I left Houston around noon on Thursday and picked up my mom (aka my driver) in Beaumont. We stayed just past Mobile that night and then drove into Panama City around noon on Friday. I had planned to do a test swim since I was using a borrowed wetsuit (thanks Jill Gellatly!), but then did not see anyone else swimming and was not about to do it by myself. I decided to go lie on the beach for a while and as soon as I got down there I saw all sorts of people swimming and decided I should probably do the same. I went back to the room and changed and brought the wetsuit down. It was very windy and rough by the afternoon and I was left slightly traumatized after floundering around in the breakers for a while. I called my practice done after about ten real strokes, lots of floating and riding the waves around. The pasta dinner was not that great, but when is it ever? It was nice to sit with the other athletes and meet people. We sat with four guys from Carrolton, GA and it was the first triathlon for three of them. They were hilarious and made me feel a little better about my race preparation due to their lack of. Later on I checked my bike in and felt ready to go. I realized I had forgot the rubber bands for my aerobottle so looked extra girly with my pink and blue hair bands holding it on next to my hot pink handlebar tape. My motto has always been that if you aren’t going to be fast, at least look good while doing it!
I woke up at 5:30 and ate my slim fast, PB&J and banana and then headed out to the transition area. I was wave #5 out of 14 and started at 6:35. The ocean was a little calmer than it was the afternoon before – thank goodness. They had a loud cannon to start every wave and I jumped the four times I heard it before my wave, and then again at my wave.
Swim: 44:23 The swim was just weird…and more difficult than planned. I never really tired, just was really ready for it to be over. It was 950 yards straight out, turn right, 200 yards, then turn right again and head to shore. The first 950 were ok, I tried to relax and tell myself how great the water felt and that I was lucky to be able to participate in such a thing. Then I made the turn…I felt like my 4 yr old niece Kate who sure gives it her all when swimming, but never makes much forward motion. Those 200 yards seemed to take forever. At that point the thought crossed my mind “this is all Jill’s fault.” (She and my cousin Stephanie are the two crazy people that talked me into my first race in 2003). Then once I turned again I could not see a thing because the sun had made its way into my eyes. I probably lost a good five minutes by repeatedly trying to figure out where I was. Anyways, it finally ended but I was not able to catch a wave on the way in (I had dreams of bodysurfing to the beach). The swim time included a run up the beach and through showers (kind of like a car wash).
T1: 4:01 Nothing eventful happened here – except that I had to put my socks on very dirty feet and that bothered me a bit.
Bike: 3:31:32 I was excited to get on the bike because it meant I was no longer in the washing machine. The bike was pretty uneventful as well. At ten miles, the first aid station, I was so excited I refilled the water in my aerobottle on the fly. I really wanted style points for doing it without wrecking. The people at the hand-ups would start running before you got to them so you did not have to slow down too much and I told each of them not to worry, that I was slow and there was no need to run for me. They had yellow Gatorade endurance on the bike which I do not really want any more of for a while. I tried to drink a good bit of one bottle every ten miles. I like the men that passed me with encouraging words like “looking good,” “keep it up sweetie,” etc. I wonder if they were single? I guess they liked the view from the back…that or I looked like I needed the positive words because I was going no where compared to their 20+ miles an hour. A little bit later I came around a bit of a corner to see the “bridge” they were talking about. Um…it was the Intercoastal Canal…not just a bump in the road. I felt good going over it though, and was thankful for the Central Texas hills I had encountered on the MS150. The road after the bridge was pretty bad – very bumpy. I got a nice aeroshower on a regular basis, but it kept things interesting. I also had Queen’s Bicycle Song in my head the ENTIRE 56 miles…and just the main two lines. I stopped at the turn around at 31 miles to go to the bathroom and regroup. I ate my PB&J after I left the stop and it was great (it was an Uncrustable – the kind you keep in the freezer and are already made…genius idea). I stopped again at 40 and then was ready to go. I was getting excited about the prospect of only about an hour left, but it seemed to last forever. I was pleased to see that my legs weren’t that tired when I tackled the bridge on the way back. The wind got a little stiff in the last few miles, but not terrible. I swear the last seven miles seemed to take FOREVER though. It was all along the beach front road, and one would not think Panama City is even that long, but it is. To prepare myself for the run I started to tell myself how great my butt would feel once I got it off my impossibly small seat.
