GWN 2012 Race Report
For the fourth year in a row, I signed up for this race. I approached this race as prep for Calgary 70.3. I needed to figure out a few things and GWN would be the place to do so.
I headed out of town with fellow TTL’ers, Tara, Nola and Jenny. Roger followed up later with Tara’s bike and mine. It is always a fun ride with “girl talk” race stories and a good sense of camaraderie was established.
Check in to the hotel and headed off to the pre race banquet.
As it was “game day”, I was dressed in my Rider gear; I did have my TTL jacket with me of course. I will say, I was not alone in my green and white; I followed the game via text messages and was very pleased with the end result. A Rider win is always a good thing!
This year the vibe was a bit different to get race packages, no ATA number, no package, no personal i.d., no package. Orange bracelet to wear all weekend, tattoo numbers, wow, GWN has kicked it up a notch. I enjoyed the venues and the apparel that was for sale was varied. I did pick up a nice jacket, not in the orange and black colours as were the jerseys, too much like Halloween!
Good meal, good laughs and cold beer only $4.00 a can. I only had one beer, wanted more but only had one. We did not stay for the meeting, and headed back to the hotel to get some much needed rest.
Saturday morning we met for a pre race ride of the run course. That was a great way to see the course from a different point of view and I believe was beneficial for those that have not done the course before. I enjoyed the nice weather; the sun was warming my pasty white skin, all was good. A quick brick and that was it, we were done. I decided I wasn’t going to do a pre race swim, as we could not get in the water until 2:00pm. I did not want to run the risk of my wet suit still being wet the next day.
Tara and I headed to transition to set up our bikes and soon I was back at the hotel to settle in for the rest of the day. A rare occasion occurred this particular race; Roger and I were “kidless”! We could just hang out, watch some TV that included some CFL football (not the Riders but still CFL).
Prepped my fuel for the race, Infinit, 3 bottles, froze two and had one ready for my front aero-bottle. My run fuel was ready to add water, packed my bags and finally settled down.
My usual GWN pre race dinner of cooked chicken and quinoa salad from Safeway was enjoyed. I also enjoyed my pre race 40 Creek Rye on ice, soooo tasty!
I was just getting into a classic Ingrid Bergman (black and white no less) movie and Roger said, “Ok, that’s it, time for bed” What? “It’s almost 10pm you are up early and you need sleep”. Like a good little girl I went to bed. **Sigh** Roger is a helluva manager I am lucky! I did have a good night’s sleep as a result!
Race Day:
Up and at ‘em around 4:45am with breakfast of 2 pkgs of instant oatmeal. Met the gang downstairs, grabbed a coffee and we were off to the swim start. I didn’t expect Roger to come along but I am always thankful when he does. We gave Trevor and John a lift and getting there in good time allowed for Roger to get a decent parking spot for his escape afterwards.
Mother Nature was good to me and I decided not to take the Imodium, a mad scramble for Angie though and I did find her some and as a result she loves me! HA! J
As much as I was laughing and joking with everyone I still had a moment with Roger where I was nervous and self-doubt was trying to creep in. He got me to dismiss those thoughts and sent me to my bike with a hug and a kiss. At least I remembered to put the zinc on after I kissed him this year!
Swim:
Headed to my spot on the beach and saw Sarah Van Tine, who was doing her 1st half. She was nervous and I totally understand where she was coming from. I just looked at her with as much peace and calm that I could muster for her and I hope that she was able to take from me what I was giving her.
I was sad that I missed singing “Oh Canada”, but I was able to watch the clock and when it went off I was ready.
The goo and “odor” of Hubbles Lake has not changed! The water was warm and I found my space very quickly and headed towards the bouy. The one bit of feedback that I would like to give the race director is the colour of the men’s swim caps needs to be changed. Orange caps/orange buoys, kind of confusing at 1st for this old gal!
The Power Bar arch was a HUGE improvement and it was so easy to site the shore for the get-out-and-run-back-in spot. I heard the cheering and was very pleased to hear Roger call my name before I headed back in to the goo and water.
I pressed on for the 2nd loop and still enjoy just being able to swim and not count laps!
