Eagleman 70.3 - Race Report

• On: 06/15/2009 20:20:14

**warning, this is long!**

Ah, Eagleman…I told you it was my all time favorite race- for many reasons – but it did not disappoint this weekend either.

I am not going to talk about our 2,000 mile round trip drive from Chicago to Philly to see Jerome’s parents, and then Jerome and I taking off to the Maryland coast solo on Saturday Am….all went ok – we had some major car issues that made us stop @ the Land Rover Dealer in Cleveland (thank god) to fix, but otherwise, all was good & the kids were SO good.

Ok, the race.  I am SO excited and happy!  This was my “A” race for 2009.  For the early season.  Well, especially since we have yet to have summer in Chicago.  Eagleman is special to me.  I have done it every year since 2004 and won my AG every year  (blah blah blah, I know…blah, blah)– I did not do it last year as I was in Vancouver racing ITU Worlds (but Kerri R, who I was coaching won!).  So, I was EVEN more fired up to race this year.  I missed it terribly last year. 

If you have not done Eagleman – put it on your “bucket list” for Triathlons.  It is a VERY well run race – and if you live in Chicagoland or Iowa or Indiana – it is JUST like our training grounds – FLAT and VERY WINDY!  Perfect!!  It is perfect for us flatlanders.  No wonder I love it so much.

Jerome and I got to Sailwinds on Saturday around 12.30pm after we had our traditional Subway lunch – I eat the SAME thing the day before each race…and there is no messing around.  I go to registration – do the same thing as always (in and out) and off to the Transition area to swim in the Choptank (new swim course this year) and rack our bikes and head back to the hotel – same hotel every year.  Yep, I am a bit superstitious.  If it works, I do not change it.  (freak).  This time I did manage to see Angela Kidd and Catherine B., two of my athletes there during the bike check in – yay!  Kate O was still driving her bad self to the race site.

Because we drove ALL day (16 hours) on Thursday to Philly, I was absolutely able to de-tox from the stress at home and work and just focus on 2 little kids, Jerome and myself for the car ride.  No computer (ok, busted on my Iphone on Facebook!)….but that day is critical to me and I have come to understand that that downtime is key for my mental state to get ready for this huge race.  The last few days are SO mental.  Flying is NOT relaxing to me – the bike box thing and the running around makes me nuts….so, I really LOVE the driving….

Anyway, I am jumping around here – sorry!

After our swim (more on that later) and getting the bikes in – we headed back to the hotel.  It was nearly 4pm and we wanted to CHILL.  Tapering makes me FEEL VERY SLUGGISH and I expected that feeling and I felt like I could NOT eat dinner…ick, but OF COURSE, I eat a normal portion of my standard pre-race dinner that we ordered in to our hotel room.  I took my Tylenol PM (standard) and stretched a ton (yes, that is right) and lights off at 9pm.  Wake up call….4am.

I slept GREAT!  I was very calm for Eagleman, despite being nervous all week leading into the race.  I don’t really feel any pressure racing EM – no need,  I was READY– and everyday this past week, I wrote down one reason why I can win my AG at EM.  NEVER any times attached to that goal.  Does it matter?  I mean if I go 4.45 and win OR if I go 5.05 and win, does it matter?  Not to me.  I could care less…I think people get too fixated on times and it clouds their efforts and their minds.  I know what it takes to win at EM….so, I do everything I can to make that happen each year.

Got to the race site fine and dandy – ate my standard pre-race breakfast of Quaker oatmeal, honey and currants – hot tea – ¼ of a bagel + PB on the drive in….approximately 1.45-2 hours prior.  Sorry to bore you with all these details, but I do get questions on my food and timing. 

The 35-39 rack was JAMMED.  I could not believe it and the girls were NERVOUS – chatting about silly things and talking about how to rack their bikes – which way was correct.  I just got in and out – blinders on and tried to find Catherine, Kate & Angela to wish them good luck and then relax with Jerome for a bit.  So many people always look so darn fit and fast.  AH!