T2: 3:25 Took another pit stop in the transition area and was ready to go. I almost ran into the fence on my way out playing with my Garmin.
Run: 2:55:20 I had had a decent bike time, so I just wanted to keep moving, but knew I would not be running the whole way. I met a lady, Debbie, just after a mile and we ran (…and walked) together the entire time. I was happy though that I was able to continue some pattern or running and walking the entire time and never felt like giving up or letting the race get the best of me. She was a life saver – I am quite the social runner and do not do well by myself. They had great aid stations every mile with sponges and ice and anything else you could need. We started to pass a few of the overzealous men along the way and I found small satisfaction in that. I had a plastic container with all sorts of meds in it in case I needed anything. At one point I offered some ibuprofen to a passer-by and she said she would really appreciate it. Somehow I spilled the entire container and pills went everywhere in the street. There were four of us scrounging for them as if our life depended on it. I got a good laugh from it. We were saying “I found a Motrin over here.” “I have an Aleve over here.” “Oh, two Tylenol over here.” The time seemed to pass pretty well and I felt decent most of the way. Things started to hurt a bit by 9 or 10, but I knew I was close enough that it would be ok. At 12.9 (according to my Garmin) I picked up the pace quite a bit, thinking I could handle it for two minutes. My Garmin prediction was a bit off and it ended up being closer to .4 or .5 miles. I almost died tying to look cool and refusing to slow down before the finish. Looking back at my times my pace was under 9:00/mile at the end which is super fast for me.
Total: 7:18:38 I finished and saw my mom for the first time (since before the swim) right before I crossed the line. Apparently she had missed me every other time I had come through – oops! The medical people worried about me because I was having problems breathing, but I told them I would be fine, I just do not usually run at any speed for any length of time. After a few minutes I was back to normal. Debbie came in right behind me and we congratulated and thanked each other and then took a few pictures together.
I did not feel that bad afterwards – wanted to get rid of my shoes and eat a bit, but the pizza was gone and I did not stick around waiting for more. All in all I would say it was an easier day for me than a marathon, yet I was very pleased with my time. I had estimated anywhere between 7 and 7.5 hours. I was not wondering the whole time “how in the world am I going to double this distance?” which is great going into my first Ironman next April. I was a bit disappointed later in the evening when I found out I was next to last in my age group, but felt a little better when I realized I beat four men in the M25-29 age group. I am slow and I know it, not a lot I can do about it. I had a great time and cannot let other people worry me too much. I was as sore as a marathon in the days following, which surprised me. Sitting in a car ten hours the next day probably did not help much. The race was a wonderful experience and I am so thankful that I get to and am able to do these sorts of things. I hope I have as many positive things to say about my first Ironman. I have a good eleven months of training to do before then though.
I woke up at 5:30 and ate my slim fast, PB&J and banana and then headed out to the transition area. I was wave #5 out of 14 and started at 6:35. The ocean was a little calmer than it was the afternoon before – thank goodness. They had a loud cannon to start every wave and I jumped the four times I heard it before my wave, and then again at my wave.
Swim: 44:23 The swim was just weird…and more difficult than planned. I never really tired, just was really ready for it to be over. It was 950 yards straight out, turn right, 200 yards, then turn right again and head to shore. The first 950 were ok, I tried to relax and tell myself how great the water felt and that I was lucky to be able to participate in such a thing. Then I made the turn…I felt like my 4 yr old niece Kate who sure gives it her all when swimming, but never makes much forward motion. Those 200 yards seemed to take forever. At that point the thought crossed my mind “this is all Jill’s fault.” (She and my cousin Stephanie are the two crazy people that talked me into my first race in 2003). Then once I turned again I could not see a thing because the sun had made its way into my eyes. I probably lost a good five minutes by repeatedly trying to figure out where I was. Anyways, it finally ended but I was not able to catch a wave on the way in (I had dreams of bodysurfing to the beach). The swim time included a run up the beach and through showers (kind of like a car wash).
T1: 4:01 Nothing eventful happened here – except that I had to put my socks on very dirty feet and that bothered me a bit.
