New Orleans 70.3 Race Report
I registered for this race in February, 2008... almost as soon as registration opened. I was 8 months pregnant at the time and thought it would be a great way to celebrate the baby's birthday and visit with family, plus I would be able to train with a goal and try to lose the baby weight. Well, I still have about 15 lbs of baby weight to lose and training proved more of a challenge than I originally anticipated however - I finished! Little did I know that it would become the largest 70.3 in the world with 3000 registered entrants. Holy Cow!
Race morning started just as any other race morning. I woke about 3 AM and got right into routine of bodyglide, dress, contacts, last minute packing, etc. J asked if he should wear jeans or shorts... I quickly put an end to that nonsense with the simple response "Husband, you are not my concern right now". He wore shorts. I mixed up my carbpro drinks that Sandy had given me a week earlier in Austin and pulled my uncrustables out of the freezer. J and I were on the road by 4:30 so I would have plenty of time to set up my transition and get on a shuttle to race start. I made it onto the last shuttle to the start line, and ate my uncrustable pb&j. Hit the port o potty line and put on my wetsuit while I waited. Finally finished with the port o potty, I headed toward the start corral, to see that my age group was on deck! So I quickly zipped up my wetsuit and put on my goggles & pearl pink swim cap.
Before I knew it, we were off. There was no warm up opportunity so I used the first 20 minutes of the 1.2 mile swim for that very purpose. I had learned the hard way that jumping right in to a cold water wetsuit swim is not the best strategy for me... So, I took my time and side stroked until I caught my breath and felt comfortable. Finally I started swimming. After what seemed like an eternity I passed the half way mark. I just wanted to finish the swim in under an hour. Already I had a personal victory because I didn't hyperventilate in the wetsuit. I felt my right arm chafing and knew that would hurt later, so I tried to minimize the rubbing with a slight technique change. I sighted off the seawall, and sometimes the buoys, occasionally I followed a fellow swimmer, and finally I noticed everyone was crowding the seawall... we were turning in to the finish. I gave a yelp of glee and swam in. Took my time getting to transition, let the wetsuit stripper strip me, and got ready to ride the 56 mile bike course. (Swim time: 57 minutes)
T1 was uneventful. I put on my race belt since we had to wear our numbers on the bike, and applied extra bodyglide to my poor chafed arms. Both were stinging like the dickens. I walked my bike out of T1 , hopped on and started pedaling. I was shooting for 17 MPH average, and kept note of my mile times as each elapsed. The first half felt good. I wasn't hammering the course, and still kept my average right about a 3:15/3:30 minute mile. My legs felt awesome and my body relaxed. I stopped at mile 18 to pee, and apply more chamois butter to various areas including my triceps which were screaming from the swim chafe. I cursed a lot. Finally I grabbed a new water bottle and got back on the course. At the halfway point I had been riding for about 95 minutes, which was right where I wanted to be. Then the headwind hit. It's not quite a headwind like what we experienced on the Rosedale ride the week before, but still, it was enough to impede my progress. So I took advantage of the fast spots with a few sub 3 minute miles, and maintained my pace where I could. The last 10 miles were torture. I struggled to maintain 15 mph and often didn't. My neck was sore (but my back felt great thanks to the bike-fit session). My legs still felt strong and I resisted the urge to hammer to the end. I had fantasies about tossing my bike into the lake and lying on the grass. Eventually, we were back on Lakeshore drive and the end was near. I rejoiced to turn into transition a mile sooner than I expected and carefully got off my bike. (bike time: 3:27:16 ... 16.25 mph average)
Again, I took my time in T2. Usually transitions are my strongest area of the race but today was not that day. I guided my bike back to its rack position, cursing again because my arms hurt so bad from the wetsuit chafe. I put on more bodyglide trying to help the pain, switched into my running shoes, grabbed my visor, and headed to the run start. As I walked I considered dropping from the race because I had no idea how I would manage 13 miles with my arms hurting the way they did. I have to move my arms when I run and this seemed an impossible task. Thankfully I met another girl who had the same problem and we pushed each other through. We started 2/1 run/walk intervals and picked up another new buddy on the way. I was glad my legs weren't toasted from the bike and I just kept on going. At mile 5 I walked a bit extra and let my new buddies go on ahead. I caught them later. I kept with my intervals and marveled at my developing sunburn. Talked to those around me, thanked volunteers, and somehow missed mile 8 so mile 9 was an awesome surprise. I knew I would finish under 8 hours and I took my time as a result, simply ensuring that I was moving faster than 4 MPH. Any hope for a PR was lost on the bike and I had a day of flying with my 1 year old the next morning so I wanted to be able to function. The rest of the race was quite uneventful. My legs didn't cramp, I took some endurolytes halfway through, had my gel every 3 miles and alternated gatorade/water at the aid stations. I decided to run the last half mile, and as I turned the last corner with 400 yards to go I saw my Mom, Eduardo, J and baby. That kept me going! I pulled into the finish chute 10 minutes ahead of my 3:30 PM goal. (Run time: 3:06)
Official finish time: 7:41:20. Not my best at this distance, not my worst.
I met up with the family and sat for a bit to rest my legs. I was burnt to an absolute crisp and knew that it was stupid to not apply sunscreen after the swim. J and I walked over to Pat O'Briens for my hurricane - and one was all I needed. Then we went to the car and drove to transition to collect my bike & supplies. Later that night I sent him to the store to buy me some aloe.
