Post Ironman

  It has been about 3 weeks now since I finished my first Ironman.  I had heard of post Ironman....stress type things while doing my training. What do you do after you finish the race? Do you keep training? Wait, I don't have to bike 6 hours this weekend? I can have a life? WHAT? I can sleep in? I'm not sure what the usual
"aftermath" for most people is, but I definitely had some sort of  post "Ironman PTSD". When I say PTSD I don't mean I had the desire to do another. In fact, I am cool with my one ironman for the time being. Maybe when I am fat and older I'll do another.

Firstly, I literally did nothing for a week after the race. I had no desire to bike (i didn't even go to work on my bike), run, and i even cancelled my swim club membership. This was followed by the shock of having weekends back,  the attempt to get "back into exercise", the "I want to try a new sport", then the "I want to train differently" stages. I've kind of been all over the place. I am ok with it, haha.

Honestly, I got sick after the race.  I felt like crap (just a cold, but still), but was relieved that this happened post exercising for 13 hours. Sometimes, when you finally STOP doing things...your body freaks out. My first attempt to run was weird and awkward (a few weeks later). I felt out of shape. I mean doing 4 miles vs. double digits? what? I tried to run fast, which felt weird too.

So now what?  Well, I workout when I want to workout. I run as fast as I feel like for that day. I do TRX more often. My mountain bike has seen more use than my road (weird).  I went to my first cyclocross race (and did it actually), which was a blast. I got a tattoo, saw my parents, cleaned out my entire room (well that's still in the process), caught up with old friends, gone on dates (ya, i finally can now), drank beer (wait, that's not different), and re-evaluated a lot of things. I can't complain....but I definitely am so glad I did the Ironman.  It means so much more than just a time or a medal, especially for me.  It definitely means ....

1: i am sort of an overachiever...which goes along with my mountains of trophies from being 8 years old. 2: Despite injuries/set backs/stuff, can still be done 3: i am a smarter racer than I ever imagined 4: goal setting is something I should keep doing 5: YOLO 6: cliche, but put your mind to something, have fun, and anything's possible. 7: i don't actually like lists that look like a big paragraph. 8: friends/family rock. 9: I could barely run down the street my soph year in college (i kind of had an 80 year old back). and now what back problems!?? and finally 10: work hard, play harder.

I'm trying to drag people in with me to do some more races next year. If you're looking for a ass-kicking let me know :)

I need to get my laundry.



I was meant to ride bikes. Check out the basket. HARDCORE

Until next time..

Ironman Florida....RACE REPORT!

I am currently sitting here...having a beer and it's SNOWING outside. and snowing pretty fiercely. First snow of the year. Apparently when I left for Florida Boston decided to get cold just in time for me to come back.

Anyways, so I SURVIVED! I really enjoy writing race reports, so sorry if this is too long.

Arrival: So, we arrived late Wednesday night. So late that the hotel people weren't even there. We didn't even plan how we were going to get from the airport to the hotel. luckily we had our dear friend Breno to come pick us up. The theme of this trip tended to be mike and I not really planning out things well but still being ridiculously lax about everything. 

The good thing about this trip was having a few days before the race to hang out and also a day to hang after.  Thursday was spent checking in, eating, and heading to the athlete dinner.  They gave us awesome swag...well they damn well should considering the price of this event. I have to admit Thursday night I could ONLY think about the race. I tried so hard to not, but that's all I thought about. I did manage to sleep still...we got like 10 hours total sleep. haha. Friday we set up our bikes, dropped off some of those many bags we had to put together, ate more food, etc. We made sure to go to bed early.

Race Day! Pre race: Alarm went off at 4:50. This actually isn't that early considering other triathlons. We were only a few miles from the start, which was long enough not to walk, so my parents dropped us off. It was already 73 degrees and humid. Great. I didn't expect this.  Special needs bags were dropped off and we waited in line for the bathrooms (the most important pre race activity you can do). I didn't even eat much for breakfast because I was so full from dinner last night (and cheez its). We were still in transition when they told us to leave.  Slacking. Again, lax about everything. 

Swim (goal- around 1 hour. actual- 1:01.09): We walked out to the beach with the 3000 (73% men mind you) other participants while checking out the conditions. Wow. Holy waves.  There was a rip current...and it looked nasty out there. Well here goes nothing. I body surfed instead of warming up and watched the pros go first. Then it was our turn. The gun went off and immediately i was getting pushed and shoved...although I was in the front ish. I struggled a bit trying to get some space.  The way out consisted of giant waves, tons of people, and swallowing salt water. I cut the course super close because of the current and basically head butted each buoy.  I got a little relief one we made the first turn...then the way back felt nice actually. The waves kind of pushed you along.  This was a two loop course, so after 1.2 miles we got out of the water, ran on the beach, then headed back into the waves.  I was still fighting with stupid people going the wrong way.  Even though I couldn't see that well where I was going I could tell I was getting close to kayakers. After a while I got sick of swimming and was ready to be done.  I kind of stopped caring how fast I was going...bc honestly it felt like drowning. Turns out I went faster than I figured. Coool.