As I exited the water I was able to get my suit unzipped much easier than I did at Wasa perhaps it was because I could feel my hands on my suit as they weren’t frozen? Got my suit stripped and found my bike on the 1st try! (I have been known to miss it).
Swim: 35:35 Good enough for 1st in my AG! PB as well!
Transition wasn’t too bad. I had decided to wear my bike jersey, as the weather didn’t look too promising. Speaking of which, the weather forecast stated rain around 2 or 3pm. It ended up backwards.
I was comfortable with my transition execution and I was on the bike ready for the next stage of the race.
Bike:
As I spun up the hill, I was taking in some Infinit right away. For the 1st time it actually tasted decent! Probably due to the fact I was thirsty and needed to rinse out the Hubbles Lake taste. It was great to see Roger as I turned left he said I was right on time! J
I always find the 1st 10-15k of the bike interesting. This time the added attraction of rain made it more challenging. I know I have a decent swim time and what “gets” me is all the athletes, in particular the guys who are hell bent for election right from the get go. So few yelled “on your left”, I may not be the fastest cyclist but their need for speed had me riding a bit more cautious as I did not wish to be hit or called for blocking as they all jockeyed for positions riding past me.
I was glad when I could settle into my pace and aerobars. Once I got going I sipped on my infinit as one of my goals was to ensure I consumed all 3 bottles on the course. I did miss my arm warmers and my toes got cold as well so my toe covers would’ve been a plus. I stayed in my aeros as much as possible as it was WAY warmer there!
“The rain in Spain is mainly on the plain” or in this case, Stony Plain. It didn’t really let up the entire ride and this was a 1st for me, riding in the rain. I didn’t like it but I was ok as my core was warm. I was glad I had my jersey on. There were times where my visibility was challenged with the spray from the vehicles and the bikes that went by. I had a good ride and even managed to make it to 37km before I had to stop and pee. Finally two vehicles on the same side of the road that I could pull over and use as semi cover! As it turned out they were from Saskatoon and Rider Priders, we are everywhere!
As I was getting on my bike, I heard a “Go Leslie-Anne” from the other side; someone in a blue pick up truck was cheering me on. No idea who it was but thanks for the support!
Due to the rain I was a bit hesitant on the hill descents. I stayed as far right as I could to give other cyclists as much space as possible. I was concerned enough for the ones descending in their aerobars (one crossed the yellow line and where were the race marshals?) that I decided that I needed to feel safer and slowed up a bit should they crash I might be able to avoid them. The climbing was good and I was happy with how I executed those climbs. I made sure to yell “on your left” as I went by!
A slight head wind on the return I noticed my legs were getting cold and somewhat stiff. I kept pedalling and as I was on the final stretch into Stony I finished my Infinit. I successfully transferred my fuel without stopping to do so AND consumed it all! J
I was glad to get off the bike, not because I was tired of riding (well a little) but I the fact my legs were cold! As I dismounted I am sure I looked like the little old man from the show Laugh-In as I felt stiff and unable to move out of a crouch position.
Bike: 3:01:09 slightly slower than last year (by 1:09) but due to the weather I am ok with this time. 11th in my AG.
I was a bit un-coordinated in transition due to brain freeze and other parts near frozen, I did ok. The athlete who caught me on the last 1 km of the ride managed to get out of transition just before me! Soooo close!
Run:
The moment I’ve been waiting for, the run. Given my challenges the last few half marathon races I was very focused on execution for this race. I added water to my run fuel in transition, as I didn’t want that fuel to be sitting for hours in the sun. In hindsight what sun but at least it was “fresh” as I began the 21km ahead of me.
A quick pit stop and I was off. The goal was not to start too fast, keep it even, keep focused on moving one foot in front of the other and above all keep pace. It did take almost 2k before I could feel my feet!
A slight deterrent as I came out of the downtown and that was to see Angie on the pathway. I ran over to her to check in. I thought it was odd that she was over there, 1st thing I thought was she was having gut issues. As I got closer I could see she was upset and I learned that she was pulling herself off the course.
