, let your glutes and hamstrings do some of the work, and go easy on those handlebars.
Aching arches in the morning?
Most likely it’s Plantar Fasciitis—an inflammation of the tissue along the bottom of the foot that connects the heel bone to the toes. Caused by increasing your running volume too quickly, bad shoes, or poor foot mechanics, this annoying injury requires some TLC, ASAP. Slow down for a few days, do some stretches and apply ice. And see a doctor if there’s no improvement.
Training for open water.
There’s no black guideline in the ocean. To prepare for an open water swim, practice in the pool with your eyes closed. (No cheating!)
Surviving the inevitable tumble.
If you mountain bike long enough, there will come a time when you will dismount and tumble unexpectedly. The good news is that most crashes happen at low speeds, either when clipping out or on switchbacks. But if you are really moving, let go of the bike, tuck your arms and legs into your chest and try to “roll” with one shoulder in and your back to the ground.
Pain while running means one thing: STOP.
A mild pain can turn into a major injury over the course of a single run, so listen up when your body says “ouch!” Most problems can be alleviated with a few days rest. If you still feel bad after taking a break, it’s time to call the doc.
Time to go shoe shopping.
Running 300-500 miles is the perfect excuse for a new pair of shoes! Once you’ve gone that far, they lose their support, shock absorption and the wear can mess with your foot biomechanics. Might as well throw in those new wedge sandals too—you’ve earned them.
Lycra or baggie shorts?
Well, that depends on whether you are casual girl at heart or like showing off that booty! Some mountain bikers like the non-racey, looser look of baggie shorts off road, but there is one caveat: when you are bouncing around coming downhill, they can get stuck on your seat.
Try a bike ride.
When giving cycling a try, the objective is fun! Borrow a bike, keep it under an hour and don’t let your Lance-obsessed neighbor talk you into some crazy 100-mile loop. Bring a helmet, water and LUNA Bar in case your energy flags. Also important: a portable pump, tube and repair kit for flats that hopefully the more experienced friend you’ve invited along knows how to use.
Cycling chic.
Beyond the obvious helmet, no cycling woman’s wardrobe is complete without a pair of tush-friendly chamois shorts, a lycra jersey, gloves and sunglasses to deflect bugs. Any kind of soft-soled athletic shoe will work for flat pedals, but cleats are a must if you clip in. A light jacket is a great accessory for colder climates, as is a safety light when riding after dark.
Stop that stitch!
While the cause of the always-annoying side stitch is up for debate, deep, full belly breathing can help chase it away. Namaste!
Buying a mountain bike?
Before hitting the shop, ask yourself how you want to ride. If you just want to have some weekend fun in the dirt, a bike with full suspension will ensure maximum comfort off road. A more light-weight cross country bike is best for climbing and racing. And if you like tearing it up in the mud, disc brakes are must!
A bike that fits.
Like your favorite black bra, a bike performs best when it’s fitted specifically for your body type. Many pro shops offer this service, so check in with your favorite local outfit to find someone who can take measurements and help make the proper adjustments to your bike.
Saddle up your bike.
Just like a too-soft mattress can be bad for your back, a too-cushy bike saddle can be bad for your butt. Flat and slightly wide is best, with a women-specific slot up the middle. (Trust us on this one—you’ll be thankful.) It doesn’t hurt to check out what the pros use—they definitely put their tushies to the test!
Tart up your transition towel.
Triathlon transitions can slow you down big time if you’re wandering around like a doof looking for your stuff. Buy the loudest, brightest towel you can find (think 80s neon) and park your gear near an obvious signpost in the transition area. Even if your mind is still rehashing your last leg, you’ll be able to transition quick.
Ah, the simplicity of running gear…
Not much is needed to get up and running. Good shoes are essential, of course, and a running specialty store can help you with the best fit for your foot type. You also might want some socks, shorts and tops that can help wick away sweat to keep you cool. Add one iPod for cool tunes.
Fueling for a ride.
Carbs are what you want—about 30-60 grams of carbs per hour, depending on your weight and pace. This can either be in solid or liquid form (try a LUNA Bar or some Clif Shots) but be sure to eat before you are hungry. Forgetting to fuel means you’ll run out of gas mid-ride and have to call your roommate to come pick you up in her car. Embarrassing.
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