I was SO excited because my wave 35-39 and 25-29 was the first girl’s wave AND early @ 7.09am!  I love that because then I know where I am since the only gals in front would be ones beating me OR Pros.  So, I loved that. PLUS the girls in the 25-29 AG can usually SWIM like fish, so I was excited to catch someone’s draft!  I warmed up awhile in the water and lined up – front and center.  I will say this (and I am sure some of you will spit at this, but….it is my RR)….the water was TOO frigging hot.  I am sorry, but I was miserable hot – water was 76 – but mostly warmer in other parts.  Coming from Chicago in our low 60 degree water and cooler air temps, I was HOT and I had to really stay focused on the heat in the water.  I SO wish we didn’t have to wear wetsuits….ahh!  I hate wetsuits.  Anyway, got out to a great start and 2-3 girls took off so fast I could NEVER swim that fast – and then I found the feet – and I had a great draft – clean line – for a big part of the swim.  Then, I passed her and pushed hard into the finish.  The new swim at EM is not my favorite, you know why?  I think it is easier – it uses MORE of the current in your back – I usually rely on the swim at EM to be TOUGH….and aggressive – and most years (except 07) it has been a bit choppier.  Anyway, I knew that if I came out in 27 high….I think the official results were 28:18 or something then that would be a smaller margin that the weaker swimmers would have, so I had to hustle…..I think I was either 1^st or 2^nd out of the water in the 35-39 AG, but I was not sure.  I felt great – effortless and gliding on top of the water – AWESOME!

Ok, and here comes the rookie mistake.  UGHHHH, the ONLY thing I messed up all day – and that is a minor thing considering this is a ½ IM is that I forgot to put my shoes on my bike – The transition area was a mud pit – we got hammered overnight with storms and it just well, I made a minor mistake.  And, guess where I was when I realized it?  Nearly out of that MASSIVE T1.  DAMN DAMN – I had a mini-freak out – as Jerry McNeil (love him) – the race announcer is having a fun day talking about us hammering out of T1 and there I am – DUH!  So, I calmly ran back (with my bike!) barefoot (duh) to get my shoes and back out of T1.  I lost nearly 90” – 2 minutes.  But, what can you do, NOTHING – so I didn’t even think twice about that – move on….onto my bike….

At this point I think I am in 1^st or 2^nd…hard to know b/c I was not first out of the water due to the 25-29 AG with us…but I know this bike course very well.  Always a tail wind on the first 25-29 miles and a head/cross wind (some years VERY awful) on the back 25+ miles.  I knew the bike was determined on how hard you can ride that back half.  MOST over-ride the front 25 miles – and lo and behold around mile 7-8 a girl goes by me in my AG.  EEKS!  I have never been passed (oh, I take that back, I was passed here in 2004, but passed her back on the run)….on the bike and I thought….wow, she is going to destroy me OR I will get her on the back half.   I just did my own thing – at this point I am averaging 23 mph and I KNOW that I can not hold 23 mph for the entire 56 miles (with the wind on the back end) so I did what I know works….IF I can average 22 mph – 22.2 mph on this course I will be off the bike in the front…IF someone is faster than that, then great.  But, for me to run well that is what I need to do.  LIKE clockwork, at mile 30-35 I had averaged 23 mph.  And, now the real work was beginning. 

I will say this:  I saw less drafting this year than last time I did this.  We were so out in front – I did snap at some 25-29 girl and told her to race clean and get off my ass – and she did!  And some loser men, that can not stand women passing them, but otherwise, it was VERY clean where I was!  And, the race officials were SUPER – I saw 4-5 of them.  VERY good!

Anyway, I felt amazing.  SO fresh, NEVER a downtime.  NEVER a tough moment. EVERYTHING CLICKED….  Just what I wanted and worked so hard for for EM.  I had my aero-drinking system and drank 2.5 bottles of my energy drink and 5 gels.  That is all I had.  I do not mess around here.  I am working WAY too hard to chew anything.  NO bars, no beans, nothing.  Pure gels…that I carry on my top tube in a flask.  I suck on that for the 56 miles and drink 2.5 bottles of my energydrink (which has 250 calories + sodium, etc)….for EM, FOR ME, the minimal number of calories I can race on – on this course is the key for me.  IT is so fast and flat and windy – so that it is not like a climbing and up and downs….lock and load and be one with the wind.  Period.  It didn’t feel too hot on the bike – it was probably low 80s…but I will say I was SUPER careful b/c it was humid out there and coming from our Chicago weather , that was the ONLY thing I was mindful of and a little worried about  AND with a hot swim, I was making sure I was hydrated out there.

