Ironman Maryland 2016 October 17
The good signs: Eagle spotted over Crystal Lake where we do
our Open Water Swims just weeks before race
Fortune
Cookie – “You will pass a big upcoming test.” This was one week before race
Hired a coach this year. I’m very happy that I did that – he
kept me on track with training (missed very few workouts), catered to my
individual strengths and weaknesses. His first recommendation was to start
Strength training (strength=free speed).
I did that two days a week with Contemporary Athlete in Clifton Park,
NY. I think the biggest benefit for me
of strength training was that it gave me confidence. I would go into the workouts fearing that I would
not be able to lift a certain weight or that I would just crumble and would
come out feeling strong! Coach would
punch into Training Peaks each week what was on my plan for the next seven
days. This worked great for me.
Race was scheduled for October 5 and was postponed because
of Hurricane Joaquin and the possible aftermath that was expected to inundate
the area with water and wind. The Hurricane did not hit, but the winds did. 35
mph and rainy and cold. It was announced
the following Tuesday that IMMD would take place on Saturday, October 17,
2015. My Sherpa and I had decided that
we would definitely go that weekend and I would race. Checked with owners of
house we were renting who said they would work to accommodate us that weekend.
The 2 week delay meant 2 weeks more of training.
Psychologically that was difficult. I just went back at it – with another week
of taper. (Weird).
Thursday October 15, we drove to Cambridge, Md. 6 hr drive
from NY. We went straight to Athlete checkin and then stayed for the athlete
briefing. The briefing was very informative and they stressed that it was going
to be cold and that we should consider changing to dry clothes in T1. And be
sure to pack warm clothes in Run Special Needs bags. All good ideas. The briefing also gave good info on the
course, especially run which with three loops was a little confusing on paper. We
then went to check in to house – very nice location about 5 miles outside of
town and it was on the Choptank River – with our own beach. We decided to
practice swim from there on Friday morning.
Friday woke fairly early and had friend Lisa coming to do
practice swim with us. It was windy and choppy so it was a good thing to get in
and experience it. For me, this really helped calm my nerves about the swim. I
faced the chop no problem and rode the waves in the opposite direction. Water
was about 63 degrees and wore sleeveless wetsuit. I planned to wear full sleeve
on race day. I was not cold. We went and rode the run course after our swim.
This was also helpful to get the run course In my head as to wind, loops, etc.
Location of Special Needs and about when I would need to stop. We passed Spc.
Needs run about 5 times during race, but could only stop once. Racked my bike with drinks already in place.
With the colder weather it was not a concern to leave drinks already prepared on
bike.
Race day – Saturday. Ate bagel, juice, coffee and took
Immodium. One dose. Since that was the thing that slowed me down
at IMLP it was a good idea. My Sherpa
(Janet) dropped me off at transition. I loaded my bento box with goodies on the
bike. I had to drop off Special Needs bike and run bags. Went to change tent to
put wetsuit on – it was warm in there. Dropped off morning bag. Found my friend
Lisa and we lined up for swim. She had brought trash bags to wear to keep warm
while waiting, and loaned me one. Big help. We were supposed to be in the water
between 6:50 and 7:00 a.m. at 6:45 there was an announcement that they were
going to shorten the course to 1.2 miles and alter the position of the buoys. I
think most people were disappointed, but at least we would still get to swim.
There were 25 mph winds and small craft advisories. Safety personnel determined
it would not be good to have us out in the water as far as the buoys were. They
moved buoys closer to shore (whole course) which was a little more sheltered. A
little later they announced that it would be a two loop swim and closer to 3000
meters. Yay. At about 7:30-7:35 we started swim. It was
cold standing around in the wind in our wetsuits so the water actually didn’t
feel bad. It was still a windy, wavy
swim and I got knocked around a lot by others – partly I think people didn’t
line up in the correct spots for the speeds they were swimming. Partly it was
the waves knocking us all around. It was also a little tough to sight on buoys
on one of the turns the red and orange were very similar. Swim done – felt
pretty good. 1:20:28. Even if we had the full 2.4 swim my time
would have been under what I had predicted. Yay.
One of the concerns I had with the delayed start to the swim
was how it would affect the midnight cutoff.
Just decided to do what I could with the rest of the day and see what
happened. (I did beat the midnight cutoff and beat 17 hrs)
T1 – 12:32 - decided to change out of wet stuff. It was easy
off, but even with drying off hard to change. Got tons of help in the women’s
change tent. There were not bike handler volunteers so we had to run out and
get our own bikes off the racks and do a Z-shaped run out. They did that so everyone ran equal distances
in transition.
Felt good getting on the bike. Put the wind behind us for
about the first 30 miles – so speedy. My stomach was churning and decided at
second bike stop to go to the bathroom.
