Pumpkinman Triathlon Festival - Half Ironman Race Report 2012
Pumpkinman Triathlon Race Report
September 9, 2012
South Berwyck, Maine
I had been curious about the Pumpkinman Triathlon Festival since 2008 when I had registered for the BBSC Endurance Pumpkin Man Half Iron event in Boulder City, Nevada. When I’d search “Pumpkinman”, the Maine event would show up in the results --- so I had to check it out. I never got to race the Boulder City event, as my father passed away a week before the race and I cancelled my trip. It would have been interesting to compare the two.
2012 has been an interesting season for me. I registered for my two “big races” of the year while I was still pregnant in 2011: MusselMan Half Ironman and the Wineglass Marathon. A short time before MusselMan, I received an email that TimberMan 70.3 (in Gilford, NH) hadn’t sold out and there was a push for entries. I considered the race. Then I discovered that Pumpkinman wasn’t sold out yet either. Both races are renowned for their atmosphere, ranking among the top in the country. The questions were: visit NH or Maine? Pay more or less? Financially, it was a no brainer – I could race BOTH Pumpkinman events for the price of ONE Timberman race (the cost largely because it's an Ironman branded event and, quite frankly, local non-IM events have a better atmosphere and swag). Geographically, we had already visited Gilford on our annual weekend trip to stay with close family friends at their summer cottage. We hadn’t been to Maine in a couple of years and, once I found out that dear friends in the Portland area would be in town, the decision was made. It was a calculated risk, doing a long course triathlon 3 weeks before a marathon but one I was willing to take. Of course I could have stayed close to home and raced the Big George Half Iron over Labor Day weekend but what’s the fun in that.
I finished MusselMan in 7:32:00. Distance completed, 6 ½ months after baby, no major incident on race day (recovered from a bike crash in mid-June). Physically, I felt fine. In the 8 weeks between the two long course events, I focused on marathon training, maxing at 15 miles two weeks before Pumpkinman. One week before, I ran 10 miles. I biked 20-30 miles few times and swam open water weekly. My biking was my only concern but while my riding had been infrequent, every time I rode I focused on form, cadence, and efficiency. As race day neared and I was feeling healthy and conditioned for the run, I started to believe that I might finally break the 7 hour mark.
I typed out my goals:
45 minutes for the swim
3:25:00 for the bike
2:35:00 for the run
The run was a stretch, considering that my PR on a half iron run was 2:41 and achieved in 2007 in Orlando, post marathon, after a relatively flat bike course. That race was also my half iron PR in 7:03 – narrowly missing my big 7 hour goal thanks first to a lousy swim and second to a stop at the port-o-let on the bike course. *After missing 7 hours by such a close margin I seldom take the time to stop and pee any more. Just sayin'.
After typing my goals, I printed out a run pace wrist band – 2:30 half marathon on one side and 2:45 half marathon on the other. Then I figured out where I needed to be every 10 miles for a 3:15 bike split and a 3:30 bike split. If nothing else, I’d know where I was and where I needed to be. I poured over the elevation maps, imagining in my head where I could gain speed and preparing myself for where I might lose it. In the few days leading to the race, I was obsessed. When I checked the weather report and saw that the weather was supposed to be in the 70s, I finally told Jason that I just might hit my big goal. Every half Iron in the past has been in 85+ degree heat.
Friday night was uneventful as we drove to Falmouth, ME and arrived at our friends’ house. On Saturday, we went to the Maine Wildlife Park, saw a kid centric musician, crashed a birthday party (our hosts were invited) and let the kids play. That evening I prepped with clam chowder and cheddar bacon baked potato – packed a lot of calories into a small plate and made sure I was good and salty for the next day.
Race morning came early as always. I dressed, prepped and was out the door at 4:30. Laura was sweet to come with me for support and to help Sherpa. We headed down I-95 in the wee hours, found an open Starbucks (yay!) and made it to the race site a little before 6 AM. Laura dropped me near transition then went to park the car. I went to packet pick up, chip pick-up, then body marking, and finally transition. I found my spot, racked my bike, and set up my area. Then I hit the port-o-let line as the pre-race announcements were beginning. Business handled, I carried my NEW* long sleeved wetsuit down to the water, found Laura, and we listened to the rest of the announcements. Jon Blais’ (The Blazeman) parents were there, his father said a few words, and then his ashes were scattered in the water. I can’t imagine anyone didn’t have a lump in their throat. Then the National Anthem was played, we cheered, and the first wave was lining up. I had 20 minutes so I took one final trip to the port-o-let and then put on my wetsuit and swim cap. *I say never try anything new on race day but my sleeveless wetsuit tended to make me hyperventilate so I figured that it was worth the risk.