I worked very hard on the bike.  NOT out of control…but on that rivet line the ENTIRE time.  I can not even tell you what I thought of during my ride.  NOTHING but being on top of the pedals and riding cleanly.  And, HOW bad I wanted it….and DO NOT think this race is even getting started!  And, I was SO on top of the pedals….I was in my zone and feeling super. 

And, lo and behold…at mile 45 I see a girl in front of me….and there she is.  The girl that passed me at mile 6…..and I could tell she was struggling a bit – the bike was swaying in the wind more than it should.  So, I relaxed my pedaling for a bit and took a huge, deep breath and passed her SO hard I was TTing for a few minutes….but I knew that IF I did not do that I would play cat & mouse with her and I DID NOT want to do that for the rest of the bike and I had NO idea if she could run or not….SOOOOO, I did it – I put a few minutes on her in the last 10 miles of the bike and that was it.  I never saw her again.  And, I had to stop early to fix something on my bike - just the tape from the disc that came loose (grrr), but I thought I was getting a flat!!   Bike time:  2.32 and 22.2 mph.

I head into T 2 and my favorite Jerry McNeil is going nuts and announces that I am the first 35-39 girl into T2 and that I was 90+ minutes away from the podium. Oh, thanks NO PRESSURE JERRY!  HA.  I go into T 2 and the best moment so far of the day:  NOT 1 bike on the racks….I looked and I was by myself.  Ok, Jen….pee….I always pee in T2 while getting my shoes on in a ½ IM – this means I am hydrated perfectly…and I did….got my stuff on and got the hell out of there.  I had my legs!!  It was effortless again.  I grabbed 3 gels and took one  (1/2) with water right away (needed it) and then ran off.  I was fired up. My cumulative time at this point was 3.03 and I knew that was right on with what I usually do at EM and unless I really f*ck this run up………..

But, I will say this…I feel the girls breathing down my neck. I am sorry but I don’t care what anyone says – getting chased all day is FRIGGING hard.  I used to really struggle with it and felt like I used to “wait” for the girls.  BUT, I pulled my head out of my A$$ and I do not wait anymore…but I also do NOT freak out…..STAYING calm is the key when out in front the entire day.

So, I hit mile #1 @ 7.15…ok….I knew that if I was anywhere less than 7.30 for the entire run, I would probably be ok.  Sure there are girls who may run faster, but I didn’t see anyone coming into T2 behind me or near me, so I knew I had a few minutes to spare.  BUT you all know that a few minutes can go away very fast IF you get a cramp or mess up even 1 mile….EM is an out and back course – there is NO hiding. It is VERY open and you can see for miles….so, I had to stay plugged in.

I was on that line of needing another gel, but managing breathing so hard and eating/drinking. I will say this.  I was HOT.  Of course, this was not hot for most of these people, but it was sticky humid and I was not acclimated for this at all.  SO, my strategy was this:  Grab water EACH aid station & pour on my head – to stay cool.  Drink Gatorade at each station and suck on my gel (and some water) the entire 13.1 miles.  And, that is what I did.  Steady and strong the entire run.   Nothing stupid, never spiked my HR – drafted off another guy who was a step ahead of me during the flat /windy part to the turn around and just held my own.  I had a girl in the 25-29 AG to chase down and lock myself on her – and I did – and eventually passed her – and that target helped me chase down someone….the PROS were too far ahead and there were (I think) 1-2 , 25-29 girls in front of me…so I focused on reeling them in.

