Registration process
We waited online for registration to open and it seemed like it was about an hour past the opening time for the website actually went live and we were able to register. Reminder for next year to register the morning of opening to make sure to ensure a slot
Checking in
We left Long Beach at about 1130 in the morning got to Oceanside. Parking was really hectic and there was a lot going on in the city of Oceanside. We finally found parking and had to bring our bikes down to the check-in area because we didn't want to leave them on the back of the car. I remember thinking that it would've been nice to have somewhere to leave the bikes in the hotel or in the car rather than walking them through the entire expo. The checking process went smoothly it was fun to walk around and check out all the vendors. I bought a new Bento box (Stealth Pocket 300) from X lab and those guys were really cool to help me put it on my bike. Now I have solved the problem of what to do with all the food during T1.
We can bring the bikes into the merchandise tent so that was a bummer but when Ashley and Jamie found that there were free backpacks for participants we went in and got the coolest backpacks ever for free. Glad we didn't miss that on!
We went to the prerace info session and I remember thinking that it was really hot out and I wish I was drinking more water but didn't have access to water so next time bring a lot of water bottles during the check-in process to make sure that I'm staying hydrated before race day.
The pro panel was really cool we got to grab a picture with Jan Frodeno which was great when he ended up winning the next day.
Next we dropped off our bikes at bike check in and left the Ironman village. At this time it was around 430 and we were getting pretty anxious to eat dinner.
Pre-Race Dinner
We could not break tradition and had to go to Macaroni grill for dinner. luckily there was one right in Carlsbad.
I got chicken with pesto and pasta. We drink lots of water and a lots of bread. We went back to the hotel checked all of our gear one more time loaded everything into the car and went to sleep. It was very easy to go to sleep because we it started transitioning going to sleep earlier and earlier the week before so wasn't any problem going to sleep at 7:30 or 8 o'clock at night.
Race morning
Race morning we got up at 2:45 and I took a shower. I ate a bagel with peanut butter. And started sipping on some Gatorade. I put on my tri kit and a long sleeve shirt and we headed to the car.
We made it down to the parking lot. All the parking on the street was free but we couldn't park in any of the Ironman parking lots because we never grabbed an Ironman parking pass. Remember next year to find out where we can get a parking pass. We made it on the first shuttle that started at 4:30 and we were in the transition area by five.
It was colder than I expected and I remember wishing that I had a sweatshirt or a jacket not just a long sleeve shirt. I set up my transition area underneath my bike and started slowly getting ready. Around 6 o'clock I started getting hungry again and I ate a Clif bar. I continued to sip on Gatorade throughout the morning.
I got body Marked and then carelessly put on sunscreen. Something I wish I put more focus on in hindsight. I then put on my website to keep my legs warm and another thing that I forgot to do was put body glide on my neck for chafing. Luckily they had a lady volunteer putting it on our next as we were getting into the water.
The Swim
The water was warm 67° which was absolutely beautiful. As the swim started I stayed towards the back outer corner and found myself in a rhythm pretty early. I remember wishing that I had known how many buoys there was to the next turn that realize than buoys were numbered but I had no idea how many buoys I needed to pass. It just would've been nice for pacing purposes.
Right before we got in the water of fog rolled in and it made this body of the boules a bit difficult as we were headed out to the turn. As we made it out to the turn the water got a little bit rough and I remember it was difficult to see the second red turn buoy about halfway through the swim.
About three quarters of the way through the swim I remember feeling really really hungry and I wish I'd eaten more.
I stopped my watch just as I got out of the water and I finished the swim portion in 41:20.
T1
I felt like I was running forever in T1 before I finally made it to my bike. I was literally out of breath by the time I got to my bike. I stripped off the wetsuit and put on my shoes helmet and sunglasses and I was out I put my bicycle gloves on my handlebars and down hindsight I wish I would've just put my gloves on. It didn't save that much time
Again I was so sunburnt for the next week that I really wish I would've put more sunscreen on as I got out of the water.