Big help! Felt much better and had no issues rest of the day. I tried to
stay on target with eating often – I had broken up Clif Bars and had peanut
butter pretzels – a few gels and Gatorade Endurance that I had mixed with a
little Base Salt. I drank all of my
premixed stuff first. I took a banana and extra bottle of Gatorade a little
before Special Needs stop. I tried to keep my speed up into the wind – it was
tough. I quickly realized where I would be able to push and where I would get
slowed by the head wind. I had a plan for second loop. At BSN my cousin was
waiting. She came down from Bethesda. It was exciting to see her and her
daughter and she was like my “mom” telling me to eat and take my sandwich with
me for the next loop. I took half my sandwich with me, another bottle of
Gatorade (premixed) and took off. Again wind behind me for this first part of
loop, so I pushed my speeds as much as I could until I turned into the wind. It
was a sunny day – which was glorious. My plan was use any and all sheltered
spots on bike to gain speed. I actually
started passing people in the windy spots – good training on the River Road
back at home. I felt prepared for the wind. Put your head down and pedal. I saw
friend Janet and Joanne (cousin) at around mile 85-90. They had driven out to see me on the bike.
Janet said I was smoking the bike and doing great – the words of encouragement
meant a lot. I knew how I was feeling and that I would get it done today. They
drove next to me for a little bit and I just laughed. Crazy people out on the course. Head down –
pedal. Worst thing about being aero so long was that by about mile 90 -95 I was
having a hard time taking in any more nutrition and drinks. I would sip – sit
up and then get back into aero. Felt
like everything was sitting high in my gut.
7:41:49 on bike!
T2 – 11:19 – Loved getting off the bike and walking back to
rack it. I threw on run shorts, and long sleeve tech tee to run in. visor and
socks, sneakers. I also had a race belt with extra base salt and my eyeglasses
in case my contacts really bugged me. Leaving transition there was an aid
station right there. I heard the words
water and Pepsi – took both. The Pepsi
helped me burp – big time! LOL. Really helped my gut. I started to jog not
long out of transition and felt pretty good. Still sunny and windy – but
overall not too bad. I think I jogged
for most of the first half. Walk breaks
at water stops, but kept moving forward pretty steadily. I stopped once to
pee. As it got dark things got a little
tougher and cold. Run Special Needs was in a very cold and windy spot and we
passed thru there 6 times. My back started to ache. I stopped at Run SN and
grabbed a wind shirt and extra jacket that I tied around my waist. I could not find any of the Ibuprofen that I
thought I had packed in every single bag I had. I was hoping to see my Sherpa
soon because I knew she would have some. She caught me toward the end of the
second loop. Got Ibuprofen which really helped. She ran with me with words of
encouragement. I also took the headlamp she offered as it was really dark out on
the course. As I started the third loop I was really starting to hurt – saw
Janet again and she stuck with me for a bit – talked about the fact that I had
plenty of time to beat 12:00 and just keep the pace I was at. I told her I wanted to run, but my back was
killing me. She said stick with fast walk as my run was not helping at this
point. That last turn around on the 3rd loop was a welcome sight and
I knew I’d get it done!!! As I ran back
into town and close to finish – there was a young woman next to me who said if
we kept pace we could definitely beat midnight. I stuck on her tail. She
finished just ahead of me – and when I saw the finisher chute – I shed the
jacket around my waist and ran in.!!! 11:55:16 was on the clock. Overall time was 16:12:58. Susan Browne you are an Ironman – though the
last part got cut off because the microphone died just as he was making the
announcement. We laughed a lot about
that one. The “catcher” stopped me and
said they blew a fuse. Got my medal – a
big hug from another of the “catchers’ and congrats all around!!! I wanted to cry but didn’t – I felt so
strong! Got my pic (not the best) and
went to get a bite to eat.
My Sherpa (Janet) (the best) had gotten my bike and
transition bags already for me. So after the race I only needed to get a bite
to eat and head back to the car. After I ate a piece of pizza we walked back to
the car and drove back to our house. I took a much needed shower – ouchies from
chafe, but warm shower was nice. I put on some warm clothes and fleece –
definitely chilled from running in the cold after sweating. We sat up until
about 2:30 a.m. discussing the race! I
was so pumped on adrenaline. When I went
to bed my bunion (joint behind big toe) started to throb – so I got up and put
ice on it. Carried ice back to bed. Finally slept. I was up early next day – still running on
adrenaline I think. I went online to check official results (still concerned
about the late start) and my finisher time was there 16:12:58!! Felt better seeing results. Put coffee on and
we decided to go purchase some “finisher” stuff. That was fun shopping. Got a bite to eat in
town and then we went back and crashed for a few hours. My foot was OK and my
back was already feeling better.
I was happy with my swim speed – I like swimming in salt
water, and was very happy with my bike speed.
I would work on running better this next year and maybe think about
another long race in the near future. Overall IMMD was a great experience and I
can now happily say that ‘I am an Ironman”.
My hands and feet were swollen after the race most likely
holding fluid. Too much salt and too
little water – I drank lots of water the next couple of days and swelling was
gone. Something to remember for future racing.
I got together with my coach post-race and we talked about
results and details of the race. He was not in Md. and he told me that was a
first for him not being at a race for an athlete he had coached. He also said he did not like it. I knew he was there in spirit and all of the
coaching had made a huge difference in how I felt and my results. Much thanks to John Michael Evansky and
Janette Angilletta Davignon for their support in getting me to the finish line.
I am an Ironman.