I wanted to help but I couldn’t. I checked in with her to ensure she was ok and it wasn’t until she yelled at me to get going I knew she would be. Very challenging to see someone so focused on racing not being able to complete, I had to put it aside and focus on what I needed to do, and that was to finish. Off I went to complete my race.
I was running merrily along but soon felt warm and realized I should’ve taken my jersey off. I was hoping that Roger would be some where along the course and he was. As I approached him I could hear his cousin say, “She’s trying to take her shirt off, if she can!” I went by him and yelled, “Oh look, I dropped my jersey” in case any race marshals were nearby and could not accuse me of getting assistance from a bystander. That helped but soon afterward the familiar cramping began for which I was prepared and made it to the once again, “perfectly placed porta potties”. In I go, in goes the Imodium and I continued on I suspect I lost close to 5 mins but I thought I was going to be ok for the rest of the run.
The weather was holding but my guts were not, the fuel I brought was not going to sit in me so I did not take any in. Water at the aid stations and that was it until towards the end when I took in some oranges. Did that hurt me in the end time wise? Maybe. Next time I will dilute the fuel as it works in training. There was NO way I was going to take in Gatorade, that stuff really makes me gag.
The turn around was there before I knew it and as I headed home those familiar cramps appeared and I hit the loo in perfect timing. Damn! That wasn’t supposed to happen! That being said, I did say this race was to test a few things out and I now know for Calgary 70.3 the Imodium goes in before the race starts and one more before I get off the bike.
I did “drop” my fuel belt and Roger picked it up. Glad he had not moved off the course!
The last 6km were tough as the sun came out and the humidity was challenging for me.
That is when I believe the lack of fuel intake hit me as well. All that did for me though was to focus even harder. I know this wasn’t my “A” race but I was determined to finish strong. Stopped to check in with another TTL’er on the course that wasn’t having a good day. Mike would finish, just wasn’t a good day for him. He wished me well and I accepted those wishes and forged ahead.
As I came up the main street I could see Trevor ahead of me and I did my best to catch him. That last climb I was close but when his girls came out to run with him across the line I knew it wasn’t my time. He did not need anyone going past him like a crazed fool when it was so important to his girls to be there with him. I smiled and enjoyed their moment as a family.
One more thing about that last climb I could hear Angie’s voice from the bottom of the hill. I am not kidding, it was loud and clear! I loved the cheering from all the TTL’ers, other people who were there; it’s always such a rush to come to a finish line!
Roger was at the finish line with my ice cold Pilsner, ahhhhhh, soooo tasty!!!
Run: 2:14:04 (7 minutes faster than last year.) 24th in my AG
Overall time: 5:50:47 Good enough for 10th! I MADE THE TOP TEN!!!! OMG!!!
I am SUPER pleased with the overall result. It was a goal to make the top 10 and I did (stated in my race plan) Secret goal was to place 1st in the swim (not stated in my race plan)
Lessons learned for Calgary 70.3 (and any other half ironman for that matter): Take Imodium before the swim start and before I get off the bike. I will gladly pay the price afterwards in order to see that run time better. I KNOW I can do better and if it weren’t for those two stops…
Run fuel will be diluted, in other words less in the bottle before I start. I will have the powder in the bottle before I begin and add water as I start the run. I cannot stand stuff that sits in bottles for too long (part of the challenge I have with taking Infinit).
I had a good race and I am pleased with how things went. I don’t mind the cold, didn’t really like riding in the rain but I did it and survived.
As I started the run, I was ok with the thought of 21kms. Funny how that is as it seems not so long ago that I was terrified to run that distance and now I can approach it with a more relaxed mind. Slowly but surely I will conquer the run and all the demons that I face each time I am out on the course.
I consumed a massive burger, sweet potato fries, veggies and beer before heading home. Drove through the worst hailstorm! My gawd that was loud! No damage, which is a good thing.
I’m looking forward to the challenge of Calgary 70.3; it will be just that, a challenge.
Thanks to all of the support from my coach, Roger as well as family and friends of TTL’ers, we are formidable team and I am very proud to be a part of it!
No comments:
Post a Comment