Finally, my wave was on the water’s edge. We all got in the water – I sat to get an idea for the water temps and to flood my wetsuit. The water was 74 degrees --- 10 degrees warmer than typical thanks to a hot summer --- and I was in heaven. Before long, we were off. I swam conservatively, getting a feel for the new suit and while my shoulders got a little tired, my breathing was fine! I jockeyed for position, followed some feet, passed someone who I called “crazy legs”, and continued to just swim. Sometimes I tried to swim a little faster and others I just focused on feeling good. Lap 2 I felt myself going a little off course, and corrected and I otherwise kept on swimming. I knew that I needed my swim to set up the rest of my day time-wise so I pushed when I felt comfortable, worked on technique, and made sure I wasn’t alone. Eventually I was touching sand, so I stood up and exited the water. Swim time: 48 minutes. A little behind my big goal, but it was in reach.
Exiting the swim there is a big, steep, grassy hill. The race even has a separate scoring for this hill. I walked it. There is no way I’m busting my quads before 56 miles on the bike just to save a few seconds up a hill. After about 2 minutes I was up the hill and in transition. As quickly as I could, I put on my socks, cycling shoes, helmet, watch, sunglasses and gloves. I might have peed a little, ok a lot, so I squirted myself down with some water.
Another 2 minutes and I was out on the ride. I took about a half mile to settle in and get my Garmin where I needed it. I had it where I could see ride time, time of day, and average speed. I needed to average at LEAST 16, and my big goal was 17 mph. First hour in – right at 17 MPH. I was stoked because I knew we had to come back the way we came and on the elevation profile, we had just climbed. The next hour was a two loop course. When my legs ached I repeated to myself “7 hours”. I tried to memorize the terrain so I could remember the second time around. I also focused on gearing, cadence, and form. I knew that when I got out of the saddle I couldn’t get near the top and peter out as was my MO. I made a conscious effort to push through each hill, crest, and then take advantage of the downhill. I kept an eye on my average speed, dropping at one point to 16.4, making note so I wouldn’t get discouraged second time around. I hit mile 40, then 50 and I was back around 17 MPH! The last mile was an uphill climb back to transition. I made it in 3:16! Right at my 17 MPH goal. Wooh!
T2 was completely frustrating. Someone had racked her bike in my spot, on my number. I was furious as this was the 3rd time this season. This is getting to be a real problem and it's completely disrespectful to those of us who are in the back of the pack. Fighting the urge to throw her bike over the fence, I called over a volunteer to move her bike and I asked him to please report her to an official (I was pissed and this is a violation that should incur a penalty only it seldom does). I cursed a lot. Then I changed into my run shoes, and grabbed my race belt, hydration belt, and hat. Then I took a quick stop at the port o let then hit the run course. I decided to stick to 4:1 intervals for the 13.1 mile run. The weather was perfect, low to mid 70s. I set my Garmin to running mode and tried to settle into a comfortable pace. With the walk intervals, my goal was to never average more than a 12 minute mile per quarter mile. My first half mile was at a 10 minute mile. Too fast. I settled into my first walk break and tried to manage my run speed. I felt fantastic. I was tired, but I kept telling myself “7 hours”. I knew it was within reach as long as I didn’t fall apart on the run. I stuck to the intervals, sipped my drink every half mile, and took advantage of the water stops. I jogged uphill and walked only when my timer told me to. I jogged downhill and still walked when my timer told me to. I was feeling pretty good after 10 miles that I switched to 9:1 intervals. I checked the time --- I was well ahead of schedule. I jogged and chanted “7 hours”. 1 mile to go. I wanted to shout to someone that I was going to break 7 hours! Again, we had to run UP a and then a downhill cruise to the finish. 2:32 run time… 11:30 minute miles which was a personal record for a run at the end of a half iron!
My family missed my finish because they weren’t expecting me. Jason figured I'd finish around 7:30 like I did the MusselMan in July. I told him that I wanted to finish around 2 PM (which would have been a 6:36 finish time and was a huge stretch). Stretch or not...I blasted 7 hours, crossing the line at 2:08 PM, finishing in 6:44:30 and I was ecstatic. I didn’t even let myself think of where I could have improved because I finally met a goal that I had been trying to achieve for so many years. I didn’t achieve it at my supposed peak when I was younger, thinner, and hadn’t had to fight back from pregnancy. My older, heavier, post-baby body did this. I did this.
