SATURDAY… the big day.
Race day morning.
WAKE UP call at 3:45 is EARLY but I am usually partially awake waiting for my alarm to go off. We wake up and turn on the coffee pot while I get ready. Once I am dressed, I like to sit down and eat my breakfast. I prefer to eat gluten free bread (new favorite gluten free seeded bread by Essential Baking Company) with coconut oil (just like butter) and almond butter around 4:15 am with a small banana and a few raw almonds. I like to drink a little bit of coffee and then I start drinking a bottle of water with NUUN to get hydrated. Ready to go with my special needs bike bottles (no run special needs for me), three bottles of MAO Fluid Energizer (one for my aero bottle on my bike) and bars to put on my bike. I have been experimenting with a lower carb diet this year as I have always been sensitive to sugar and efficient fat burner for endurance events therefore I have found the Raw Revolution cashew and coconut bars work for me during the first half of the bike ride. My calories on the bike are primarily from the MAO Fluid Energizer and hourly Hammer Nutrition E-Caps pills.
Race day morning set up.
We walked to the King K hotel with other participants and family members down Ali’i drive from our car. Body marking is always entertaining to me as I enjoy observing all the participants expressions and body language. Next stop is to the pier… where the real action and nerves set in for every athlete. I feel calm, relaxed and energized at once. I have been to this race before and familiar with the day of events. I go visit my bike to get it set up and ready to rock the bike course. I fill my tires up, put my “breakfast and lunch” in my bento box (3 Raw Revolution bars and 5 bags of E-Caps) then set up my fuel bottles. Everything was organized and I was familiar to the transition areas from the swim to bike then bike to run. My bike was in a great spot towards the end of the row. I had over an hour to relax, stretch and mentally rehearse the day of events ahead of me. Lots of yoga stretches sitting down and standing… even a little downward dog flow on the pier! I didn’t worry about what I looked like as the yoga stretches were what I needed for the swim. No foot cramps please while I swim… my fear. My dry clothes bag was turned in and I was ready to start the race.
The men’s pro race started at 6:30 AM then women’s pro race started at 6:35 AM… the age groups start at 7am. I get in the water around 6:45 am and make my way up towards the start line. I intentionally started a little behind the start line as I am not a fast swimmer. I have started on the left and last time on the right. Which is best? Always a toss-up in my mind and experience. So I decided to stay somewhat in the middle but I doubted my decision as I prefer left side or inside buoys on the right side. Too late now… time to just swim after the cannon goes off.
This was my fifteenth Ironman and fourth time at the World Championship so I was not even stressed about the swim start even though my swimming has been slower the past few months (all technique!). My swim stroke felt strong and I found some power finally… I even stayed in packs of people trying to draft off feet or the side of someone. After the halfway point and turn around (big sail boat) buoys, the pace picked up and I was ready to work harder. I kept my pace up to the finish without too much foot cramps (power of the mind!). I exited the swim course and was absolutely shocked to see the swim clock said 1:18… I felt so strong and smooth that I was going to be under 1:15 on the swim. I found out later that we had around three foot swells during the swim portion and it was tough conditions. Hopefully I could have had a faster swim split if the conditions were better but this was Hawaii Ironman… the conditions are what makes this race unique, challenging and unpredictable.
Next time the bike, T2 and the run… coming soon.