Bike: 3:31:32 I was excited to get on the bike because it meant I was no longer in the washing machine. The bike was pretty uneventful as well. At ten miles, the first aid station, I was so excited I refilled the water in my aerobottle on the fly. I really wanted style points for doing it without wrecking. The people at the hand-ups would start running before you got to them so you did not have to slow down too much and I told each of them not to worry, that I was slow and there was no need to run for me. They had yellow Gatorade endurance on the bike which I do not really want any more of for a while. I tried to drink a good bit of one bottle every ten miles. I like the men that passed me with encouraging words like “looking good,” “keep it up sweetie,” etc. I wonder if they were single? I guess they liked the view from the back…that or I looked like I needed the positive words because I was going no where compared to their 20+ miles an hour. A little bit later I came around a bit of a corner to see the “bridge” they were talking about. Um…it was the Intercoastal Canal…not just a bump in the road. I felt good going over it though, and was thankful for the Central Texas hills I had encountered on the MS150. The road after the bridge was pretty bad – very bumpy. I got a nice aeroshower on a regular basis, but it kept things interesting. I also had Queen’s Bicycle Song in my head the ENTIRE 56 miles…and just the main two lines. I stopped at the turn around at 31 miles to go to the bathroom and regroup. I ate my PB&J after I left the stop and it was great (it was an Uncrustable – the kind you keep in the freezer and are already made…genius idea). I stopped again at 40 and then was ready to go. I was getting excited about the prospect of only about an hour left, but it seemed to last forever. I was pleased to see that my legs weren’t that tired when I tackled the bridge on the way back. The wind got a little stiff in the last few miles, but not terrible. I swear the last seven miles seemed to take FOREVER though. It was all along the beach front road, and one would not think Panama City is even that long, but it is. To prepare myself for the run I started to tell myself how great my butt would feel once I got it off my impossibly small seat.
T2: 3:25 Took another pit stop in the transition area and was ready to go. I almost ran into the fence on my way out playing with my Garmin.
Run: 2:55:20 I had had a decent bike time, so I just wanted to keep moving, but knew I would not be running the whole way. I met a lady, Debbie, just after a mile and we ran (…and walked) together the entire time. I was happy though that I was able to continue some pattern or running and walking the entire time and never felt like giving up or letting the race get the best of me. She was a life saver – I am quite the social runner and do not do well by myself. They had great aid stations every mile with sponges and ice and anything else you could need. We started to pass a few of the overzealous men along the way and I found small satisfaction in that. I had a plastic container with all sorts of meds in it in case I needed anything. At one point I offered some ibuprofen to a passer-by and she said she would really appreciate it. Somehow I spilled the entire container and pills went everywhere in the street. There were four of us scrounging for them as if our life depended on it. I got a good laugh from it. We were saying “I found a Motrin over here.” “I have an Aleve over here.” “Oh, two Tylenol over here.” The time seemed to pass pretty well and I felt decent most of the way. Things started to hurt a bit by 9 or 10, but I knew I was close enough that it would be ok. At 12.9 (according to my Garmin) I picked up the pace quite a bit, thinking I could handle it for two minutes. My Garmin prediction was a bit off and it ended up being closer to .4 or .5 miles. I almost died tying to look cool and refusing to slow down before the finish. Looking back at my times my pace was under 9:00/mile at the end which is super fast for me.
Total: 7:18:38 I finished and saw my mom for the first time (since before the swim) right before I crossed the line. Apparently she had missed me every other time I had come through – oops! The medical people worried about me because I was having problems breathing, but I told them I would be fine, I just do not usually run at any speed for any length of time. After a few minutes I was back to normal. Debbie came in right behind me and we congratulated and thanked each other and then took a few pictures together.
I did not feel that bad afterwards – wanted to get rid of my shoes and eat a bit, but the pizza was gone and I did not stick around waiting for more. All in all I would say it was an easier day for me than a marathon, yet I was very pleased with my time. I had estimated anywhere between 7 and 7.5 hours. I was not wondering the whole time “how in the world am I going to double this distance?” which is great going into my first Ironman next April. I was a bit disappointed later in the evening when I found out I was next to last in my age group, but felt a little better when I realized I beat four men in the M25-29 age group. I am slow and I know it, not a lot I can do about it. I had a great time and cannot let other people worry me too much. I was as sore as a marathon in the days following, which surprised me. Sitting in a car ten hours the next day probably did not help much. The race was a wonderful experience and I am so thankful that I get to and am able to do these sorts of things. I hope I have as many positive things to say about my first Ironman. I have a good eleven months of training to do before then though.
Comments