September 9, 2012
South Berwyck, Maine
I had been curious about the Pumpkinman Triathlon Festival since 2008 when I had registered for the BBSC Endurance Pumpkin Man Half Iron event in Boulder City, Nevada. When I’d search “Pumpkinman”, the Maine event would show up in the results --- so I had to check it out. I never got to race the Boulder City event, as my father passed away a week before the race and I cancelled my trip. It would have been interesting to compare the two.
2012 has been an interesting season for me. I registered for my two “big races” of the year while I was still pregnant in 2011: MusselMan Half Ironman and the Wineglass Marathon. A short time before MusselMan, I received an email that TimberMan 70.3 (in Gilford, NH) hadn’t sold out and there was a push for entries. I considered the race. Then I discovered that Pumpkinman wasn’t sold out yet either. Both races are renowned for their atmosphere, ranking among the top in the country. The questions were: visit NH or Maine? Pay more or less? Financially, it was a no brainer – I could race BOTH Pumpkinman events for the price of ONE Timberman race (the cost largely because it's an Ironman branded event and, quite frankly, local non-IM events have a better atmosphere and swag). Geographically, we had already visited Gilford on our annual weekend trip to stay with close family friends at their summer cottage. We hadn’t been to Maine in a couple of years and, once I found out that dear friends in the Portland area would be in town, the decision was made. It was a calculated risk, doing a long course triathlon 3 weeks before a marathon but one I was willing to take. Of course I could have stayed close to home and raced the Big George Half Iron over Labor Day weekend but what’s the fun in that.
I finished MusselMan in 7:32:00. Distance completed, 6 ½ months after baby, no major incident on race day (recovered from a bike crash in mid-June). Physically, I felt fine. In the 8 weeks between the two long course events, I focused on marathon training, maxing at 15 miles two weeks before Pumpkinman. One week before, I ran 10 miles. I biked 20-30 miles few times and swam open water weekly. My biking was my only concern but while my riding had been infrequent, every time I rode I focused on form, cadence, and efficiency. As race day neared and I was feeling healthy and conditioned for the run, I started to believe that I might finally break the 7 hour mark.
I typed out my goals:
45 minutes for the swim
3:25:00 for the bike
2:35:00 for the run
The run was a stretch, considering that my PR on a half iron run was 2:41 and achieved in 2007 in Orlando, post marathon, after a relatively flat bike course. That race was also my half iron PR in 7:03 – narrowly missing my big 7 hour goal thanks first to a lousy swim and second to a stop at the port-o-let on the bike course. *After missing 7 hours by such a close margin I seldom take the time to stop and pee any more. Just sayin'.
After typing my goals, I printed out a run pace wrist band – 2:30 half marathon on one side and 2:45 half marathon on the other. Then I figured out where I needed to be every 10 miles for a 3:15 bike split and a 3:30 bike split. If nothing else, I’d know where I was and where I needed to be. I poured over the elevation maps, imagining in my head where I could gain speed and preparing myself for where I might lose it. In the few days leading to the race, I was obsessed. When I checked the weather report and saw that the weather was supposed to be in the 70s, I finally told Jason that I just might hit my big goal. Every half Iron in the past has been in 85+ degree heat.
Friday night was uneventful as we drove to Falmouth, ME and arrived at our friends’ house. On Saturday, we went to the Maine Wildlife Park, saw a kid centric musician, crashed a birthday party (our hosts were invited) and let the kids play. That evening I prepped with clam chowder and cheddar bacon baked potato – packed a lot of calories into a small plate and made sure I was good and salty for the next day.
Race morning came early as always. I dressed, prepped and was out the door at 4:30. Laura was sweet to come with me for support and to help Sherpa. We headed down I-95 in the wee hours, found an open Starbucks (yay!) and made it to the race site a little before 6 AM. Laura dropped me near transition then went to park the car. I went to packet pick up, chip pick-up, then body marking, and finally transition. I found my spot, racked my bike, and set up my area. Then I hit the port-o-let line as the pre-race announcements were beginning. Business handled, I carried my NEW* long sleeved wetsuit down to the water, found Laura, and we listened to the rest of the announcements. Jon Blais’ (The Blazeman) parents were there, his father said a few words, and then his ashes were scattered in the water. I can’t imagine anyone didn’t have a lump in their throat. Then the National Anthem was played, we cheered, and the first wave was lining up. I had 20 minutes so I took one final trip to the port-o-let and then put on my wetsuit and swim cap. *I say never try anything new on race day but my sleeveless wetsuit tended to make me hyperventilate so I figured that it was worth the risk.