The Bike
The nutrition plan on the bike was to eat one Clif bar and three bottles of Gatorade that had a full scoop in each bottle. The nutrition on the bike seemed fine and I didn't have any problems while on the bike. I remember thinking that I was going really fast after the first water station, and through San Onofre State Park but it seem to be flat. Now looking at the elevation map it was a slight downhill which made for a nice recovery over the first 90mins or so.
I knew that I was up against some pretty big hills on the backside of the course so I saved myself for those and I'm glad I did. I needed to pee starting around mile 15 but I didn't pee for about an hour. I finally found a port o potty that no one was using and made a quick pitstop.
I remember going much faster than everyone else on the uphold but lost a lot of ground on the downs. I think I could have definitely make up a lot of time on the down hills if I was just a little more comfortable.
I'm just glad I didn't crash.
Over the last 10 miles or so there's a really strong headwind they are battling the whole way back to Oceanside. I started to get some saddlesore's and I remember the seat feeling really uncomfortable in the last six or 7 miles of the ride.
I got back into t2 and the ride totaled 3:34:16.
T2
T2 was quick. I got off my bike I used some Vaseline to aid with the chafing between my legs and I slipped on my running shoes. I remember thinking that I wasn't going to be able to run but as soon as I got my shoes on I felt great. I ran out of transition and completely miss the sunscreen table again. Disaster in the making.
The Run
I came flying out of transition doing sub nine minute miles and I felt like I could take on the world. I was just glad that I was off the bike. I felt like I wanted more nutrition so I sucked down a chocolate gu gel in the beginning of my nutrition disaster was in the making.
The water station support was incredible and as I passed each water station I was taking big gulps of more Gatorade and throwing ice in my pants. The ice in my pants was great. More calories was not.
The first 2 miles went great and I ran 2 sub 10 minute miles. when I got to mile three I started to feel rumblings in my stomach. I began walking a little bit hoping that my food just needed to digest and everything would be okay. I remember running almost straight through for the next 5 miles and then at mile eight the rumblings began again.
I slowed to a walk hoping that my walking remedy would fix my problem once again but I had no luck. I walk ran walk ran and my average pace was still okay until I got some Isleton.
I have mild 10 and I hit a complete wall. I couldn't run anymore I couldn't eat anything I felt like there was a wild animal inside of my stomach trying to tear out. Every time I picked up the pace from a walk it just got worse.
I thought I was gonna have to walk the next 3 miles. I walked for about a mile and a half looking at my watch. I remember thinking if I could just slowly jog I can salvage a seven hour race but I couldn't. I didn't have the running in me.
With just about 2 miles left my stomach still felt horrible but things seem to have subsided just a little bit. I started in on a slow walk jog strategy and brought the pace up just a little bit. At this point based off my current pace I was gonna come in just five minutes over my seven hour goal. And I was really really determined to get to the finish line quicker.
As I got to the last mile I was finally back in a run. It took everything for me to keep running as I felt like I was gonna have stomach issues at any moment. I tried drinking the Coca-Cola but I could barely get it down. As I came back off the backside of the race course and back onto the beach I could see the finish line and I knew that I just had to push through eight more minutes. I was just drinking water and throwing water on myself like a fool at that point I must've looked like a zombie but I was trudging through and I pick the pace back up. I knew was gonna be close and the support was incredible.
My run time was 2:32:23.
I reach the finish line in 6 hours and 57 minutes 54 Seconds.
I had done it. I gotten back on the horse and conquered my fear over the last 70.3 miles I had reached the red carpet that I have been waiting for all year. I was so proud of my achievement but what meant the most was that I had close family and friends there that I could share the moment with.
I found myself crossing the finish line with tears streaming down my face. It was an emotional moment for me. But soon this the exhaustion setting and I needed food. I had ran a half marathon with almost no nutrition as my stomach couldn't handle anymore calories. It took me about an hour and a half before I was finally a normal human again.
This course was incredible. The on course support was more than I could've asked for and the support of my friends and family was more than I could've asked for. Thank you for everyone for supporting me. I look forward to my next adventure!
