IM Boulder Reflections

It's been three weeks since IM Boulder and not a day goes by where I don't think about the race and what went wrong on that day. Even after completing 14 of these events, there is still stuff that can go wrong, nothing is ever guaranteed in this sport.

I was pretty pumped about a local IM, getting to sleep in my own bed and not having to travel. I had fun at the pre race pro panel and kids' run event, handing out medals and helping the kids get pumped for their races. I wasn't overly nervous about the course since it was my "hometown race" and I had ridden the bike course numerous times and run on the creek path countless times in the ten years of living in the area. I knew altitude and heat could be a factor on the mostly exposed course, but since I live here, I figured I would be fine, having trained in it for years.

On race morning I wasn't very hungry (it was 3 a.m. after all!) and I had to force down my breakfast. My stomach felt like it was full from one bite. I had my coffee to wake up and then moved onto race hydration. Before the swim start I had a Powergel to top off my storages heading into the first leg. My parents had made it into town to watch me race and I wanted to put on a good performance, especially since my mom had a very serious bike- car accident earlier this year that she is still recovering from. With the year so far having been anything but race focused, I wanted to get back to where I had left off last season.

The 2.4 mi swim felt surprisingly good and smooth. I found myself towing the chase pack and had women around me that should have been ahead of me.  I figured I was having a pretty decent swim until the fast age groupers started passing us on the home stretch. Despite efforts to not have this affect me, it always manages to put a slight damper on my confidence. However, this has happened even in races I have won, so I wasn't overly worried.

Early on the bike. Pic- Triathlete Magazine

Out of the water and onto the bike I could tell my stomach was off. I was thirsty, but only for water. The water temp for the swim had been right around the cut off of 76 deg but I swam in a full sleeve wetsuit, which might have contributed to some early dehydration. I was picking up some spots early on on the bike but then settled in for a good long solo ride, only having one other pro woman around me, with the occasional age group mens pack zipping by. The air temperature was definitely on the rise and by 10.30 a.m. I was baking in my aero helmet. Even though I was feeling like I was getting increasingly cooked, I made sure to dump water all over at every aid station and take on all the nutrition I could handle. Despite my best efforts, I was getting nauseous. I kept having to sit up after eating and drinking to let my stomach settle, as otherwise I would have not been able to keep it down. This was cause for some concern for the run ahead.

I pulled into T2 under 5 hrs for the 112mi ride, a time I was pleased with despite having fought nausea for 90% of the ride. I felt the heat of the day and knew I would need to turn things around quickly if I wanted a shot at a decent marathon. Starting out in 4th on the run, I could barely make it to the first aid station where I tried to take as many fluids and ice as I could. Engine overheating and body shutting down. And only 25 more miles to go. I knew I was not going to have the day I had hoped for at this point.

Last 10mi of bike, feeling less than great. Pic- Randy Sadler

My lead bikers were great, trying to encourage me on and getting the aid stations to have things ready for me. I didn't care- I was going to walk each aid station anyway to try and get as much in me as I could. By mi 3 I saw the race leader walking as well, I tried encouraging her on, but apparently she was off even worse than me. With the many out and backs it was easy to spot the competition and it wasn't long until other women started catching up to me. The run is usually my strength, rarely do I get caught. I switched into survival mode at the half way point, unable to shake the nausea that had bothered me all day since early on the bike, and I made a deal (although almost broke it several times) to just make it to the finish line.

Trying to hold it together. Pic- Triathlete Mag

The crowds in town were spectacular and I felt like I owed it to them to finish the race, no matter how bad I felt. So many people were cheering my name, pushing me to keep going when all I wanted was to find a quiet spot and lay down. By mi 20 I lost my now 3rd place position and could no longer fake my jog. The nausea had gotten so bad that if I even tried to do anything but walk, I thought I would pass out. So I walked, not fast, but I walked. I got passed by age groupers, who  yelled kind words of encouragement, but I was unable to pick up the pace. Finally, with 2 mi to go and after having a few orange slices, my stomach was quiet enough for me to shuffle into the finish for 5th place. My family was there waiting and I was relieved to have completed the day, but at the same time felt sad, embarrassed and let down about how my day had unfolded.

Holding back the tears. Pic- Kat Hearty

Post race I spent some time in the med tent trying to get rid of the ever worsening nausea, and eventually made it home to my couch. The following days I felt totally off, I couldn't be out in the sun very long or the nausea returned, so perhaps I was suffering from some form of heat exhaustion during the race as well. It has taken nearly three weeks to feel like my normal self and I am finally back to being able to push it in training and enjoy it too. I scratched from a race I had entered to try and "make up" for my bad performance, since it took way longer to recover than I thought.

Now with the performance in Boulder finally digested and this race report putting the final stamp on it, I am really excited to give it another go in a month when I toe the line at IM Lake Tahoe, the final year for a pro race there. I'm looking forward to the scenery, the climbs and the cooler temps!

Big thanks to my support crew: Zoot, BMC, Rudy Project, Power Bar and Hed Cycling. And of course  to my super sherpa Brandon and my family and friends. Thanks for believing in me.

Here is to a fresh start to Project 2015!