IRONMAN MARYLAND-Chasing Sub 10
Well, it didn’t take long for me to do my second Ironman.
Only about eight weeks separated the two races. To be honest, I recovered so well after IM Lake Placid that I wanted to use the long-distance fitness I had built, extend it a bit more, and see what I was capable of with a few extra weeks of solid training.
This Ironman in Maryland was much different.
I came in with expectations, some experience, and even more respect for the distance.
During this build-up, I was much more tired. I’d been sleeping less than in previous months. My run and swim training were shining bright, but I struggled to find my mojo on the bike , really, only one session out of two felt good.
Overall (and this is important to note for this recap): even if my tone sometimes sounds negative, I’m very satisfied. I gave 100% on the day here in Maryland, nothing left in the tank. At Lake Placid, I had more in the tank but preferred to soak up the experience rather than have an all-out “go to the well” kind of day.
The Swim — 1:06
I hated this swim. As soon as I got in, I felt the chop and the wind blowing the sight buoys. Jellyfish were everywhere; I got stung a few times on the face and neck. The first loop was fast in some spots depending on where the wind was pushing , a very inconsistent kind of swimming. My upper body was already tired 1,000 m in.
The second loop was the same story, but at least I had lots of space to pass slower athletes still on their first loop. When I looked at my watch coming out of the water, I knew I had no time to waste if I wanted to hit my sub-10 goal.
The Bike — 180 km in 5:06
The course is a long straight line out of town, into two loops, then back. It’s pancake flat but windy. The first two hours I had no pop in my legs or consistency in my power. Than…I saw my family and immediately my mojo kicked in — probably also my nutrition and caffeine starting to take effect.
I’ll be honest: a flat course may suit my body type but it clearly doesn’t suit my more technical riding style. At the four-hour mark, I accepted that sub-10 wasn’t realistic anymore, but I kept grinding to do my best, having a few reality checks along the way.
I had some stomach cramps, probably from a mix of water swallowed during the swim, humidity, and maybe dehydration. I was so thirsty, and in five hours I drank almost six liters but didn’t pee once.
On a good note, I finished my bike leg in the exact time my coach had planned.
The Run — 42.2 km in 3:58
Flat, 3.5 loops. The first 8 km were pure survival: my stomach cramps were at their worst. But after all the racing this year, I’ve gotten good at holding a proper pace despite discomfort. From there I found a good rhythm; the cramps “left the chat” and smiles went up when I saw my family and friends. Honestly, I don’t know how I could have kept going without seeing those familiar loving faces , they bring out the best in me, every time.
I stayed low on carbs and high on fluids to be safe and prevent the earlier cramps to come back messing with me. That meant sacrificing some energy I could have used. But no GI issues in this IM, and my pace wasn’t slowing down.
I decided that for the last 8 km I’d give myself a run for my money… and three minutes later I flipped my ankle. Walked for four minutes and continued. I bet I gave a quick scare to the ones following me on the tracker, LOL. I jogged it out, and by the last 3–4 km I was able to “open the valves.” I leaned forward, cranked myself up, and ran a negative split!
The Aftermath
I crossed the line fired up. Even though I didn’t get that mythical sub-10, I knew I’d given it my all and I do have the potential to make it happen.
The day was obviously hard, but hard because I didn’t enjoy the sensations I had on the swim and bike. Yes, you read that right: the highlight of my day was the run — me, the guy who used to hate running.
Interestingly enough, the run was the part I was looking forward to the most in this prep. It just shows that when you set your mind to something, it can do magic.
So now, all eyes on 70.3 Marbella World Champs in six weeks — and for real, no other races in between.
This was my second Ironman.
This is my Love distance.
More Work towards that sub 10.