T1 (5:30): I jumped out of the water, ran over to the wet suit strippers (so much fun), then headed to get my bike bag.  It was nice bc they shouted your number so that someone would have the bag ready for you.  Then we ran to a changing room where you got your own volunteer (i actually got like 3 bc i was out front in the swim) to get all your stuff together for you.  I had no idea they did this so i basically told them how awesome they were.  I got slathered with sun block and headed out.

Bike (Goal: 6:30-7 hours, actual: 6:40.02): The only thing I worried about for maybe one sec as i took off with my bike was the fact that I forgot a tire lever in case i got a flat.  I told myself no worries...i never flatted during training it won't happen. That somehow put me to ease (and didn't happen) and I took off.  Being a swimmer i am always prepared to get passed like crazy on the bike.  Yup, like crazy. I watched fancy shmancy bikes pass me ridiculously fast.  Ok, people we are only 10 miles in, chill out. I kept to my plan with keeping a cadence of 95-100 the whole time (spinning a bit more so my legs wouldn't completely die). Most people passing me were doing the opposite....they were cranking it out.  I passed maybe 2 people in 60 miles haha. I felt pretty good though. I passed time by looking at my watch every 20 min taking in liquids and food.  It was hot...no dehydration.  I probably took in close to 2000 calories on the bike, which was great for me. The course was flat except maybe one hill, which  was a relief to do something different. I actually passed a huge group up the hill, then they passed me again of course. I even got my first penalty for drafting (total BS considering i was slower than everyone), which made me sit in a tent for 4 min.  This was sort of nice...i ate some food and talked to people.  I continued to get more bored and my ass kept hurting.  All considering that's not bad problems to have. I passed the most people the last 20 miles....where i think people were starting to die. Thank goodness I kept to my cadence.   Heading back in town I could not WAIT to get off my bike. oh and i definitely stopped 4 times to chill/go to the bathroom. who cares...right?  what else....oh some guy asked for my number too. haha. It was in the 80s by then, which worried me.  I still had a marathon left...wow. 

T2 (4:24): Nothing too crazy here. I got my run stuff and more sun block.  It felt really good to start running.  That was one helluva long bike ride. 

Run (Goal: 5 hours. actual: 5:08.20): One of my favorite things about this race was the volunteers and spectators.  There were TONS of aid stations and plenty of locals dressed up, partying, playing music, and cheering you on.  I felt pretty good right off the run, while other people didn't look so good already (tons of walkers).  Right away I told myself to walk the aid stations. I was not prepared for this marathon the right way, so it would be wise to walk/run from the beginning.  At around mile 7 my legs got heavier and heavier.  I stuck to my plan and did some random run/walks.  I had no nutrition plan for the run....I like to just go with how I feel.  I took in lots of water/sometimes perform at the beginning. Mile 13.1 we got our special needs bags.  I changed my socks and grabbed gumby to go in my back pocket.  That made me smile...and at this point I was totally hurting so smiling at anything helped. I ended up seeing this woman i talked to on the bike out there.  She was hurting as well.  We walked/talked for a little while ( probably a whole mile actually).  Then we decided to do a 4 min run, 2 min walk.  it was hard for me to run slow...so when we ran it was at like 8:45-9 min/mile pace.  That seemed to feel better.  People were definitely hurting BAD out there....on the side...in ambulances ...walking the whole thing....anything could happen.  I got hungry at like mile 16 and took in something solid, which really just dried out my mouth.  I also couldn't get myself to pee on myself ( i actually did this in timberman...too stubborn to stop), so i stopped a few times for potty breaks. I ended up going ahead of my new friend because she was waiting for someone.  I felt ok then all the sudden the legs (maybe mile 20ish) said...........enter pain cave. THIS SUCKS I WANT TO BE DONE! haha. I never once thought I wouldn't finish, but man i was ready to be done.  I walked a lot more because I really wanted to just be able to finish strong. I even craved a hamburger. I was doing something right! I have to admit...the weather was nice in the dark.  The spectators were still going strong too! Some dude in some weird costume came up next to me and got me to run with him for a little while. My legs were pretty much numb and i started to just run the rest....i kept running/passing people until i got to the finish. I heard Julie Tracy you are an IRONMAN.  I was so happy. my volunteer was so concerned for me and kept asking if I was ok.  I was perplexed....I felt awesome somehow.  I was smiling/happy/not sick. I did it....I raced smart and finished strong.  I did exactly what I had hoped. 

Total time: Goal: under 13 hours. actual: 12:59.25. talk about just making a goal...

I am still on an adrenaline rush, to be honest.  I never thought in a million years that my race would somehow go this well. We felt like celebrities after because everyone in restaurants were like OMG YOU ARE AN IRONMAN? we even had to take pics with students from Mississippi.  Shortly after this woman "borrowed us to show her friends". Hilarious.....

"We don't do that where we are from........." imagine a thick southern accent and a fat girl. 

Most challenging thing I have ever done by far.  People ask if I am doing another next year. nope.  I am very happy with that.  Maybe in many many years...who knows. but for now, i am good. 

congrats to mike for winning his age group :) and breno for a great finish as well!  you both made my weekend even more awesome.   

Somehow I am not that sore.  I was sore the first few days, but nothing like I expected.  Train smart :o)

going for a run tomorrow. 

2013 races so far include....tough mudder in may, patriot half in june (havent signed up) and vegas world champs 70.3 in sept. let me know if anyone wants to play.