Tuesday, May 20, 2008

Reflections on GCT

Ok, so I did my first half iron, and then I dropped off the face of the Earth. Well, I'm back now. Keeping everything in balance for the past week has required staying of the computer at night. Sometimes ya gotta do what ya gotta do...

So...let's start with reflections/lessons from GCT...
  • Patrick Kane. He did not make it out of the water at GCT. I just don't have words to say what I feel about this. It is tragic, and it is unfair. Things like this shouldn't happen. He swam the same course last year several minutes faster than I did this year. My heart goes out to his family, especially his wife and kids, but that is just not enough...
  • Nutrition. The 4th sport. I did it right at GCT, at least for me. No doubt, being fully hydrated and maintaining my electrolyte balance was the absolute KEY to beating my goal by 34 minutes. I felt great the entire time, and actually had to keep pushing harder during the second half of the run to make sure I was tired when I finished. What works for you may be totally different, but here's what worked for me:
    • Breakfast: 2 granola bars
    • 20 minutes before swim start: 1 Expresso Gu w/caffeine
    • Fluid On the Bike - Gatorade Endurance, a little more than 1 bottle per hour, with some water here and there as desired.
    • Food On the Bike - 1 Fig Newton after 15 minutes, then 1 Clif Shot Block every 15 minutes for a total of 9. That fig newton was good, but I was afraid to eat too many, so I stuck to 1.
    • On the Run - no real plan here except to grab Gatorade, water or both at every mile and drink what felt right. I did take some cola around mile 10 or so, and I don't know if it helped or hurt. My stomach started to rumble a bit around mile 11, but I told it to STFU and it obeyed me like a good stomach should. Oh yeah, and I did a Power Gel at miles 2 and 7.5, and they worked nicely.
    • Post Race - Pizza and Beer...if that don't getchya recovered then there's just no help for you.
  • Fun in the Sun - maybe it's just the redneck in me, but I heart the Redneck Riviera. I swear I have been other places on vacation, and they are nicer and fancier and all, but there's just something to be said about drinking margaritas in the sand, the laid-back atmosphere, the little beach bars with live bands, dress however you want, and my southern drawl is not even noticed, nor is it even the worst around.
  • Killing your goal time is awesome, but good friends are even better- having a lot of my training partners and friends there was just too cool. Seeing them out on the course was even better. I'll probably never forget this trip. I'll never forget worrying and discussing the "waves" with Tim, Lee, and Mike the day before. I'll never forget walking out of the lobby with my bike, headed to transition on race morning, and seeing Kevin...he saw the fear in my eyes, and knew there wasn't anything he could say...but just seeing a familiar face helped. I'll never forget seeing my support crew (Holly, JT & the boys and Mary Beth, Craig and her boys) on the beach before the start. I'll never forget seeing Chris C. as I walked to the water's edge - we exchanged a look of 'this is it - Goodluck' and it pumped me up to go out and dive into that water without fear. I'll never forget Gina yelling for me all excited as I exited T-1. Or seeing Holly on the bike course, looking strong. Or hearing Tim yelling for me as I got off the bike. Or seeing Lee and Heather out on the run course. Or examining the results with every one while partaking in post race carbs. Or BS'ing with my Excel friends over beer. Or chatting with Tom and his wife. Or getting all pissed at some Choo-Choo Chicks whole stole the 3rd place relay award from my girls(inside joke). Sometimes its all the little things that really make it special.
  • I am not afraid of swimming in the ocean. This race was beneficial for a million different reasons, but the #1 most important is that I now look forward to the IMFL swim. No more fear. We can do so much more than we think we can.
  • The Foot. It's hurt. It got me through the race, but yeah...In my not-so-secret desire to be a doctor, I have diagnosed myself with Peroneal Tendonitis. I am going to a sports medicine orthopedic foot/ankle doctor tomorrow to get his confirmation and suggestions on how I should proceed. I ran 3 slow miles last Friday and it started hurting after 1 mile. I laid off...continued with Ice and NSAIDS until this morning when I gave 3 miles another shot. This time it hurt after 2 miles. Progress, I guess, but not exactly what I was looking for. And the fact that I was sucking major wind for 3 miles at an 8:46 pace is. not. good.
In other news, I have felt a little lost in the days following Gulf Coast. No plan to follow feels weird. I was going to ride 60 miles last Saturday with some peeps, but when the alarm went off i said 'No way.' I sent them a text informing them that I would be backing out, and I slept until 9 a.m. Good mentally, I'm sure. Physically, I'm not sure about it. And this having to not run on my foot is killing me. Nothing raises my heart rate like a good solid run...and nothing frustrates me more than to be in pain while doing it. I'm looking forward to getting some good direction on what do about this...the number one goal is, of course, getting to IMFL healthy on November 1st.

Briar gets his cast off one week from today. Did I ever mention his cast is waterproof? Yep - the doc gave him his blessing for swimming in the pool while in FL. He also told him to stay out of the sand, but I didn't have much luck with that. An 11 year old boy with 4 or 5 other 11 & 12 year old friends on the beach...uh, yeah...we brought back half of the beach sand with us. It's still falling out of that cast.

Good luck to Amy, Don and David at the GJCC Triathlon on Memorial Day!!! I signed up to be a volunteer at the first water station today...I can't wait to go up and cheer them on.

13 comments:

Missy said...

As you know, I was 'lost' too but now I'm found...swam, ran and rode once so far this week. It's been great. It's amazing what a week off, a true week off with no s/b/r, will do for you. Hope to see you at the pool soon.

jahowie said...

Some time off will probably really help. I'm sorry that you are feeling so down. I'm sure that with some rest that you will bounce back.

Jill Ann said...

Lana...you will always be a star in my eyes. Inspiring, committed and just so cool!! Keep up the work to IMFL. Your foot will get there...if you need a pep talk/email write me and Joe can tell you all about his book "very little training to a 13hr IM."

Cannot wait to be on the beach this fall cheerleading for ya!

Cliff said...

Lana,

The nutrition strategy is the same as IM. Good thing that you tried cola and other stuff (gels, gatorade). So you know what works and what doesn't on IM.

Christine said...

Its so awesome that you have this behind you..and better yet..you totally rocked it out Lana style! Now take some time for mental rest and then start preparing for the big kahuna! You are going to do great...can't wait to meet up this summer! :)

triguyjt said...

Lana...you really had the nutrition plan down to a TEE..

I think, come ironman time...you follow the same kinda plan..kinda times two and you will rock...

enjoy little down time...rest up...
you'll be fresh to go..

Anonymous said...

Nice reflective post. Thanks for sharing your nutrition plan, I always enjoy seeing what others do. Hope you get some good news from the doctor. Again, great job!

momo said...

i think its always wise to look back and reflect on where we've been in the process of getting to where we want to go. and it sounds like you found what i've found, that racing and hanging with friends is the best!

hugs, lana!

Holly Jane said...

I had a blast watching you! You did freakin awesome... I'm sooooooo proud of you! You're gonna have to learn to get it together for those mandatory meetings though ;-)

IronTriTim said...

Wish my tummy would listen to me when I told it to stfu. When it wants chocolate etc, it nags until it gets it :-).

Rae said...

You did great in GC and you're going to kill your Ironman!! Hope you're having a wonderful holiday!

Phil said...

What a great race Lana. Your 1/2 marathon time was fantastic! You're nothing short of amazing.

My Life said...

Congrats on your first half iron!!

(& I loved the bit about redneck Riviera! ;) We lived in Pensacola for a year & that made me smile!).