I'm happy to report that the flights the next day were fine. I have very little muscle soreness (should I have worked harder?). The chafed triceps... scabbed over nicely but still a little tender. My biggest issue continues to be the sunburn.
I can totally recommend this race. Well organized... not quite enough port o potties, AWESOME course support.
Race morning started just as any other race morning. I woke about 3 AM and got right into routine of bodyglide, dress, contacts, last minute packing, etc. J asked if he should wear jeans or shorts... I quickly put an end to that nonsense with the simple response "Husband, you are not my concern right now". He wore shorts. I mixed up my carbpro drinks that Sandy had given me a week earlier in Austin and pulled my uncrustables out of the freezer. J and I were on the road by 4:30 so I would have plenty of time to set up my transition and get on a shuttle to race start. I made it onto the last shuttle to the start line, and ate my uncrustable pb&j. Hit the port o potty line and put on my wetsuit while I waited. Finally finished with the port o potty, I headed toward the start corral, to see that my age group was on deck! So I quickly zipped up my wetsuit and put on my goggles & pearl pink swim cap.
Before I knew it, we were off. There was no warm up opportunity so I used the first 20 minutes of the 1.2 mile swim for that very purpose. I had learned the hard way that jumping right in to a cold water wetsuit swim is not the best strategy for me... So, I took my time and side stroked until I caught my breath and felt comfortable. Finally I started swimming. After what seemed like an eternity I passed the half way mark. I just wanted to finish the swim in under an hour. Already I had a personal victory because I didn't hyperventilate in the wetsuit. I felt my right arm chafing and knew that would hurt later, so I tried to minimize the rubbing with a slight technique change. I sighted off the seawall, and sometimes the buoys, occasionally I followed a fellow swimmer, and finally I noticed everyone was crowding the seawall... we were turning in to the finish. I gave a yelp of glee and swam in. Took my time getting to transition, let the wetsuit stripper strip me, and got ready to ride the 56 mile bike course. (Swim time: 57 minutes)
T1 was uneventful. I put on my race belt since we had to wear our numbers on the bike, and applied extra bodyglide to my poor chafed arms. Both were stinging like the dickens. I walked my bike out of T1 , hopped on and started pedaling. I was shooting for 17 MPH average, and kept note of my mile times as each elapsed. The first half felt good. I wasn't hammering the course, and still kept my average right about a 3:15/3:30 minute mile. My legs felt awesome and my body relaxed. I stopped at mile 18 to pee, and apply more chamois butter to various areas including my triceps which were screaming from the swim chafe. I cursed a lot. Finally I grabbed a new water bottle and got back on the course. At the halfway point I had been riding for about 95 minutes, which was right where I wanted to be. Then the headwind hit. It's not quite a headwind like what we experienced on the Rosedale ride the week before, but still, it was enough to impede my progress. So I took advantage of the fast spots with a few sub 3 minute miles, and maintained my pace where I could. The last 10 miles were torture. I struggled to maintain 15 mph and often didn't. My neck was sore (but my back felt great thanks to the bike-fit session). My legs still felt strong and I resisted the urge to hammer to the end. I had fantasies about tossing my bike into the lake and lying on the grass. Eventually, we were back on Lakeshore drive and the end was near. I rejoiced to turn into transition a mile sooner than I expected and carefully got off my bike. (bike time: 3:27:16 ... 16.25 mph average)
Again, I took my time in T2. Usually transitions are my strongest area of the race but today was not that day. I guided my bike back to its rack position, cursing again because my arms hurt so bad from the wetsuit chafe. I put on more bodyglide trying to help the pain, switched into my running shoes, grabbed my visor, and headed to the run start. As I walked I considered dropping from the race because I had no idea how I would manage 13 miles with my arms hurting the way they did. I have to move my arms when I run and this seemed an impossible task. Thankfully I met another girl who had the same problem and we pushed each other through. We started 2/1 run/walk intervals and picked up another new buddy on the way. I was glad my legs weren't toasted from the bike and I just kept on going. At mile 5 I walked a bit extra and let my new buddies go on ahead. I caught them later. I kept with my intervals and marveled at my developing sunburn. Talked to those around me, thanked volunteers, and somehow missed mile 8 so mile 9 was an awesome surprise. I knew I would finish under 8 hours and I took my time as a result, simply ensuring that I was moving faster than 4 MPH. Any hope for a PR was lost on the bike and I had a day of flying with my 1 year old the next morning so I wanted to be able to function. The rest of the race was quite uneventful. My legs didn't cramp, I took some endurolytes halfway through, had my gel every 3 miles and alternated gatorade/water at the aid stations. I decided to run the last half mile, and as I turned the last corner with 400 yards to go I saw my Mom, Eduardo, J and baby. That kept me going! I pulled into the finish chute 10 minutes ahead of my 3:30 PM goal. (Run time: 3:06)
Official finish time: 7:41:20. Not my best at this distance, not my worst.
I met up with the family and sat for a bit to rest my legs. I was burnt to an absolute crisp and knew that it was stupid to not apply sunscreen after the swim. J and I walked over to Pat O'Briens for my hurricane - and one was all I needed. Then we went to the car and drove to transition to collect my bike & supplies. Later that night I sent him to the store to buy me some aloe.
I'm happy to report that the flights the next day were fine. I have very little muscle soreness (should I have worked harder?). The chafed triceps... scabbed over nicely but still a little tender. My biggest issue continues to be the sunburn.
I can totally recommend this race. Well organized... not quite enough port o potties, AWESOME course support.
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