Finally, my wave was on the water’s edge. We all got in the water – I sat to get an idea for the water temps and to flood my wetsuit. The water was 74 degrees --- 10 degrees warmer than typical thanks to a hot summer --- and I was in heaven. Before long, we were off. I swam conservatively, getting a feel for the new suit and while my shoulders got a little tired, my breathing was fine! I jockeyed for position, followed some feet, passed someone who I called “crazy legs”, and continued to just swim. Sometimes I tried to swim a little faster and others I just focused on feeling good. Lap 2 I felt myself going a little off course, and corrected and I otherwise kept on swimming. I knew that I needed my swim to set up the rest of my day time-wise so I pushed when I felt comfortable, worked on technique, and made sure I wasn’t alone. Eventually I was touching sand, so I stood up and exited the water. Swim time: 48 minutes. A little behind my big goal, but it was in reach.
Exiting the swim there is a big, steep, grassy hill. The race even has a separate scoring for this hill. I walked it. There is no way I’m busting my quads before 56 miles on the bike just to save a few seconds up a hill. After about 2 minutes I was up the hill and in transition. As quickly as I could, I put on my socks, cycling shoes, helmet, watch, sunglasses and gloves. I might have peed a little, ok a lot, so I squirted myself down with some water.
Another 2 minutes and I was out on the ride. I took about a half mile to settle in and get my Garmin where I needed it. I had it where I could see ride time, time of day, and average speed. I needed to average at LEAST 16, and my big goal was 17 mph. First hour in – right at 17 MPH. I was stoked because I knew we had to come back the way we came and on the elevation profile, we had just climbed. The next hour was a two loop course. When my legs ached I repeated to myself “7 hours”. I tried to memorize the terrain so I could remember the second time around. I also focused on gearing, cadence, and form. I knew that when I got out of the saddle I couldn’t get near the top and peter out as was my MO. I made a conscious effort to push through each hill, crest, and then take advantage of the downhill. I kept an eye on my average speed, dropping at one point to 16.4, making note so I wouldn’t get discouraged second time around. I hit mile 40, then 50 and I was back around 17 MPH! The last mile was an uphill climb back to transition. I made it in 3:16! Right at my 17 MPH goal. Wooh!
T2 was completely frustrating. Someone had racked her bike in my spot, on my number. I was furious as this was the 3rd time this season. This is getting to be a real problem and it's completely disrespectful to those of us who are in the back of the pack. Fighting the urge to throw her bike over the fence, I called over a volunteer to move her bike and I asked him to please report her to an official (I was pissed and this is a violation that should incur a penalty only it seldom does). I cursed a lot. Then I changed into my run shoes, and grabbed my race belt, hydration belt, and hat. Then I took a quick stop at the port o let then hit the run course. I decided to stick to 4:1 intervals for the 13.1 mile run. The weather was perfect, low to mid 70s. I set my Garmin to running mode and tried to settle into a comfortable pace. With the walk intervals, my goal was to never average more than a 12 minute mile per quarter mile. My first half mile was at a 10 minute mile. Too fast. I settled into my first walk break and tried to manage my run speed. I felt fantastic. I was tired, but I kept telling myself “7 hours”. I knew it was within reach as long as I didn’t fall apart on the run. I stuck to the intervals, sipped my drink every half mile, and took advantage of the water stops. I jogged uphill and walked only when my timer told me to. I jogged downhill and still walked when my timer told me to. I was feeling pretty good after 10 miles that I switched to 9:1 intervals. I checked the time --- I was well ahead of schedule. I jogged and chanted “7 hours”. 1 mile to go. I wanted to shout to someone that I was going to break 7 hours! Again, we had to run UP a and then a downhill cruise to the finish. 2:32 run time… 11:30 minute miles which was a personal record for a run at the end of a half iron!
My family missed my finish because they weren’t expecting me. Jason figured I'd finish around 7:30 like I did the MusselMan in July. I told him that I wanted to finish around 2 PM (which would have been a 6:36 finish time and was a huge stretch). Stretch or not...I blasted 7 hours, crossing the line at 2:08 PM, finishing in 6:44:30 and I was ecstatic. I didn’t even let myself think of where I could have improved because I finally met a goal that I had been trying to achieve for so many years. I didn’t achieve it at my supposed peak when I was younger, thinner, and hadn’t had to fight back from pregnancy. My older, heavier, post-baby body did this. I did this.
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