Galveston 70.3

Almost a week later and I am finally sitting down to write what happened at the Memorial Hermann Ironman 70.3 in Galveston last weekend. If I wrote it before now it would have been a little bit or perhaps much more “whiny” and woe is me oriented. Perhaps this is ok because it is in truth that I seek to write about my experiences as a triathlete. I still am sorting through emotions and the challenges of not having a race go the way I hoped but have things in perspective again and this is a very good thing.

I had the best pre-race preparations. I had incredible bike support from the guys at Bicycle Sport Shop and the Specialized truck. I had a quiet hotel room away from the anxiousness and hype of race prep. I ate well, hydrated and was able to totally relax. The morning of the race I knew I was ready.

The swim was brilliant. It was pretty windy so there was definitely a challenge in getting through the chop. All the better for me as the harder, the better. I came out of the water in second behind Mary-Beth Ellis who had a great swim as well. I got through transition without a hitch and was off on my bike.

This is where I had fun. The course is very flat, very fast but is deceiving in that there is a terrific wind that blows off the ocean the whole time. While riding in one direction I actually was doing a full lean into the wind to keep my bike upright. I kept the intensity up and steady. My bike was amazing and with the full aero gear I felt like I was flying. I held the lead for about 50km when I was passed by some outstanding cyclists. I actually didn’t even see Theurig pass me as I think she was going so strong. I took in my nutrition, drank and was super happy to get off the bike after 90km. I felt good and I was in fourth.

Immediately getting onto the run I started having digestive issues. This was not new for me as I have been struggling the past few weeks with keeping any sort of nutrition down. I have been playing with different gels, different levels of electrolytes, and varying combinations of solid food vs liquids. I knew going into the race that it was not sorted completely but I didn’t think that it would really get me. Heat has got me in the past in a big way but this was different and usually I am ok. But it did. Essentially what I know now is that I started getting and have been getting gastro-esophageal reflux. The sequence of problems was burping, reflux, irritation and inflammation of the esophagus causing difficulty in breathing. This triggered my asthma causing complete inability to breath and me walking. A 1:45 half marathon time is hardly what I have been working for.

I think what frustrates me the most is that it is another “thing” to get over, figure out and deal with. Some ask whether it is a stress response and thus a mental issue. I would say that it is potentially a bodily stress response that has been building – starting a long time ago with imbalance in hormones, developing exercise induced asthma, inability to fight allergens, becoming lactose intolerant and now not being able to keep nutrition down. So then the question still is whether I can change my mental game to stay calm and avoid all these “issues”?

My answer to this is that although I do believe I can strengthen my mental preparation – this was not a mental issue. This is what I am proud of in the race – I finished and not once did I give up trying to get going again after “problem-solving” throughout the race. My thinking was sort of like this - just drink more, try taking in more nutrition, sponges, ice, slow down and come around, form, get inhaler, Gatorade, and finally – just walk, no shame in walking. I was determined. I had two medical people follow me for 10km. I had an age-grouper tell me that I was a pro and to act like one. I had support telling me that I was doing great knowing that it was a complete lie. I had to fight my personal demons to keep one foot in front of another. It is this fight in me that pushes me in training, in racing and will get me to another finish line with a smile on my face. What I do know though is that I am just so thankful once again that I am not alone to do it. To my sponsors and my personal support, thank-you for sticking by me. Let’s climb another mountain.