Patience is key at EM….any wrong move on a fast ½ IM course and you are screwed.  So, I kept drinking and I kept waiting for any signs of fatigue – and I never had it. I felt AMAZING all day.  NOW, I couldn’t run any faster than what I was running and that is OK.  Like I said, does it matter when you are in 1^st?  NO…it doesn’t.  DO WHAT IT TAKES TO WIN is my motto.  IF someone came up on me, I could have responded in the last 2 miles – NOT if she came by in 6.45-7 min pace, but I was not tapped out until the last 1 mile….

Jerome came by me (he started a few waves behind me) and said, “Keep me in your sight, Jenny…” and I did…I could not run with him (duh) but I focused on him and (his butt) and it kept me on task and not worry about the people rushing behind me.  I got to mile 12.5 and I allowed myself to look back – Not because I was worried but because I needed to know how to run the last .6 miles – STRONG or all out – and I needed to KNOW…..b/c I was getting tapped out…and I saw no ONE.  LET ME TELL YOU – that is the best feeling in the world.  The best.  Run:  1.38.

I made the turn to the finish chute….and I was SO happy – SO relieved.  I have done what I was not sure I could keep doing and that was to win my AG at EM.  It sure as sh*t doesn’t get ANY easier each year – and I DO NOT take it for granted.  I am on the older end of 35-39…  One wrong move or one girl who runs a 1.25 can destroy me, but who cares right now.  I was 200 yards from the finish line and I enjoyed the moment.  I NEVER do that and I did it….I smiled and took in Jerry (race announcer) saying some nice things about me and having Jerome standing there and Vigo (RD) there…..I did it.  I won my AG.  For the 5^th time.  OH MY GOD.  Final time:  4.45.

And, I didn’t cry.  I had to sit down…and wanted to throw up…and fought it back for a VERY long time.  And, about 3-4 minutes later the 2^nd place girl came through….and I congratulated her and then went and got a massage….and waited for others to come in.

I had a lot of things going on in my head after the race.  I was kinda in SHOCK….I did not have a good race at Oceanside…so I was racing to redeem myself from that race. I was pissed about that race and vowed I would not do that again.  Now, that was a little out of my control (swallowing all that salt water), but STILL….it was what fueled me everyday from April 4^th thru June 15^th.  You know how you need motivation and inspiration?  Well, that is all I needed.  And, I got it.  And, I was relieved.

I never go to races to try to q-fy for anything.  AND the people that know me and how I race know that about me. I did not bring my checkbook to EM.  I was NEVER going to Ironman Hawaii.  I never even thought about it – besides promising Dave I would turn the slot down ***IF*** I got it.  I went to win my AG and if that means you q-fy for Kona, then great.  But, 2009 is not the IM year for me.  NOTHANKYOU.  I do not love the Ironman and I have done it 2x and turned it down 3x. I know some of you can not understand that, but it is ok.  When I want to do Kona again then I will be ready to cross that bridge.  Until then, I am happy where I am and the tears that the 2^nd place girl cried after I told her I was not going to Kona is almost worth it.

A funny story…I am literally seconds away from vomiting – JUST crossed the line and a girl comes up to me (volunteer/spectator) and says, “Hi, Miss Daisy?”  (Oh my god I am thinking!) – My name is X and I am friends with D.  OH MY GOSH (D is a fellow blogger friend!) – SMALL world.

Congrats to Angela Kidd who got 2^nd in her AG and had a PR @ 4.46!!!  Kate Oliver was PRd and Catherine Button who hung tough despite a bad IT band!!!  And, of course, my dear husband, who went to “participate” because he is on the down low racing/training this year and gets 8^th in his AG and goes 4.27.  SICK AND WRONG!  HA J

And, to all my blogger friends, Facebook friends, athletes, Jerome, family, Dave&Spencer, AND my athletes who were so patient with me as I “unplugged” for a few days to focus on this race.  THANK YOU – I heard you all out there on the course and knew you were all hitting your re-fresh button 1,000x….and were hoping to see me up top – I hope I did not disappoint.

And, now….onto my huge rest week of NOTHING and mid-season break…..what to do now?  Hmmmm……All I know is that it is 10.15pm on Monday night – and we are home – but I am STILL nauseous from the effort yesterday.  It is going to take me forever to recover from this effort.  But, it is all worth it.